List of former United States Air Force installations

Summary

This is a list of former United States Air Force installations.

Does not include United States Army Air Forces facilities closed before September 1947.[1]

United States edit

See: North Warning System for a list of contractor-operated Distant Early Warning Line (DEW) radar stations in Greenland (Denmark), Canada and Alaska.
See: Eastern Test Range for Air Force Auxiliary Bases established to support missile and rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during the 1950s and early 1960s.
Former US Air Force installations within the United States
Installation name Location State End date Fate Ref.
Alexandria Air Force Base Alexandria Louisiana 1955 Redesignated as England Air Force Base
Amarillo Air Force Base Amarillo Texas 1969 Closed
Amchitka Air Force Base Rat Islands Alaska 1948 Closed
Andrews Air Force Base Camp Springs Maryland 2009 Realigned as part of Joint Base Andrews [2]
Anniston Air Force Base Talladega Alabama 1952 Closed
Ardmore Air Force Base Ardmore Oklahoma 1959 Closed
Atterbury Air Force Base Columbus Indiana 1954 Redesignated as Bakalar Air Force Base
Avon Park Air Force Base Avon Park Florida 1956 Redesignated as Avon Park Air Force Range
Bainbridge Air Base Bainbridge Georgia 1961 Closed
Bakalar Air Force Base Columbus Indiana 1970 Closed
Barking Sands Air Force Base Kekaha Hawaii 1954 Redesignated as Bonham Air Force Base
Bartow Air Base Bartow Florida 1961 Closed
Bellows Air Force Base Oahu Hawaii 1958 Redesignated as Bellows Air Force Station
Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base Indianapolis Indiana 1950 Realigned to the US Army as Fort Benjamin Harrison
Bergstrom Air Force Base Austin Texas 1993 Closed
Big Delta Air Force Base Big Delta Alaska 1950 Realigned to the US Army
Big Spring Air Force Base Big Spring Texas 1952 Redesignated as Webb Air Force Base
Biggs Air Force Base El Paso Texas 1966 Realigned to the US Army as Biggs Army Airfield in 1973
Blytheville Air Force Base Blytheville Arkansas 1988 Redesignated as Eaker Air Force Base
Bolling Air Force Base Southeast Washington, D.C. 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling [3]
Bonham Air Force Base Kekaha Hawaii 1956 Realigned to the US Navy as the Pacific Missile Range Facility
Brookley Air Force Base Mobile Alabama 1969 Closed
Brooks Air Force Base San Antonio Texas 2002 Redesignated as Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base San Antonio Texas 2011 Closed
Bryan Air Force Base Bryan Texas 1958 Closed
Buckley Air Force Base Aurora Colorado 2020 Realigned to the US Space Force as Buckley Space Force Base [4]
Bunker Hill Air Force Base Bunker Hill Indiana 1968 Redesignated as Grissom Air Force Base
Camp Hood Air Force Base Killeen Texas Redesignated as Gray Air Force Base
Camp Stewart Air Force Base Hinsville Georgia 1953 Realigned to the US Army
Campbell Air Force Base Fort Campbell Kentucky 1959 Realigned to the US Army as Campbell Army Airfield
Cape Air Force Base Umnak Alaska 1950 Closed
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Cocoa Beach Florida 2020 Realigned to the US Space Force as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station [5]
Cape Cod Air Force Station Sagamore Massachusetts 2020 Realigned to the US Space Force as Cape Cod Space Force Station [6]
Carswell Air Force Base Fort Worth Texas 1993 Redesignated as Carswell Air Reserve Station
Carswell Air Reserve Station Fort Worth Texas 1994 Realigned to the US Navy as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
Castle Air Force Base Merced California 1995 Closed
Cavalier Air Force Station Cavalier North Dakota 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Cavalier Space Force Station [7]
Chanute Air Force Base Rantoul Illinois 1993 Closed
Charleston Air Force Base Charleston South Carolina 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base Charleston [8]
Chatham Air Force Base Savannah Georgia 1950 Redesignated as Savannah Air National Guard Base
Cheli Air Force Station Bell California 1961 Closed
Chennault Air Force Base Lake Charles Louisiana 1963 Closed
Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base Colorado Springs Colorado 1995 Redesignated as Cheyenne Mountain Air Station
Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station Colorado Springs Colorado 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station [9]
Cheyenne Mountain Air Station Colorado Springs Colorado 2000 Redesignated as Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station
Clear Air Force Station Anderson Alaska 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Clear Space Force Station [10]
Clinton County Air Force Base Wilmington Ohio 1972 Closed
Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base Clinton Oklahoma 1969 Closed
Congaree Air Force Base Eastover South Carolina 1961 Redesignated as McEntire Air National Guard Base
Craig Air Force Base Selma Alabama 1977 Closed
Davis Air Force Base Adak Alaska 1950 Realigned to the US Navy as Naval Air Facility Adak
Dillingham Air Force Base Oahu Hawaii 1975 Realigned to the US Army
