Mira Loma Air Force Station

Last updated

Mira Loma Air Force Station
Part of Air Force Logistics Command
Located in Mira Loma, California
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Mira Loma AFS
Coordinates 34°01′33″N117°31′59″W / 34.02583°N 117.53306°W / 34.02583; -117.53306
TypeAir Force Base
Site information
Controlled by United States Air Force
ConditionSold
Site history
BuiltMarch 1942
In useOpen 1942 – closed 1986

Mira Loma Air Force Station is a closed facility of the United States Air Force. It served as a depot for ICBM missile programs operated at Norton Air Force Base and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It also supported civil defense radiological equipment testing and maintenance.

Contents

History

Quartermaster Corps

The site of Mira Loma Air Force Station was originally constructed during World War II as the former Army Quartermaster Supply Depot at Mira Loma, California.

At Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot Colonel Charles E. Stafford established the Advance Communications Zone depot in January 1942, and on 5 June 1942 [1] activated the San Bernardino branch, California quartermaster depot, and the Mira Loma quartermaster depot. [2]

The military reservation was situated north of Mira Loma at the corner of Etiwanda Avenue and Highway 60. Land for the facility was purchased in 1942 in support of wartime efforts. The depot consisted of warehouses, an administration building, infirmary, training building, garage, officer's quarters, sewage disposal plant and several other buildings. [3]

Colonel Stafford headed the depot until March 1944, when he was reassigned as special representative of the quartermaster general at the Advance Communications Zone depot in San Bernardino. His replacement was Brigadier General William R. White, following a four-year tour of duty as quartermaster for the Army force in the Central Pacific. [4]

With the conclusion of the war in September 1945, Brigadier General White, commanding general of the Mira Loma quartermaster depot, conforming with basic policy established by the president, established a 40 hour administrative work week, Monday through Friday. "Where it is necessary for certain operating divisions to maintain a skeleton crew on Saturday and Sunday, the work week of a sufficient number of employes, [sic] will be staggered to permit the retention of a skeleton force on those days. The shorter work week will eliminate overtime pay and will give depot employees a two days a week rest after years of strenuous overtime work, General White said." [5]

"The Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot under the Army Quartermaster Corps had an overseas distribution mission for subsistence, general supplies, clothing and equipage. Major Bryce J. Torrence has been the commanding officer." [6]

Transfer to Air Force

Most of the property was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and redesignated Mira Loma Air Force Station. Effective 1 January 1955, the facility became the Mira Loma Air Force Annex, under the jurisdiction of the San Bernardino Air Materiel Area, announced Maj. Gen. Edward W. Anderson, SBAMA commander.

The transfer involves an installation with approximately 527 acres of land with 1,550,000 square feet of improved open storage area. Approximately 204 Army civilian employes [sic] are also being transferred to Air Force rolls. Most of these are being retained at Mira Loma.

At present a majority of the warehouse space is occupied by fuel tanks for the Sacramento Air Materiel Area. Other Air Force supplies and Air Force non-temporary household goods, are also stored there. Also in storage is some Army technical service property and some Navy property.

With the departure of Maj. Torrence, who has given valuable assistance to the Air Force during transfer procedures, Maj. Jules M. Povala, who has been with the SBAMA Base Supply Division, was appointed military officer in charge. Steven F. Capasso will remain as administrative assistant to Maj. Povala." [7]

In January 1957, Brig. Gen. James L. Jackson, deputy commander at SBAMA, announced the consolidation of heavy land transportation responsibilities under the Army. This change affected about 25 personnel who were transferred to other duties. "Under the new plan, the Army will assume responsibility for all heavy land transportation of supplies by rail, bus and truck. [8]

In the late 1950s, Mira Loma AFS was designated the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization Radiological Maintenance Shop for the Arizona and Southern California areas of Region VII, operating from OCDM Warehouse No. 931. [9] [10] As solid-fuel Minuteman missiles entered service from 1962, the more problematic liquid-fueled Atlas and Titan systems were removed from alert status. "All of the Atlas Ds were phased out between May and October 1964. From January through March 1965, SAC removed the Atlas Es and Fs, and by June 1965 had deactivated all of the Titan I missiles as well. The Atlas ICBMs were shipped to San Bernardino Air Material Area, Norton AFB, for storage; the Titans were stored at Mira Loma Air Force Station, near Vandenberg AFB." [11] News accounts dated 12 December 1963 stated, however, that "Mira Loma Air Force Station at Ontario will be closed and its mission transferred to other installations in the area by December 1964." [12] [13] This was part of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's economy moves to consolidate military installations. [14] [15]

