This is a list of installations operated by the United States Air Force located within the United States and abroad. Locations where the Air Force have a notable presence but do not operate the facility are also listed.
The location and number of US Air Force installations has fluctuated according to the size of the Air Force, the capabilities of available weapon systems, and the strategies contemplated for their employment. The number of active duty Air Force Bases within the United States rose from 115 in 1947 to peak at 162 in 1956 before declining to 69 in 2003 and 59 in 2020. This change reflects a Cold War expansion, retirement of much of the strategic bomber force, and the post–Cold War draw-down. Over time, the USAF has constantly realigned its forces within the network of bases to reflect current needs and strategies.[1]
The Air Force use several terms to identify the different type of installations it operates:[2]
Air Force Base, Air Reserve Base or Air Guard Base are used to describe an installation from which aircraft operations can be conducted or from which major activities of importance to Air Force combat, combat support, or training missions can be supported.
Air Force Station (sometimes Air Station), Air Reserve Station or Air National Guard Station is used to name installations, typically but not exclusively without a flying mission, that are operated by a unit of at least squadron size, that does not otherwise meet the criteria of being a base.
Air Force Auxiliary Airfield is used if the installation has an aircraft operating area that provides operational activities in support of a primary installation and depends upon a primary installation for administrative and logistical support.
Air Base is typically but not always used to name an installation located outside the United States or its territories.
Active duty Installations are normally named after notable Air Force personnel, whereas Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard installations are either named in the same manner or after the community in which they are located.
Active-duty USAF bases in the United States are under the jurisdiction of the following Major Commands. There are 57 Active Bases across the country:[3]
Military academy for the US Air Force and US Space Force. It is both a military organization and a university, much of which is set up like most other Air Force bases, but the Superintendent, Commandant, Dean of Faculty and cadet wing are set up like a civilian university. The 306th Flying Training Group operates a variety of light training aircraft and gliders.[65][66]
Air National Guard units are a reserve military force composed of state Air National Guard members or federally recognized units and report to the governor of their respective state, territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. Each of the 54 Air National Guard organizations is supervised by the adjutant general of the state or territory,[72] Air Force Reserve units are aligned under Fourth Air Force, Tenth Air Force and Twenty-Second Air Force of the Air Force Reserve Command. The command has Fighter, Air Refueling and Airlift units, and is administratively responsible for all the Air Force's individual mobilization augmentees.[73]
US Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard installations located within mainland United States. Joint Reserve Bases with an Air Force presence will include JRB or JRS. This map does not include Active Duty Air Force Installations with an Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard presence.
Oregon National Guard Training Complex under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Military Department, the 116th Air Control Squadron provides command and control capabilities for Oregon's North Coast emergency response and recovery operations.[86][87]
Non-flying installation. Air defence command and control unit permanently assigned to NORAD and manned by the New York Air National Guard's 224th Air Defense Group.[96]
An Active Duty US Army Installation hosting a Geographically Separate Unit of the 149th Fighter Wing. The 204th Security Forces Squadron specifically occupies Biggs Army Airfield and operates as the only heavy weapons Security Forces unit in the Air National Guard.[101][102]
Hosts regular deployments of Army and Air Force national guard units, offering training airspace over an area directly adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. Home of the 209th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron and 255th Air Control Squadron.[112]
Non-flying installation. Geographically Separate Unit of the 226th Combat Communications Group, providing provide strategic air defense & sovereignty and air tactical warning & assessment to NORAD.[113]
Airfield shared with Stanly County Airport. Home of the 263rd Combat Communications Squadron, 235th Air Traffic Squadron and 118th Air Support Operations Squadron, all Geographically Separate Units of the 145th Airlift Wing.[143]
Non-flying installation. Home to the 265th Combat Communications Squadron and 243rd Engineering and Installation Squadron, both Geographically Separate Units of the 101st Air Refueling Wing.[167]
Forward Operating Location made available to the US by the Dutch government. Geographically Separate Unit of the 612th Theater Operation Group, supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South) counter-drug operations.[186]
A Geographically Separate Unit of the 156th Wing, the 156th Operations Group operates the combat communications and Host Nation Rider mission. The 156th Operations Group is a component of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.[189]
Forward Operating Location made available to the US by the Dutch government. Geographically Separate Unit of the 612th Theater Operation Group, supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South) counter-drug operations.[186]
Forward Operating Location made available to the US by the Honduras Government. Geographically Separate Unit of the 612th Theater Operation Group, supporting Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B).[190]
PACAF's primary mission is to provide U.S. Pacific Command integrated expeditionary Air Force capabilities to defend the Homeland, promote stability, dissuade/deter aggression, and swiftly defeat enemies. PACAF traces its roots to the activation of Far East Air Forces, 3 August 1944, at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It consisted of three numbered air forces—5th, 7th and 13th—which were supporting combat operations in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
US Air Force installations and locations in the Pacific, East Asia and South East Asia
Joint USAF/US Army Main Operating Base. 3rd WingF-22 Raptor air superiority fighter supports and defends U.S. interests in the Asia Pacific region and around the world. AK ANG 176th Wing operates eight C-130H Hercules aircraft. Also HQ of PACAF Eleventh Air Force, DOD Alaskan Command (ALCOM), Alaska NORAD Region.[200][201]
US Marine Corps Air Station, made available to the US by the Japanese Government, hosting a Geographically Separate Unit of the 374th Airlift Wing.[205]
Geographically Separate Unit providing a trans-Pacific refueling stop for military aircraft. Also supports Missile Defense Agency test activities.[213]
USAFE-AFAFRICA has seven main operating bases and 114 geographically separate units.[215] Although Akrotiri is within the USAFE-AFAFRICA area of responsibility, the units there are under the control of other major commands.
