Altus Air Force Base

Last updated

Altus Air Force Base
Altus, Oklahoma in  United States of America
97thoperationsgroup-c-17.jpg
Air Education and Training Command.svg
North America laea relief location map with borders.jpg
Roundel of the USAF.svg
Altus AFB
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Roundel of the USAF.svg
Altus AFB
USA Oklahoma relief location map.svg
Roundel of the USAF.svg
Altus AFB
Coordinates 34°39′59″N099°16′05″W / 34.66639°N 99.26806°W / 34.66639; -99.26806
TypeUS Air Force base
Site information
Owner Department of Defense
Operator US Air Force
Controlled by Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
ConditionOperational
Website www.altus.af.mil/
Site history
Built1943 (1943)
In use1943–present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Colonel Jeffrey M. Marshall
Garrison 97th Air Mobility Wing
OccupantsSee Based units section for full list.
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: LTS, ICAO: KLTS, FAA LID: LTS, WMO: 0-20000-0-72352
Elevation421 m (1,382 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
17R/35L4,097 m (13,440 ft)  Concrete
17L/35R2,744 m (9,001 ft)  Asphalt
Assault Strip1,067 m (3,500 ft) Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration [1]

Altus Air Force Base (Altus AFB, AAFB) ( IATA : LTS, ICAO : KLTS, FAA LID : LTS) is a United States Air Force base located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma.

Contents

The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force (19 AF) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The wing's mission is to provide C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus formal initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3,000 flight crew and aircraft maintenance students annually.

Altus AFB was established in 1943 as Altus Army Airfield (AAF). The 97 AMW is commanded by Colonel Jeffrey M. Marshall with Vice Commander as Colonel Adam H. Rosado, and the Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Justin R. Brundage.

Role and operations

The 97 AMW consists of the following major units:

Plans and executes C-17 and KC-135 formal school, initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3000 students annually. Sustains Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus airland, airdrop and air refueling mobility forces, providing global reach for combat and contingency operations. Provides air traffic control and weather forecasting for flying operations.
Provides mission, infrastructure, and community quality of life support for personnel and all assigned organizations on Altus AFB. Supports worldwide USAF taskings with deployment ready personnel and equipment.
Provides maintenance and support to all assigned aircraft and provides the same maintenance support to transient aircraft, engines and associated ground equipment. To provide backshop support to all three aircraft while continuously improving environmental awareness and effectively managing maintenance resources, allowing the 97th Air Mobility Wing to perform its aircrew training mission.
Ensures maximum wartime readiness and combat capability by promoting the health, safety and morale of active duty personnel. Staffs, trains, mobilizes and provides medical services in support of contingency operations worldwide. Develops and operates a prevention-oriented, cost-effective managed healthcare system for over 9,500 people.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Altus Air Force Base. [2] [3] [4]

United States Air Force

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)

History

Postwar era

The base became operational in January 1943, training new pilots on multi-engine aircraft. The primary training aircraft were the Cessna AT-17 Bobcat and the Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep. On 15 May 1945, the airfield was placed on temporary inactive status. [5]

It later became an aircraft disposal point for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.

Cold War

The base sat idle for only a few years. The onset of the Korean War in June 1950 created the need for more staff to fly

During the 1950s, the base underwent many changes and changed hands from TAC to the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Later that year, on 18 November, the 96th Bombardment Wing, Medium (96 BMW), arrived and began operations with three bomber squadrons and one air refueling squadron. The squadrons eventually flew the first all jet-engined bomber, the B-47 Stratojet and the KC-97 Stratofreighter, a dual-purpose cargo and air-refueling aircraft. By the end of the decade, both of these aircraft would be replaced by aircraft still in the Air Force inventory, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the B-52 Stratofortress. The KC-135 was the first all jet-engined air-refueling aircraft and the B-52 still remains the backbone of the USAF bomber fleet. When the 96th BW moved to Dyess AFB, Texas, the 11th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) activated and stood on alert during the Cold War. [5]

