The United States Air Force was only recently surpassed by the Space Force in 2019, making it the youngest of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) service branches. Branching off from the US Army in 1947, it began as the US Army Air Corps in 1926.

The Air Force has evolved over the 99 years since then, to become one of the most influential and highest-funded branches of the Armed Forces. In this review, we will examine the seven oldest air bases in the USAF that are still actively serving the nation. So, here we go!

7

Fairchild Air Force Base

Established In 1942

Fairchild Air Force Base is located 12 miles west of Spokane, Washington. The base is a major installation under the purview of the Air Mobility Command, often referred to as the « tanker hub of the Northwest, » and is home to the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing (92 ARW) operates a large fleet of KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, as does the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard.

Fairchild is home to the Air Force’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) school under the 336th Training Group, which trains aircrews to « Return with Honor » from behind enemy lines. The 36th Rescue Squadron provides search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) coverage for the SERE school’s extensive training areas and also supports civilian SAR efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

The base was first built as the Spokane Army Depot. The Airfield initially served as a repair and supply center for aircraft returning from the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the War, it transitioned to a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base, hosting B-29, B-36, and B-52 bombers, but its bomber mission ended in 1994. It was renamed in 1950 to honor General Muir Fairchild, a Washington native and the first Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

6

Barksdale Air Force Base

Established in 1932

Barksdale Air Force Base is a crucial military installation located in Bossier City, Louisiana. During World War II, it was a crucial training center for bomber crews. In the Cold War, it was a major base for the Strategic Air Command (SAC). The base’s primary role revolves around its fleet of B-52H Stratofortress bombers.

Barksdale is home to several high-level commands and headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). AFGSC is the major command responsible for the Air Force’s entire bomber fleet and all ICBM forces. Known as the « Mighty Eighth » from its decorated record in World War II, the Eighth Air Force (8 AF) also calls Barksdale home. As does the 307th Bomb Wing, which is a B-52 reserve unit.

Established in 1932 as Barksdale Field, it was named after WWI aviator Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale. Barksdale has played a significant role in historical events, serving as a safe haven for President Bush on September 11, 2001, and launching the longest combat sortie in history at the time during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

5

Offutt Air Force Base

Established in 1924

Offutt Air Force Base, located south of Omaha in Nebraska, hosts the headquarters of US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). It is responsible for the nation’s nuclear deterrent and global strike forces, as well as the 55th Wing, which conducts global reconnaissance missions.

The base is home to the 55th Wing, the largest wing in Air Combat Command. Known as the « Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth, » this wing operates a diverse fleet of specialized aircraft, including the RC-135 Rivet Joint, RC-135 Cobra Ball, and WC-135 Constant Phoenix. Offutt also hosts the 557th Weather Wing, which is the Air Force’s central weather facility.

The base is home to the E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, often called the « Doomsday Plane. » In the event of a global nuclear war, these aircraft served as a mobile command center for the President, Secretary of Defense, and other high-ranking members of the US Military and government during a catastrophic crisis.

Originally commissioned as Fort Crook in 1890, the site became an airfield named in honor of WWI pilot 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt in 1924. During World War II, a massive bomber plant at Offutt produced B-29 Superfortress aircraft. Notably, the Enola Gay and Bockscar, the planes that dropped atomic weapons on Japan.

For over 40 years, Offutt served as the headquarters for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), maintaining an airborne command post 24 hours a day (Operation Looking Glass) in case of a ground attack. On September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was flown to Offutt AFB, where he conducted one of the first major strategy sessions after the attacks.

4

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Established in 1917

Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio, is the headquarters for the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), a major command responsible for managing the Air Force’s entire « cradle-to-grave » life cycle for weapon systems. The 88th Air Base Wing serves as the host unit, providing support to over 100 associate units and personnel.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is headquartered at Wright-Patterson with the 711th Human Performance Wing, which includes the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and the Airman Systems Directorate. It boasts a $7 billion portfolio of research investments and works with military, civilian, and contractor personnel to deliver technological breakthroughs to the warfighter.