All remaining Titan I launch vehicles had been shipped to storage at Mira Loma AFS, Riverside County, by 18 April 1965. These were scrapped at Mira Loma in the spring of 1966. [16]

Disposal

Approximately 2/3 of the land was sold to a private entity (Mira Loma Space Center) who re-developed the site as an industrial and commercial office park.

Rail Systems Inc.

Rail Systems Inc, founded in 1973 as a subsidiary of Rohr Industries and sold to North American Car Corporation (NACC) in 1977, used parts of Mira Loma Space Center to rebuild about 300 rail cars for Amtrak between 1973 and 1975.

County of Riverside

The remaining portion of the property was sold to the County of Riverside in 1986. [17] Not surprisingly, perchlorate, used in rocket fuel, has been detected at the site. [18]

In 2022 it was demolished to build a large Amazon warehouse.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strategic Air Command</span> 1946–1992 US Air Force major command

Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile components of the United States military's strategic nuclear forces from 1946 to 1992. SAC was also responsible for strategic reconnaissance aircraft; airborne command posts; and most of the USAF's aerial refueling aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titan (rocket family)</span> Family of launch vehicles used in U.S. Air Force and space programs (1959–2005)

Titan was a family of United States expendable rockets used between 1959 and 2005. The Titan I and Titan II were part of the US Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fleet until 1987. The space launch vehicle versions contributed the majority of the 368 Titan launches, including all the Project Gemini crewed flights of the mid-1960s. Titan vehicles were also used to lift US military payloads as well as civilian agency reconnaissance satellites and to send interplanetary scientific probes throughout the Solar System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vandenberg Space Force Base</span> United States Space Force Base near Los Angeles

Vandenberg Space Force Base, previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HGM-25A Titan I</span> Early American intercontinental ballistic missile

The Martin Marietta SM-68A/HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in use from 1959 until 1962. Though the SM-68A was operational for only three years, it spawned numerous follow-on models that were a part of the U.S. arsenal and space launch capability. The Titan I was unique among the Titan models in that it used liquid oxygen and RP-1 as propellants; all subsequent versions used storable propellants instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGM-25C Titan II</span> US ICBM, in service from 1962 to 1987

The Titan II was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company from the earlier Titan I missile. Titan II was originally designed and used as an ICBM, but was later adapted as a medium-lift space launch vehicle to carry payloads to Earth orbit for the United States Air Force (USAF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Those payloads included the USAF Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), NOAA weather satellites, and NASA's Gemini crewed space capsules. The modified Titan II SLVs were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, up until 2003.

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) was a process by a United States federal government commission to increase the efficiency of the United States Department of Defense by coordinating the realignment and closure of military installations following the end of the Cold War. Over 350 installations have been closed in five BRAC rounds: 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 2005. These five BRAC rounds constitute a combined savings of $12 billion annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Materiel Command</span> 1944-1992 United States Air Force major command

Air Materiel Command (AMC) was a United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In 1961, the command was redesignated the Air Force Logistics Command with some of its functions transferred to the new Air Force Systems Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base

Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility 2 miles (3.2 km) east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow</span> US Marine Corps base near Barstow, California, US

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located in the Mojave Desert east of Barstow, in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ground Equipment Facility J-33</span> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar station

Ground Equipment Facility J-33 is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar station of the Joint Surveillance System's Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) with an Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR-4). The facility was previously a USAF general surveillance radar station during the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Systems Command</span> U.S. Space Force space development, acquisition, launch, and logistics field command

Space Systems Command (SSC) is the United States Space Force's space development, acquisition, launch, and logistics field command. It is headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, and manages the United States' space launch ranges.