June 1961 witnessed the activation of twelve Atlas “F” intercontinental ballistic missile sites within a 40-mile radius of the base. Controlled by the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron, the missiles sat inside a silo, constructed underground with a launch facility, and staffed around the clock. The missile silos became operational on 10 October 1962, but the activation would be short-lived. The missile at the Frederick, OK, site exploded in May 1964. The missiles were outdated. By April 1965, the missiles were phased out of the national strategic defense plan. [5]

In August 1966, the 4th Mobile Communications Group transferred from Hunter AFB, Georgia, to Altus. The unit's mission consisted of providing mobile and transportable communication services, aiding navigation and air traffic control throughout the world. [5]

In 1967, the Air Force began searching for a base that could handle the training for its strategic airlift fleet, the C-141 Starlifter and its newest and largest transport aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy. Again, Oklahoma proved to be well suited for the mission. The Military Airlift Command (MAC) assumed command of the base from SAC and activated the 443d Military Airlift Wing (443 MAW), Training, to assume host wing responsibilities and to fly alongside the SAC aircraft that would become a tenant command at Altus. [5]

By the start of the 1970s, Altus AFB had three aircraft type/models assigned: KC-135s, C-141s, and C-5s. For the KC-135 aircraft at Altus still under SAC's control, the USAF activated the 340th Air Refueling Wing, which continued to operate the base's KC-135s. [5]

The 1990s and beyond

The post Cold War environment brought many changes to Altus AFB. On 1 June 1992, the Air Force reorganized and the Military Airlift Command (MAC) disestablished. In its place the new Air Mobility Command (AMC) was activated, which placed MAC's strategic and tactical airlift aircraft and SAC's aerial refueling aircraft under a single command. Second, the 443d Airlift Wing and the 340th Air Refueling Wing were inactivated, with the latter's aircraft transferred to the 19th Air Refueling Wing at Robins AFB, Georgia. [5]

On 1 October, the first Air Mobility Wing (AMW), the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), arrived Altus without personnel or equipment, having formerly been designated as SAC's 97th Bombardment Wing and having been transferred from the deactivating Eaker AFB, Arkansas as a result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. The 97 AMW was tasked with flight crew formal training unit (FTU) responsibilities for the C-141 and C-5 aircrew, and with the closure of Castle AFB, California due to BRAC action, concurrently assumed FTU responsibilities for KC-135E/R/T flight crews. On 1 July 1993, the 97th was transferred from AMC to the newly established Air Education and Training Command (AETC) as part of a USAF initiative to move most FTU activities to AETC.

More changes were on the horizon. In 1996, the latest addition to Altus AFB, the new C-17 Globemaster III, arrived. Even before its arrival, the base began training pilots and loadmasters to operate and fly the aircraft. [5]

In August 2002, the mission of the wing grew when the Air Force moved the basic loadmaster course from Sheppard AFB, Texas, to Altus. This initiative combined similar training programs to reduce the number of moves required by trainees while cutting overall costs. Additionally, during that same month, the wing reorganized as a "combat wing": the 97th Support Group became the 97th Mission Support Group, gaining the new 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron (comprising the former 97th Supply Squadron, 97th Transportation Squadron and logistics plans flight) and the 97th Contracting Squadron. Also, the 97th Logistics Group inactivated and the 97th Maintenance Directorate was activated. The directorate comprises civil-service personnel, who are responsible for the care and maintenance of all three airframes at the base. [5]

The 97 AMW discontinued FTU responsibilities for the C-141 concurrent with that aircraft's retirement from the USAF inventory in 2006. On 1 July 2007, the Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC) 433d Airlift Wing (433 AW) at Lackland AFB/Kelly Field (former Kelly AFB) assumed responsibility for all flying training and academic training for the C-5 aircraft for all Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) aircrews, leaving the 97 AMW and Altus to concentrate on C-17 and KC-135 training for AMC, USAFE, PACAF, AFRC and ANG aircrews. [6]

Previous names

Major commands to which assigned

Base operating units

Major units assigned

SM-65F Atlas Missile Sites

SM-65F Atlas Missile silos 577th Strategic Missile Squadron - SM-65F Atlas Missile.png
SM-65F Atlas Missile silos