Dobbins Air Force Base Marietta Georgia 1968 Redesignated as Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Donaldson Air Force Base Greenville South Carolina 1963 Closed
Dow Air Force Base Bangor Maine 1968 Redesignated as Bangor Air National Guard Base
Eaker Air Force Base Blytheville Arkansas 1992 Closed
Edward Gary Air Force Base San Marcos Texas 1956 Realigned to the US Army as Camp Gary
Ellington Air Force Base Houston Texas 1976 Redesignated as Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base
Ent Air Force Base Colorado Springs Colorado 1976 Closed
Ethan Allen Air Force Base Burlington Vermont 1960 Redesignated as Burlington Air National Guard Base
Forbes Air Force Base Topeka Kansas 1973 Redesignated as Forbes Field Air National Guard Base
Foster Air Force Base Victoria Texas 1959 Closed
Galena Air Force Station Galena Alaska 1993 Closed. Transferred to civilian use as Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport.
Gary Air Force Base San Marcos Texas 1955 Redesignated as Edward Gary Air Force Base
George Air Force Base Victorville California 1992 Closed
Glasgow Air Force Base Glasgow Montana 1977 Closed
Godman Air Force Base Louisville Kentucky 1954 Realigned to the US Army as Godman Army Airfield
Graham Air Base Marianna Florida 1961 Closed
Gray Air Force Base Killeen Texas 1955 Realigned to the US Army as Robert Gray Army Airfield
Greenville Air Force Base Greenville Mississippi 1966 Closed
Grenier Air Force Base Manchester New Hampshire 1966 Closed
Griffiss Air Force Base Rome New York 1994 Closed. Parts in use as Rome Laboratory and Eastern Air Defense Sector.
Gunter Air Force Base Montgomery Alabama 1992 Redesignated as Gunter Annex, part of Maxwell Air Force Base
Grissom Air Force Base Bunker Hill Indiana 1994 Redesignated as Grissom Air Reserve Base
Hamilton Air Force Base Novato California 1976 Realigned to the US Army as Hamilton Army Airfield in 1983
Harlingen Air Force Base Harlingen Texas 1962 Closed
Hobbs Air Force Base Hobbs New Mexico 1948 Closed
Homestead Air Force Base Homestead Florida 1994 Redesignated as Homestead Air Reserve Base
Hondo Air Base Hondo Texas 1958 Closed
Horsham Air National Guard Station Horsham Township Pennsylvania 2021 Redesignated as Biddle Air National Guard Base
Hunter Air Force Base Savannah Georgia 1967 Realigned to the US Army as Hunter Army Airfield
James Connally Air Force Base Waco Texas 1968 Closed
Kearney Air Force Base Kearney Nebraska 1949 Closed
Kelly Air Force Base San Antonio Texas 2001 Redesignated as Kelly Field Annex, part of Lackland Air Force Base
K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base Marquette Michigan 1995 Closed
Kincheloe Air Force Base Kinross Michigan 1977 Closed
Kinross Air Force Base Kinross Michigan 1959 Redesignated as Kincheloe Air Force Base
Kinston Air Base Kinston North Carolina 1952 Redesignated as Stallings Air Base
Lackland Air Force Base San Antonio Texas 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base San Antonio [11]
Ladd Air Force Base Fairbanks Alaska 1961 Realigned to the US Army as Ladd Army Airfield
Lake Charles Air Force Base Lake Charles Louisiana 1947 Redesignated as Chennault Air Force Base
Langley Air Force Base Newport News Virginia 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base Langley-Eustis [12]
Laredo Air Force Base Laredo Texas 1973 Closed
Larson Air Force Base Moses Lake Washington 1966 Closed
Laurinburg-Maxton Air Force Base Maxton North Carolina 1956 Closed
Lawson Air Force Base Columbus Georgia 1954 Realigned to the US Army as Lawson Army Airfield
Limestone Air Force Base Limestone Maine 1954 Redesignated as Loring Air Force Base
Lincoln Air Force Base Lincoln Nebraska 1966 Redesignated as Lincoln Air National Guard Base
Lockbourne Air Force Base Columbus Ohio 1994 Redesignated as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base
Loring Air Force Base Limestone Maine 1994 Closed
Lowry Air Force Base Denver Colorado 1994 Closed
Lubbock Air Force Base Lubbock Texas 1997 Closed
Malden Air Base Malden Missouri 1961 Closed
Marana Air Base Marana Arizona 1961 Closed
Marks Air Force Base Nome Alaska 1950 Closed
Marshall Air Force Base Fort Riley Kansas 1953 Realigned to the US Army as Marshall Army Airfield
Mather Air Force Base Sacramento California 1993 Closed
McChord Air Force Base Lakewood Washington 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base Lewis–McChord [13]
McClellan Air Force Base Sacramento California 2001 Partially realigned to US Coast Guard as CGAS Sacramento
McCoy Air Force Base Orlando Florida 1975 Closed
McGuire Air Force Base Wrightstown New Jersey 2009 Realigned as part of Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst [14]
Mitchel Air Force Base Hempstead New York 1961 Closed
Moore Air Base Mission Texas 1961 Closed
Moses Lake Air Force Base Moses Lake Washington 1950 Redesignated as Larson Air Force Base
Mount Hebo Air Force Station Hebo Oregon 1980 Closed
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Myrtle Beach South Carolina 1993 Closed
Naknek Air Force Base Naknek Alaska 1990 Transferred to civilian use as King Salmon Airport
