England Air Force Base

Infobox Military Structure
name=England Air Force Base

partof=Tactical Air Command (TAC)
location= Located near Alexandria, Louisiana
coordinates= Coord|31|19|39|N|92|32|55|W|type:airport


caption= March 1983
Location of England Air Force Base
type=Air Force Base
code=
built=1942
builder=
materials=
height=
used=1942-1992
demolished=
condition=
ownership=
controlledby=United States Air Force
garrison=23d Tactical Fighter Wing (1972-1992)
commanders=
occupants=
battles=
events=:"For the civil use of this facility after 1992, see Alexandria International Airport"England Air Force Base (1942-1992) is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located 5 miles Northwest of Alexandria and about 170 miles Northwest of New Orleans.

Originally known as Alexandria Army Air Base, on 1 May 1955 the facility was renamed England Air Force Base in honor of Lt Col John Brooke England (1923-1954). A leading and much-decorated North American P-51 Mustang ace during World War II, Colonel England flew 108 missions and scored 19 aerial victories-including 4 on one mission. England also served as a combat pilot in the Korean War. He was killed in a crash near Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France on 17 November 1954 when he banked away from a barracks area while landing his North American F-86 Sabre in a dense fog.

History

The base was opened on 21 October 1942 and during World War II performed Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircrew training. It was placed on inactive status on 23 September 1946, although a small cadre of Army and Air Force personnel (331 Comps Squadron) remained assigned to Alexandria Municipal Airport throughout the late 1940s.

On 10 October 1950, the United States Air Force reopened Alexandria Air Force Base during the Korean War. The station's primary mission was tactical fighter operations for Tactical Air Command.

Its major operating units were:

* United States Army Air Force: 67th Airdrome Sq, 1 Feb 1943 - 25 Mar 1943: 471st Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943 - 7 May 1943: 469th Bombardment Group, 7 May 1943 - 1 Apr 1944: 221st AAF Base Unit, 25 Mar 1944 - 1 Mar 1945: 329th AAF Base Unit, 1 Mar 1945 - 23 Sep 1946

* United States Air Force
** 4416th Base Complement Sq, 23 Oct 1950 - 22 Dec 1950
** 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 22 Dec 1950 - 2 May 1952
(Composite Air National Guard wing activated to Federal Service due to Korean War. Flew Republic F-84 "Thunderjets". Three operational squadrons (125th (Oklaholma ANG, F-84B/G, 127th (Kansas ANG F-84C/G), 128th (Georgia ANG, F-84B/G)). ANG personnel trained at Alexandria AFB 1950/51, being replaced by active duty Air Force personnel in 1951/52. Wing reassigned to USAFE at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France)
** 132d Fighter-Bomber Wing, 2 May 1952 - 1 Jan 1953
(Iowa ANG Wing activated to Federal Service replacing reassigned 137th FBW. One operational squadron (124th FIS). Flew Republic F-84Fs. Returned to state control.)

** 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 Jan 1953 - 1 Apr 1959
(Active duty Air Force wing activated at Alexandria AFB. Three operational squadrons (389th, 390th, 391st) being initially equipped with North American F-51D/H Mustang, reequipped with North American F-86F "Saber" jet aircraft by end of 1953. Wing became first TAC unit to perform six-month TDY rotations with NATO at Aviano AB, Italy, with rotations continuing to support NATO in France and Italy. Redesignated 366th Tactical Fighter Wing 1 July 1958. Inactivated 1 Apr 1959 as part of a general budgetary reduction of USAF wings. Aircraft transferred to Air National Guard.)

** 420th Air Refueling Squadron (Tactical), 18 Mar 1954 - 4 Oct 1955
(Activated at England AFB, equipped with Boeing KB-29P. First unit in TAC of its type. Provided TAC with independent air refueling capability. Reassigned to USAFE at RAF Sculthorpe, England.)
** 622d Air Refueling Squadron (Tactical), 18 Jul 1955 -1 Apr 1964
(Activated at England AFB, assigned to 4505th Air Refueling Wing, Langley AFB, Virginia 1 July 1958. Equipped with Boeing KB-29P (1955-57), later turbojet-augmented Boeing KB-50J (1957-64) aircraft. Aircraft became obsolescent and unit deactivated 1 April 1964.)

