Mystery as body of Texas Airman is found on train tracks next to Laughlin Air Force Base as military investigates cause of death

An active-duty Airman has been found dead near a railway off a Texas air force base. 

Around 9 a.m. CT on Tuesday, the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office notified security forces at Laughlin Air Force Base that remains had been found near train tracks.

The deceased was identified as an active-duty Airman who had been stationed at the base. His name has yet to be released as officials work to notify family members.

'We tragically lost a member of our Air Force and Laughlin family,' said Colonel Kevin A. Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander.

'Our hearts and prayers are with the family and all those that knew him. Our top priority is to support the grieving family, friends, and loved ones struggling with this loss.'

An active-duty airman has been found dead near Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas

Colonel Kevin A. Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, extended his condolences to the unidentified airman's family and friends

The base is located east of Del Rio and roughly 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border

Laughlin Air Force Base is located east of Del Rio and roughly 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

It began as a flight training school in 1942 and instructed bomber crews during World War II. The Army decided to close the base two years later and lease the land to local goat farmers.

The base reopened as a flight training school for American and allied nations pilots in May 1952, amid flaring tensions with the Soviet Union.

Later that year, the Air Force re-designated the wing as the 3645th Flying Training Wing, whose primary mission was to provide gunnery and weapons delivery training.

That wing was deactivated in 1957 and replaced by Strategic Air Command’s 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which had been transferred to Texas from Georgia.

The 4080th provided high-altitude surveillance and meteorological gathering in addition to gathering air samples from nuclear above-ground tests.

In 1961, Laughlin expanded its mission to include an undergraduate pilot training program, while the 4080th remained as a tenant unit.

The Air Force re-designated the 3645th as the 3646th Pilot Training Wing the following year, and in April 1963, the 4080th moved to Arizona. Since then, training has been Laughlin's only mission.

It began as a flight training school in 1942 and instructed bomber crews during World War II

Today, pilots in the 47th Flying Training Wing - one of five pilot training units in the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command - are taught how to fly at the base

In September 1972, USAF deactivated the 3646th Pilot Training Wing and activated the 47th Flying Training Wing.

Today, it is one of five pilot training units in the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command.

'Laughlin's critical mission has remained the same since 1962: train and develop the finest military pilots,' reads an official website for the base.

'Beginning with the first UPT class in the mid-1950s, silver wings have been pinned on nearly 21,000 pilots.'

The base currently teaches pilots how to fly using the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon, and the T-1A Jayhawk.