New Boston Air Force Station New Boston New Hampshire 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as New Boston Space Force Station [15]
Newark Air Force Base Heath Ohio 1996 Closed
Newcastle Air Force Base Wilmington Delaware 1958 Redesignated as New Castle Air National Guard Base
Norton Air Force Base San Bernardino California 1994 Closed
Olmsted Air Force Base Harrisburg Pennsylvania 1969 Redesignated as Harrisburg Air National Guard Base
Onizuka Air Force Station Sunnyvale California 2010 Closed
Orlando Air Force Base Orlando Florida 1968 Realigned to the US Navy as Naval Training Center Orlando
Oscoda Air Force Base Oscoda Township Michigan 1953 Redesignated as Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Otis Air Force Base Mashpee Massachusetts 1977 Partially Redesignated as Otis Air National Guard Base
Oxnard Air Force Base Camarillo California 1970 Closed
Paine Air Force Base Everett Washington 1972 Redesignated as Paine Air National Guard Base
Palm Beach Air Force Base West Palm Beach Florida 1962 Closed
Parks Air Force Base Pleasanton California 1959 Realigned to as the US Army
Patrick Air Force Base Cocoa Beach Florida 2020 Realigned to the US Space Force as Patrick Space Force Base [5]
Pease Air Force Base Portsmouth New Hampshire 1991 Redesignated as Pease Air National Guard Base
Peterson Air Force Base Colorado Springs Colorado 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Peterson Space Force Base [9]
Perrin Air Force Base Sherman Texas 1971 Closed
Pinecastle Air Force Base Orlando Florida 1958 Redesignated as McCoy Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base Plattsburgh New York 1995 Closed
Pocatello Air Force Base Pocatello Idaho 1948 Closed
Point Spencer Air Force Base Seward Alaska 1948 Closed
Pope Air Force Base Fayetteville North Carolina 2011 Realigned to the US Army as Pope Field [16]
Portsmouth Air Force Base Portsmouth New Hampshire 1957 Redesignated as Pease Air Force Base
Presque Isle Air Force Base Presque Isle Maine 1961 Closed
Pyote Air Force Base Pyote Texas 1954 Closed. Re-opened in 1958 as Pyote Air Force Station, an air defense radar station
Randolph Air Force Base San Antonio Texas 2010 Realigned as part of Joint Base San Antonio [11]
Reese Air Force Base Lubbock Texas 1997 Closed [17]
Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base Kansas City Missouri 1994 Closed
Sampson Air Force Base Geneva New York 1956 Realigned to the US Army as Sampson Army Airfield
San Bernardino Air Force Base San Bernardino California 1948 Redesignated as Norton Air Force Base
San Marcos Air Force Base San Marcos Texas 1953 Redesignated as Gary Air Force Base
Schilling Air Force Base Salina Kansas 1965 Closed
Schriever Air Force Base Colorado Springs Colorado 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Schriever Space Force Base [9]
Selfridge Air Force Base Detroit Michigan 1971 Redesignated as Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Sewart Air Force Base Smyrna Tennessee 1970 Closed
Shemya Air Force Base Shemya Island Alaska 1994 Redesignated as Eareckson Air Station
Sherman Air Force Base Leavenworth Kansas 1953 Realigned to the US Army as Sherman Army Airfield
Slocum Air Force Base Davids Island New York 1950 Realigned to the US Army as Fort Slocum
Smoky Hill Air Force Base Salina Kansas Redesignated as Schilling Air Force Base
Smyrna Air Force Base Smyrna Tennessee 1950 Redesignated as Sewart Air Force Base
Stallings Air Base Kinston North Carolina 1957 Closed
Standiford Air Force Base Louisville Kentucky 1951 Redesignated as Louisville Air National Guard Base
Stewart Air Force Base Newburgh New York 1970 Redesignated as Stewart Air National Guard Base
Stead Air Force Base Reno Nevada 1966 Closed
Suffolk County Air Force Base Westhampton Beach New York 1969 Redesignated as Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in 1970.
Sunnyvale Air Force Station Sunnyvale California 1994 Redesignated as Onizuka Air Force Station
Thornbrough Air Force Base Cold Bay Alaska 1953 Closed
Tonopah Air Force Base Tonopah Nevada 1948 Closed
Topeka Air Force Base Topeka Kansas Redesignated as Forbes Air Force Base
Turner Air Force Base Albany Georgia 1966 Realigned to the US Navy as Naval Air Station Albany
Vandenberg Air Force Base Lompoc California 2021 Realigned to the US Space Force as Vandenberg Space Force Base [18]
Vincent Air Force Base Yuma Arizona 1959 Realigned to the US Marines as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Waco Air Force Base Waco Texas 1966 Redesignated as James Connally Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base Roswell New Mexico 1967 Closed
Walseth Air Force Base Seward Alaska 1947 Closed
Webb Air Force Base Big Spring Texas 1978 Closed
Wendover Air Force Base Wendover Utah 1958 Closed
Westover Air Force Base Chicopee Massachusetts 1991 Redesignated as Westover Air Reserve Base
Wheeler Air Force Base Oahu Hawaii 1993 Realigned to the US Army as Wheeler Army Airfield
Williams Air Force Base Chandler Arizona 1993 Closed
Wolters Air Force Base Mineral Wells Texas 1948 Realigned to the US Army as Fort Wolters
Wurtsmith Air Force Base Oscoda Township Michigan 1993 Closed

