Reese Air Force Base

Last updated
Reese Air Force Base
Lubbock, Texas in the United States
Reese-11jan1996.jpg
Aerial view of runways on Reese AFB
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Reese AFB
Location in the United States
Coordinates 33°35′47″N102°02′34″W / 33.59639°N 102.04278°W / 33.59639; -102.04278
Site information
Owner United States Department of Defense
Operator United States Air Force
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1942 (1942)
In use1942–1997 (1997)
FateRedeveloped as a research center known as Reese Technology Center

Reese Air Force Base was a former U.S. Army Air Base located near Lubbock, Texas. It was closed in 1997 and converted into a research center.

Contents

History

Reese AFB tower Reese AFB Tower.JPG
Reese AFB tower

Reese Air Force Base began as the Lubbock Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School in 1942. [1] It was renamed Lubbock Army Flying School in 1943 and then Lubbock Army Airfield later that same year. In 1949, it was renamed Reese Air Force Base in honor of a local West Texas pilot, Augustus F. Reese Jr., who was killed in a bombing raid over Italy during World War II. [1]

Over the years, many milestones were accomplished at Reese Air Force Base, including a special pilot training program, the first flight simulator used in a training program, and a joint pilot training program with the Navy. [2] More than 25,000 pilots, who fought in every conflict since World War II, were trained at Reese. [3]

In 1995, word reached the Lubbock community that Reese Air Force Base was on the Pentagon’s list for base closures via the BRAC process. In spite of much opposition from community members and leaders alike, the base closure was announced for September 30, 1997. [4] The Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Committee (LRRC) was created in 1995, just two weeks after the base was recommended to be closed. [3]

The Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Committee was renamed the Redevelopment Authority (LRRA) and could now execute contracts for base property. This committee was composed of local government officials and area businesspeople. [ citation needed ]

In the years since Reese AFB closure, investigations have occurred to look into the per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) around the former base. Before Reese Air Force Base closed, it was home to training Air Force Firefighters to extinguish life-threatening fires using foam containing PFAS. After using this substance for many years at the base, it began seeping into the groundwater. The Air Force is continually checking bases for PFAS to this day. Past Reese AFB residents are entitled to compensation if found to the following toxins: Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, and Prostate cancer. [5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1970 2,545—
1980 1,934−24.0%
1990 1,263−34.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1960 [7] 1970 [8]
1980 [9] 1990 [10] 2000 [11]
2010 [12]

Reese Air Force Base was listed as an unincorporated area in the 1970 U.S. Census (pop 2,545); and redesignated as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census. [9] The CDP was deleted prior to the 2000 U.S. Census after the air base was closed in 1997; and the Reese Center CDP was formed out of part of its area. [11] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwards Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Lancaster, California, United States (founded 1935)

Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Edwards, California. Established in the 1930s as Muroc Field, the facility was renamed Muroc Army Airfield and then Muroc Air Force Base before its final renaming in 1950 for World War II USAAF veteran and test pilot Capt. Glen Edwards.

<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">Beale Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Marysville, California, United States

Beale Air Force Base (AFB) (IATA: BAB, ICAO: KBAB, FAA LID: BAB) is a United States Air Force base in California. It is outside Linda, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the towns of Marysville and Yuba City, and about 40 miles (64 km) north of Sacramento.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyndall Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Panama City, Florida

Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located 12 miles (19 km) east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing of the Air Combat Command (ACC). The base hosts 2,902 active duty members. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael caused significant damage to the base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base</span> Airport

K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force (USAF) installation in Marquette County, Michigan, south of the city of Marquette. Near the center of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the base operated for nearly forty years and closed in 1995. The county airport, Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport, now occupies a portion of the base and has scheduled airline flights and some general aviation activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Springs, Nevada</span> Unincorporated town in the State of Nevada, United States

Indian Springs is an unincorporated town and a census-designated place located on U.S. Route 95 next to Creech Air Force Base in northwestern Clark County and southern Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McGuire Air Force Base</span> Census-designated place in New Jersey, United States

McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, approximately 16.1 miles (25.9 km) south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the jurisdiction of the Air Mobility Command. It was consolidated with two adjoining US Army and Navy facilities to become part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on 1 October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Center, Texas</span> Former CDP in Texas, United States

Reese Center is an unincorporated community and former census-designated place (CDP) in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census. Its population was not recorded separately for the 2010 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lackland Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near San Antonio, Texas, part of Air Education and Training Command

Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and an enclave of the city of San Antonio. It is the only site for USAF and United States Space Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Irwin National Training Center</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Fort Irwin National Training Center is a major training area for the United States military in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin is at an average elevation of 2,454 feet (748 m). It is located 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Barstow, in the Calico Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laughlin Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Del Rio, Texas

Laughlin Air Force Base is a facility of the United States Air Force located east of Del Rio, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near San Antonio, Texas

Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Bexar County, Texas,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodfellow Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base in San Angelo, Texas

Goodfellow Air Force Base is a nonflying United States Air Force base located in San Angelo, Texas, United States. As part of Air Education and Training Command, Goodfellow's main mission is cryptologic and intelligence training for the Air Force, Space Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps. Military firefighters are also trained here as part of the 312th Training Squadron. It is the home of the 17th Training Wing. The base is named for World War I aviator First Lieutenant John J. Goodfellow Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John D. W. Corley</span> US Air Force general

John Donald Wesley Corley is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He previously served as the commander of Air Combat Command from October 2007 to September 10, 2009, and as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from September 2005 to September 2007. He retired from the Air Force on November 1, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Technology Center</span> Research Center in Texas, United States

Reese Technology Center is a research and business park located on the grounds of former Reese Air Force Base in western Lubbock at the unincorporated community of Reese Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Home Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Mountain Home, Idaho, United States

Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation in the western United States. Located in southwestern Idaho in Elmore County, the base is twelve miles (20 km) southwest of Mountain Home, which is forty miles (65 km) southeast of Boise via Interstate 84. The base is also used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which has a detachment of F-15SG combat aircraft on long term assignment to the base and a squadron composed of RSAF and USAF personnel.

Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base, located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. The host unit at Cannon is the 27th Special Operations Wing also known as "The Steadfast Line". It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) which activated at the base on 1 October 2007. The 27 SOW plans and executes specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate and resupply special operations forces (SOF) and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and close air support in support of SOF operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moody Air Force Base</span> U.S. Air Force base near Georgia, US

Moody Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation near Valdosta, Georgia.

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

Columbus Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Columbus, Mississippi. The host unit at Columbus AFB is the 14th Flying Training Wing , which is a part of Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robins Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base at Warner Robins, Georgia, United States

Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force installation located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of the city of Warner Robins, 18 mi (29 km) south-southeast of Macon and approximately 100 mi (160 km) south-southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The base is named in honor of Brig Gen Augustine Warner Robins, the Air Force's "father of logistics". The base is the single largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a workforce of over 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members.

References

  1. 1 2 Gamble, S.G.; Turner, R. (2010). "Reese Air Force Base". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Anonymous (1995). "A Short History of Reese Air Force Base, Texas". Reese Air Force Base. Bruce Richardson.
  3. 1 2 Reese Center Staff (2010). "Reese Technology Center". Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on 2010-08-29.
  4. ↑ Schuhmann, S. (2001). "Lubbock converts Air Force base into business park". Abilene Reporter-News. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30.
  5. ↑ McClendon, Malcolm (2023-10-09). "Air Force begins field work to investigate PFAS at former Reese AFB". US Air Force . Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  7. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  8. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  9. 1 2 "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  10. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  11. 1 2 "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  12. 1 2 "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
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.