The Texas Coastal Cities of Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas, Kingsville, and Beeville played a significant role in the World War II effort on the home-front. The Naval Air Station of Corpus Christi, proclaimed as the “University of the Air” by its first commanding officer, Capt. Alva Bernhard, had a main station and six auxiliary stations in the Coastal Bend. At the time of completion, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was the largest naval training facility in the world. Commissioned on March 12, 1941, the naval air station graduated over 35,000 student pilots during the course of World War II.

 You can find the whole story of the coastal bend's contribution to WWII:

American World War II Heritage - Texas Coastal Bend Cities