Central America and Caribbean edit

Panama edit

Puerto Rico edit

Portion transferred to United States Coast Guard
Renamed CGAS Borinquen (Active)

Europe/Mediterranean/North Atlantic edit

Includes bases in North Africa and the United Kingdom used by Strategic Air Command and bases used by the United States Air Forces in Europe (after 1947). Non-flying minor Air Stations not included.

Belgium/The Netherlands edit

Used as BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile base, 1984–1989
Planned BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile base (Closed 1988, never made active)

Eastern Europe edit

Air Bases in Bulgaria and Romania negotiated by diplomatic agreements for USAF use not included

France edit

Austria/Germany edit

Includes Occupied Austria (1945–1955), Occupied Germany (1947–1949); West Germany (1949–1990), and Occupied Berlin (West Berlin) (1947–1990)

Iceland edit

Denmark (Greenland) edit

Mediterranean edit

Newfoundland edit

United Kingdom edit

Lend-Lease bases edit

Caribbean Lend-Lease bases inactivated in 1949, however 99-year lease signed in 1940 remains in effect, United States has right of return until 2039.[1]

Southwest and Central Asia edit

Only bases publicly disclosed by United States Air Forces Central listed. Current status is undetermined unless noted.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Arabian Peninsula edit

Central Asia edit

Note: Former Soviet Air Forces bases[26] **

Iraq edit

Seized Iraqi air bases not used by the United States:

Note: Former Iraqi Air Force "Super Base" designation was given to airfields with numerous above-ground hardened aircraft-shelters and underground facilities that could shelter between four and ten aircraft on average. During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the Iraqi Air Force essentially stood down except in a few cases of self-defence against US and British air strikes. Despite their size – or exactly because of it – most of these airfields were barely defended in 2003 and with a few exceptions, the "Super Base" facilities were captured intact with very little damage.

Most Iraqi Air Force aircraft in various conditions from being flyable to abandoned hulks (a large number were buried) were seized by the United States and its coalition partners, however it is known that Syrian and Iranian agents were busy removing radars and items from the avionics bays and cockpits. By autumn 2004 only some 20–25 unserviceable wrecks of Iraqi aircraft and helicopters were left scattered around the many Iraqi airfields. The destruction of the Iraqi Air Force was probably one of the most complete such actions in the history of military aviation.

