Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy

Editor(s): Frederick J. Shaw

Year: 2004

Summary

This document produces the history and legacy of the location and establishment of Air Force Base Sites and the historical rationales that have determined the location of USAF installations within the continental United States, excluding Alaska, from 1907 to 2004. The location and numbers of these bases have fluctuated according to the size of the air forces, the capabilities of available weapons systems, and the strategies contemplated for their employment.

The locations of modern Air Force installations owe much to the vision and foresight of early planners. In 1952, Secretary of the Air Force Thomas K. Finletter issued guidance to the Air Staff regarding the selection of air base sites. Observing that a basing decision would inevitably affect someone, he advised his staff to make their decisions on technical requirements while accommodating “other” interests once technical interests were satisfied. Secretary Finletter’s guidance reflected the wisdom of accumulated decades that his successors have also chosen to follow.

Cite this Record

Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy. Frederick J. Shaw. Washington DC: Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force. 2004 ( tDAR id: 391249) ; doi:10.6067/XCV83T9J58

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Investigation Types
Heritage Management • Historic Background Research

General
Aerospace Defense Bases • Air Defense Bases • Airlift Bases • Air Material Bases • Army Air Corps • Army Air Corps Five Year Plan • Army Air Installations • Base Selection Criteria • Base Selection Process • Basic Training Bases • BRAC Commission • Education Bases • Flying Training Bases • Force Drawdown • Force Expansion • Force Structure and Basing Issues • Intertheater Airlift Bases • Logistics Bases • Major Command Requirements • Mobility Bases • Product Centers • Research and Development Bases • Strategic Bases • Strategic Forces Bases • Systems Centers • Tactical Bases • Technical Training Bases • The Great War • The Wilcox Act • Training Bases • World War II Expansion Show More

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Alison Rubio; James Wilde

Contributor(s): Daniel L. Haulman; Forrest L. Marion; Jeffrey P. Sahaida; Frederick J. Shaw; A. Timothy Warnock

Sponsor(s): United States Air Force History Office and Museums Program

Record Identifiers

OMB No.(s): 0704-0188

File Information

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locating-air-force-base-sites_history-s-legacy.pdf 1.50mb Jun 28, 2013 4:45:49 PM Public