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.
Background
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 Force Plant is used if the installation is Air Force controlled industrial property operated by a contractor. Air Force Plants are numbered rather than named.
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.
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations and locations within the contiguous United States
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.[185]
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.[188]
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.[185]
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).[189]
US Air Force installations located within the Pacific, East Asia and South East Asia. Diego Garcia is beyond the map boundary and therefore not shown.
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.[199][200]
US Marine Corps Air Station, made available to the US by the Japanese Government, hosting a Geographically Separate Unit of the 374th Airlift Wing.[204]
Geographically Separate Unit providing a trans-Pacific refueling stop for military aircraft. Also supports Missile Defense Agency test activities.[212]
USAFE-AFAFRICA has seven main operating bases and 114 geographically separate units.[214] 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.[219]
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.[234]
US Air Force installations and locations within the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia.
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.[257]
Geographically Separate Unit of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Operates the Theater Logistics Gateway in support of operations in the Middle East.[258]
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.[261]
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.[263]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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