Although most of the former "Super Bases" have been de-militarized and today are abandoned facilities being reclaimed by the desert, a few were refurbished and were subsequently used by Army, Air Force and Marine units. They may form the organization of a new Iraqi Air Force equipped with surplus United States F-16, C-130 and other light aircraft.[27][28][29]

Western Pacific edit

See Far East Air Force Korean airfields (K-sites) for airfields established in the Korean Peninsula during the Korean War (1950–1953)
See Southeast Asia section for USAF bases used during the Vietnam War (1960–1976)

* In 1992 the US government changed the status of three US air bases in South Korea. Kwang Ju Air Base, Suwon Air Base and Taegu Air Base had previously been announced as ending operations, but would instead operate at reduced levels. 15 USAF personnel were assigned to each base, and reside in former officer quarters, which was basically a small apartment. USAF aircraft transit each base, with the personnel providing transient support and maintain USAF equipment stored at each base in case of an emergency for reactivation in which ACC and other units would deploy to them. In addition, the ROK use the airfields as an air base and civil airport.

Taiwan edit

Note: As part of a mutual defense pact, the Republic of China (Taiwan) permitted United States forces, to utilize many ROC bases between 1957–1979. Deployments ended in 1979 as part of the drawdown of United States military forces in Asia after the end of the Vietnam War and the United States' transfer of diplomatic relations from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China in 1979. For more information, see United States Taiwan Defense Command and 327th Air Division.

Southeast Asia edit

** Note: Although active USAF use at U-Tapao ended in 1976, USAF and other DoD personnel have been temporarily deployed to the base for contingency operations in South Asia in the years since. Also U-Tapao supports various Foreign Military Sales in South Asia and DoD military personnel assigned to United States diplomatic postings in the region.

See also edit

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b "Joe McCusker's list of Air Force Bases". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Joint Base Andrews History". Joint Base Andrews. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  3. ^ "About JBAB". Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Buckley receives new name, commander". Buckley Space Force Base. US Space Force. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b Thacker, Senior Airman Zoe (14 December 2020). "Patrick AFB, Cape Canaveral AFS renamed as Space Force installations". Space Launch Delta 45. US Space Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Cape Cod Air Force Station Now Renamed As Space Force Station". CBS Boston. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  7. ^ LeGrand, Senior Airman Dakota C. (30 July 2021). "Cavalier AFS renamed as U.S. Space Force installation". Buckley Space Force Base. US Space Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Joint Base Charleston – History". MyBaseGuide. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Wilcox, Senior Airman Alexus (26 July 2021). "Peterson, Schriever, Cheyenne Mountain cultivate a new identity". United States Space Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Clear Air Force Station renamed as Clear Space Force Station". Buckley Space Force Base. US Space Force. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b Rogers, Ron (16 December 2009). "Joint Base San Antonio MOA becomes official". Joint Base San Antonio. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Langley AFB History". Joint Base Langley-Eustis. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  13. ^ "History". Joint Base Lewis-McChord. US Army. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Factsheet". Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  15. ^ "New Boston gets new name, new commander". Schriever Space Force Base. US Space Force. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Fort Bragg takes over Pope Air Force Base under BRAC". US Army. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  17. ^ Schuhmann, Sidney Schuhmann (18 June 2001). "Lubbock converts Air Force base into business park". Abilene Reporter-News. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010.
  18. ^ Peterson, Michael (14 May 2021). "Vandenberg AFB gets new U.S. Space Force name". Vandenberg Space Force Base. US Space Force. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  19. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Iraqi Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  20. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Afghanistan Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  21. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Saudi Arabian Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  22. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Kuwait Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  23. ^ Martin Gossmann. "United Arab Emirates Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  24. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Jordan Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  25. ^ Martin Gossmann. "Oman Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  26. ^ "Afghanistan Airfields". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  27. ^ "Iraqi Super-Bases". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  28. ^ "Second Death of IrAF". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  29. ^ John Pike. "Globalsecurty.org Iraq Facilities". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  30. ^ Anderson, Gerald R. (1991). Subic Bay: From Magellan to Mt. Pinatubo : the history of the U.S. Naval Station, Subic Bay. OCLC 28510141.

External links edit

  • USAF, Airman Magazine, The Book 2009, Facilities Listing
  • Global Security, US military facilities
  • US airports (for IATA codes, etc.)