Brent Prescott's Camp Ono existed from 1942 to 1947 in Southern California on 300 acres of land. The camp was four miles northwest of the City of San Bernardino, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward W. Anderson</span> United States Air Force general (1903–1979)

Major General Edward W. Anderson was an American military officer involved with flying operations, air education, and command structure. During World War II, he commanded several fighter organizations. Post-war he was involved with air education and Air Force logistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Ramme</span>

Ernest Lester Ramme was a United States Army and United States Air Force officer with a career spanning thirty years.

Brigadier General William Robert White was a United States Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II. Following a combat command in the first conflict, he transferred to the quartermaster corps and served in various capacities throughout the second war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Goffs</span> Former U.S. Army Camp in Mojave Desert, California

The Camp Goffs was a sub camp of the US Army Desert Training Center in Riverside County, California. The main headquarters for the Desert Training Center was Camp Young, this is where General Patton's 3rd Armored Division was stationed. Camp Goffs was designated a California Historic Landmark (No.985). The site of the Camp Goffs just north at the former Santa Fe Railroad station at Goffs, California. Goffs, California is on U.S. Route 66 5 miles north of the current Interstate 40, 25 miles (40 km) west of Needles in San Bernardino County, California. Currently at the south east end of the Mojave National Preserve. Camp Goffs was 20 miles southeast of Camp Essex and Camp Clipper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Schiess</span> U.S. Space Force general officer

Douglas Andrew Schiess is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who serves as the commander of United States Space Forces – Space and combined joint force space component commander of the United States Space Command. He previously served as the commander of Combined Force Space Component Command and vice commander of Space Operations Command.

References

  1. ↑ "Mira Loma Quartermaster Depot (Mira Loma Air Force Station, Prisoner of War Camp)".
  2. ↑ Staff, "General White Takes Command at Mira Loma - Pacific Veteran Succeeds Stafford, Now in S. B. Area", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 4 March 1944, Volume 50, page 4.
  3. ↑ "Army Quartermaster Supply Depot / Mira Loma Air Force Station - Jurupa Valley, California".
  4. ↑ Staff, "General White Takes Command at Mira Loma - Pacific Veteran Succeeds Stafford, Now in S. B. Area", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 4 March 1944, Volume 50, page 4.
  5. ↑ Staff, "Mira Loma Depot Goes on 40-Hour Week", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 14 September 1945, Volume 52, page 6.
  6. ↑ Special, "Air Force Takes Over Mira Loma Supply Depot", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 8 January 1955, Volume LXI, Number 113, page 16,
  7. ↑ Special, "Air Force Takes Over Mira Loma Supply Depot", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 8 January 1955, Volume LXI, Number 113, page 16.
  8. ↑ Special, "Policy Change at Mira Loma Is Clarified by Air Force", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 26 January 1957, Volume LXIII, Number 127, page 15,
  9. ↑ Advisory Bulletin, "Interim Procedures For Maintenance of Radiological Instruments", Executive Office of the President, Office of Civil Defense and Mobilization, Battle Creek, Michigan, No. 229, 8 January 1959, Attachment A, Page 2,
  10. ↑ https://orau.org/health-physics-museum/files/library/civil-defense/advisory-bulletin-no.-229-interim-proced-for-maint-of-rad-instruments.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  11. ↑ Neufeld, Jacob, "Ballistic Missiles in the United States Air Force 1945-1960", Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., 1990, Library of Congress card number 89-71109, ISBN   0-912799-62-5, page 238.
  12. ↑ Associated Press, "33 Military Installations Will Be Closed, Reduced", The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa-Northport, Alabama, Thursday 12 December 1963, Volume 145, Number 346, pages 1, 7.
  13. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers? nid=1817&dat=19631212&id=8hkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-5oEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7356,1863664&hl=en
  14. ↑ Associated Press, "Economy Act Is Expected To Continue", The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa-Northport, Alabama, Thursday 12 December 1963, Volume 145, Number 346, pages 1.
  15. ↑ "CQ Almanac Online Edition".
  16. ↑ "Titan 1". Archived from the original on 9 March 2002.
  17. ↑ "Army Quartermaster Supply Depot / Mira Loma Air Force Station - Jurupa Valley, California".
  18. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.