(ABOUT 75 MILES SOUTH OF ROSWELL)
This training site had a number of rather varied assignments. In August 1942 this school was directed to begin training in the use of the low altitude D-8 bombsight and in dead-reckoning (DR) navigation. Candidates for D-8 training were selected from flexible gunnery schools. Instruction started in September 1942 and Carlsbad graduated its first class of D-8 Sergeant bombardiers on 2 November 1942 but without navigation training. Graduate bombardiers were assigned to medium bombardment groups (B-25 and B-26) and were given DR training after their assignment to a numbered Air Force.

The first class of D-8 bombardier/navigators were navigators that began D-8 training at Carlsbad on 28 Dec 1942 and graduated on 16 January 1943. 225 navigators received this D-8 training at Carlsbad, with the last class graduating 27 February 1943. On 15 October 1942 training in the operation of the D8 sight was assigned to Victorville but D-8 training continued, as noted, at Carlsbad until early 1943.

In late November 1942 a decision was made to establish a Central Instructor Training School at Carlsbad and this School began on 7 January 1943. On 6 August 1943 the Instructor School was transferred to Midland, Texas. All returning bombardiers with combat experience were sent to these 9-week Instructor Schools.

On 22 August 1943 all instruction at Carlsbad (which had concentrated on D-8 training of navigators) was converted to the use of the precision (high altitude, Norden) bombsight and an 18-week bombardier/DR navigator class began training on this date; this class graduated on 24 December 1943. By the summer of 1943 the 18-week bombardier/DR course had become standard for all bombardier training.

Carlsbad graduated its 25th and last class on 5 August 1945. But Carlsbad was not confined to bombardier training business. In April 1945 a four week bombing familiarization course was given rated navigators in preparation for training in Bombing Through Overcast (BTO), conducted at Victorville and Minter Fields in California. This short course familiarized the navigator with bombing techniques so he could cooperate effectively with radar operators.

Bombigator newsletter distributed at Carlsbad.

Units that served at Carlsbad - Source: Mark Boland

• Hq and Hq Sq, 319th Bombardier Training Group

• Hq and Hq Sq, 320th Bombardier Training Group

• 934th Bombardier Training Squadron

• 935th Bombardier Training Squadron

• 937th Bombardier Training Squadron

• 938th Bombardier Training Squadron

• 939th Bombardier Training Squadron

• 386th Base Hq and Air Base Squadron

• 905th Guard Squadron

• 349th Aviation Squadron (Colored)

• 354th AAF Band

• 364th Sub Depot

• Det, 3rd Army Airways Communications Squadron

• Det, 3rd Weather Squadron

• Finance Detachment (AAFGCTC)

• Medical Detachment, Station Hospital (AAFGCTC)

• Veterinary Detachment (AAFGCTC)

• Det, 2053rd Ordnance Service Company (Aviation)

• Det, 909th Quartermaster Service Company (Aviation)

• Det, 858th Signal Service Company (Aviation)