The 577th Strategic Missile Squadron operated twelve missile sites, of one missile at each site:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacDill Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base in Tampa, Florida, United States

MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dyess Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Abilene, Texas, United States

Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of downtown Abilene, Texas, and 150 miles (240 km) west of Fort Worth, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McConnell Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Wichita, Kansas, United States

McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The airbase was named in honor of the brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell of Wichita, who had both been Air Force pilots and veterans of World War II. It is the home of Air Mobility Command's 22nd Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Command's 931st Air Refueling Wing, and the Kansas Air National Guard's 184th Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Rock Air Force Base</span> United States Air Force base in Jacksonville, Arkansas

Little Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Education and Training Command</span> Major command of the United States Air Force responsible for military training and education

The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">305th Air Mobility Wing</span> Military unit

The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. The 305th AMW is a tenant unit at mostly the McGuire AFB component of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in central New Jersey. It also controls one of the Air Force's busiest aerial ports, and the air operations at both McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Lakehurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter</span> 1951–1978 American strategic tanker aircraft

The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter is a four-engined, piston-powered United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It replaced the KB-29 and was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">97th Air Mobility Wing</span> Unit of the US Air Force, Air Education and Training Command

The 97th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force (USAF) unit assigned to Nineteenth Air Force of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus. It plans and executes McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing KC-46, and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker pilot and aircrew training, providing formal school initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3,000 students annually. The training is done in a three-phase approach: Academic Phase, Simulator Phase, and Flying Phase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 6th Air Refueling Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's (AMC) Eighteenth Air Force. The wing's 6th Operations Group is a successor organization of the 3d Observation Group, one of the seven original combat air groups formed by the United States Army Air Service shortly after the end of World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">927th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 927th Air Refueling Wing is a combat coded Air Reserve Component (ARC) wing of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">349th Air Mobility Wing</span> Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force

The 349th Air Mobility Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. The 349th AMW is an associate unit of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Air Mobility Command (AMC) and if mobilized the wing is gained by AMC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Mobility Rodeo</span> International airlift competition

The Air Mobility Rodeo was a biennial, international airlift competition hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC). AMC gathers wings from active duty, reserve, and Air National Guard units from across the United States and around the world to test and improve tactics in a competitive environment. In this environment units are able to demonstrate capabilities, improve procedures, compare notes, and enhance standardization for global operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">507th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 507th Air Refueling Wing is a reserve component flying unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Fourth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma with elements at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The 507th ARW executes air refueling, airlift, and training in support of Air Mobility Command and U.S. Strategic Command's national emergency war order requirements. The wing employs approximately 1,100 men and women made up of a mix of Traditional Reservists, full-time Air Reserve Technicians, AGRs and Air Force civilians. The wing also provides mission support for all other reserve units stationed at Tinker AFB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">443d Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 443d Airlift Wing is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Air Mobility Command, being stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on October 1, 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">340th Flying Training Group</span> Military unit

The 340th Flying Training Group is a reserve component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command, at Randolph Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The group is the headquarters for reserve flying training squadrons that are associate squadrons of Air Education and Training Command flying training squadrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">56th Air Refueling Squadron</span> US Air Force unit part of Air Education and Training Command

The 56th Air Refueling Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft, conducting initial and advanced aircrew training for air refueling operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">97th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 97th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">577th Strategic Missile Squadron</span> Military unit

The 577th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Fairfield, California, United States

Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of Air Mobility Command (AMC), located three miles east of the central business district of the city of Fairfield, in Solano County, California.

References

  1. "Airport Data - (LTS) Altus AFB (LTS)". Federal Aviation Administration. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. "Units". Altus Air Force Base. US Air Force. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  3. "97th Contracting Flight". Altus Air Force Base. US Air Force. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. "97th Comptroller Squadron". Altus Air Force Base. US Air Force. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "At a Glance: The Heritage of the 97th Air Mobility Wing and Altus Air Force Base" (PDF). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  6. "433rd Airlift Wing - 356th Airlift Squadron". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

Other sources