The National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) is the primary source for foreign threat analysis, while the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is the Air Force’s graduate school. The 445th Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit, conducts global airlift and aeromedical evacuation.

The adjacent Huffman Prairie Flying Field was where Wilbur and Orville Wright perfected controlled flight. The base originated during WWI as Wilbur Wright Field and McCook Field. In 1995, the base hosted the negotiations for the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War. It is also home to the National Museum of the US Air Force.

3

Scott Air Force Base

Established in 1917

Scott AFB is located in Mascoutah, Illinois, near St. Louis, Missouri. It is a joint-use facility where the host unit, the 375th Air Mobility Wing, facilitates global mobility and logistics for three major military commands: USTRANSCOM, AMC, and Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). The base spans over 3,500 acres, with 963 buildings, more than 7 million square feet of space, and 59 miles of roads.

USTRANSCOM is a Unified Combatant Command that provides common-user air, land, and sea transportation, terminal management, and aerial refueling to support the global deployment and sustainment of US forces. AMC provides the air mobility forces to USTRANSCOM, including airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation worldwide.

SDDC is the US Army component of USTRANSCOM responsible for planning and executing surface transportation. Scott AFB primarily serves as a command and control hub and a global transportation coordinator, so its owned equipment is centered on operational support, airlift, and refueling rather than a large combat aircraft fleet.

Originally a training field for aviators during WWI, it later served briefly as a stop on the Air Mail Service route. Post-WWII, it became a key installation for the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and later the Military Airlift Command (MAC). The base gained its current strategic role after USTRANSCOM was activated there in 1987 and AMC stood up in 1992.

2

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

Established in 1916

Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) is a critical military installation in Virginia, unique for combining both Air Force and Army components into a single joint base operation. The primary mission is centered on achieving and maintaining air superiority. Langley Field was established in 1916 and holds the distinction of being the first military base in the US designed specifically as an air base.

The 1st Fighter Wing operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the world’s premier stealth fifth-generation fighter jet. The base also hosts the Headquarters of Air Combat Command (ACC), which is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping combat-ready air forces worldwide. The 192nd Fighter Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard is also a partner in the F-22 mission.

The 633rd Air Base Wing is the Air Force-led host unit for the entire joint base. Fort Eustis is a Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) installation focused on transportation, aviation maintenance, and logistics training. It is the home of the Army Transportation Regiment and provides training for the majority of the Army’s transportation specialties.

During WWI, it was used for aeronautical research, experiments, and various aviation training. In 1946, it hosted the headquarters of the newly formed Tactical Air Command. In 1976, it was the first USAF operational wing to receive the Boeing F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Today, between 40 and 50 Raptor fighter jets are stationed at Langley, as well as T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainers.

1

F.E. Warren Air Force Base

Established in 1867

F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously active military installation in the Air Force, with a history spanning over 150 years. Originally established as an Army cavalry post, it now plays a pivotal role in the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrence. It was officially transferred to the US Air Force in 1942.

The base is the headquarters of the Twentieth Air Force (20 AF), which is in command of all Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). 20 AF is designated as Task Force 214 for US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), providing combat-ready nuclear forces to the President.

It became the Air Force’s first fully operational ICBM base in 1958 with the activation of the Atlas missile program. The ICBM forces under the command of F.E. Warren AFB compose the land-based leg of the US Armed Forces “Nuclear Triad.” The other two components are Air Force bombers and Navy ballistic missile submarines.

Unlike most USAF bases, F.E. Warren has no paved runway for aircraft, relying instead on the nearby Cheyenne Municipal Airport for air access and helipads for the 37th Helicopter Squadron. It served as a significant cavalry and field artillery post for the Army for decades, including as a major training facility during both World Wars. In 1930, President Hoover named it Fort Francis E. Warren in honor of Wyoming’s first state governor, a Medal of Honor recipient.