Italian owned base hosting a Geographically Separate Unit of the 52nd Fighter Wing. Responsible for receipt, storage, maintenance and control of US war reserve munitions.[220]
Geographically Separate Unit of the 52nd Fighter Wing. Provides support to USAF and other Department of Defense units throughout fourteen locations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy.[235]
US Air Force operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and part of South Asia are overseen by US Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT). It is part of Air Combat Command and head-quartered at Shaw AFB in South Carolina. It is the air component to US Central Command, with a mission to deliver air power for the security and stability of the region. The USAFCENT area of responsibility covers Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.[254]
Geographically Separate Unit of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Operates the Theater Logistics Gateway in support of operations in the Middle East.[255]
Main Operating Base made available to the US by the Kuwaiti government. The 386th AEW provides tactical airlift and combat service support for operations throughout the Middle East.[258]
Air Base made available to the US by the Jordanian government hosting a Geographically Separate Unit of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing supporting operations throughout the Middle East.[260]
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base 5 miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona. It was established in 1925 as Davis–Monthan Landing Field. The host unit for Davis–Monthan AFB is the 355th Wing assigned to Twelfth Air Force (12AF), part of Air Combat Command (ACC). The base is best known as the location of the Air Force Materiel Command's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the aircraft boneyard for all excess military and U.S. government aircraft and aerospace vehicles.
March Air Reserve Base, previously known as March Air Force Base, is located in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's Fourth Air Force Headquarters and the host of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, the largest air mobility wing of the Fourth Air Force. In addition to multiple units of the Air Force Reserve Command supporting Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces, March ARB is also home to units from the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, California Air National Guard and the California Army National Guard. For almost 50 years, March AFB was a Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War. The facility covers 2,075 acres of land.
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida.
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.
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, in northwest Louisiana. Much of the base is within the city limits of Bossier City, Louisiana, along the base's western and northwestern edge. Barksdale AFB occupies more than 22,000 acres (89 km2) east of Bossier City and along the southern edge of Interstate 20. More than 15,000 active-duty and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) members serve at Barksdale.
The Ohio Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Ohio, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Ohio Army National Guard an element of the Ohio National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PA ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard an element of the Pennsylvania National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The Iowa Air National Guard (IA ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Iowa, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Iowa Army National Guard, an element of the Iowa National Guard.
The Oklahoma Air National Guard (OK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Oklahoma, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard an element of the Oklahoma National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The 136th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force's Air Mobility Command (AMC).
The 319th Reconnaissance Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. It is stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is the host unit at Grand Forks.
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.
The 126th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.
The 137th Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by Air Force Special Operations Command. During World War II, its predecessor, the 404th Fighter Group, flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, provided close air support to troops following the Operation Overlord, the Normandy landing until the close of the war. The wing is entitled to the honors won by the group by temporary bestowal.
The 157th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.
The Maine Air National Guard (ME ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Maine, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Maine Army National Guard, an element of the Maine National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.
The 181st Airlift Squadron is a unit of the 136th Airlift Wing of the Texas Air National Guard stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The 181st is equipped with the Lockheed C-130J Hercules.
The 133rd Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard 157th Air Refueling Wing located at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. The 133rd, which previously operated the KC-135 Stratotanker, received its first KC-46A Pegasus tanker on 8 August 2019.
Minneapolis–Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. It is located in the Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory on the southeast border of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was formerly the location of Naval Air Station Twin Cities.
Joint Base Andrews (JBA) is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF) 316th Wing, Air Force District of Washington (AFDW). The base was established in 2009, when Andrews Air Force Base and Naval Air Facility Washington were merged.
1 2 Rumbaugh, Senior Airman Devin M. (3 April 2019). "496th ABS realigns under 65th ABG". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. US Air Force. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
↑ Howard, Capt. Austin; Smith, Master Sgt. Jamie (25 January 2018). "470th Air Base Squadron- What we do". Spangdahlem Air Base. US Air Force. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
↑ "U-2S/T-U2S". United States Air Force Air Power Yearbook 2019. Key Publishing: 98. 2019.
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