** 332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 10 Jul 1959 - 31 Aug 1960
Part of Air Defense Command. Flew Convair F-102 Delta Dart as part of Central Air Defense Force,

** 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 Apr 1959 - 27 Apr 1966
(Activated from former 366th TFW personnel assets, re-equipped with Noth American F-100 "Super Sabre" aircraft. Four tactical fighter squadrons (612th, 613th, 614th, 615th) redesignated from former 366th TFW units. Participated in numerous firepower demonstrations, tactical exercises and maneuvers in the United States and overseas, and deployed its tactical squadrons to bases in Europe and the Middle East in support of NATO. Deployed to Homestead AFB, Florida during Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) as tactical airstrike unit. Wing designation along with 613th TFS reassigned to USAFE at Torrejon Air Base, Spain.)
** 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 9 Jan 1964 - 7 Nov 1965
(Reassigned from Yokota AB, Japan, Equipped with F-100 Super Sabres. Three tactical fighter squadrons (416th, 510th, 531st). Moved to the United States without personnel or equipment, then trained and rotated its squadrons in detached status to Southeast Asia for combat duty. Reassigned to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam.)
** 834th Air Division, 1 Jul 1964 - 15 Oct 1966
Assumed command and control over 3d and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings. After reassignment of wings, assumed remaining organization and operational squadrons of former 401st TFW. Deployed to South Vietnamese bases (834th AD to Tan Son Nhut AB), (612th, 614th, 615th) TFS to Phan Rang AB, Phu Cat AB).)

** 1st Air Commando/Special Operations Wing 15 Jan 1966 - 15 Jul 1969
(317th, 319th Air Commando/Special Operations Squadrons)
(Reassigned from Hurlburt Field Florida. Redesignated 1st SOW 8 Jul 1968. Reassigned to Hurlburt Field, Florida.)
** 4410th Combat Crew Training Wing/Group 15 Jul 1969 - 31 Jul 1973
(6th Special Operations Training Squadron, 427th, 4412th, 4532d Combat Crew Training Squadrons)
(Wing reassigned from Hurlburt Field Florida. Redesignated as Group, 15 Sep 1970. Inactivated Jul 1973 due to US withdrawal from South Vietnam. Upon group inactivation, 6th SOTS reassigned to 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field but remained at England AFB until deactivation, Jan 1974.)

** 4403d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 Sep 1970 - 1 Jul 1972
416th Tactical Fighter Squadron 28 Sep 1970 - 1 Jul 1972
(Absorbed returning North American F-100 Super Saber aircraft of 31st TFW from Tuy Hoa Air Base South Vietnam and transferred assets to Air National Guard. Acted as holding unit for arriving Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II aircraft starting Apr 1972.)
** 23d Tactical Fighter (later Fighter) Wing, 1 Jul 1972 - 1 Jun 1992
(Wing reactivated at station w/p/o/e taking over organization and assets of temporary 4403d TFW designation. Three A-7D tactical fighter (74th, 75th, 76th) squadrons formed. Re-equipped with Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 1981. Redesignated 23d Fighter Wing 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated 1 Jun 1992.)

In October 1990, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided that England Air Force Base would be closed by September 1992. A drawdown of equipment and personnel began almost immediately. The 23d Fighter Wing's A-10 aircraft were sent to Air National Guard units, and EAFB was closed 1 June 1992.

During the period of its military use, Air Force units from England Air Force Base served in combat in World War II, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

See also

* Louisiana World War II Army Airfields
* Central Air Defense Force (Air Defense Command)

References

* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
* Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
* Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
* Menard David R. (1998) Republic F-84: Thunderjet, Thunderstreak, & Thunderflash : A Photo Chronicle Schiffer Publishing ISBN 0764304445
* Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html] USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

External links

* [http://www.englandafb.com Memories of England Air Force Base] : Closed, But not Forgotten.
* [http://www.alexandria-louisiana.com/england-air-force-base.htm The Alexandria Retrospective] : England AFB photos, newspaper clippings, and more.