Lowry Air Force Base

Lowry Air Force Base
Part of Air Training Command (ATC)
Located in Aurora and Denver, Colorado
9 October 1999
Coordinates	39°43′11.51″N 104°53′43.45″W
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Owner	Land: City & County of Denver, and City of Aurora
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Condition	Lowry Campus, managed by Lowry Redevelopment Authority.
Site history
Built	1937
In use	Open 1938 - closed 30 September 1994, Runway closed June 1966
Demolished	selected buildings throughout campus
Garrison information
Garrison	Lowry Technical Training Center, 3415th TTW (1951-1994), 451st SMW Titan I (1961-1965), 703rd SMW Titan I (1958-1961)

Lowry AFB

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Location of Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado

Lowry Field, about 1945

Lowry Air Force Base (1938–1994) is a former United States Air Force base located in the cities of Aurora and Denver, Colorado. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training and was heavily involved with the training of United States Army Air Forces bomber crews during World War II. It was also the home of the United States Air Force Academy from 1954 to 1958, until the Academy's permanent site in Colorado Springs was completed.

Lowry Campus

Lowry was permanently closed by actions of the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC II) commission in 1994. The land is now being used for commercial and residential development, though many of the old military buildings are still in use.

Reuse

Lowry AFB's two massive hangars currently house the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (Hangar 1 and 2, Building 401 and 402, respectively). Another hangar, formerly Building 1499, has been converted to the Big Bear Ice Rink. One of the former dormitories is currently owned and used by The Logan School for Creative Learning and was remodeled beginning 2004 and ending in late 2006. Also, some of the base housing is currently owned and used by Stanley British Primary School and other buildings are occupied by the Aurora Community College at Lowry.

Other outbuildings and facilities have been demolished or are in the process of being demolished to make room for new development, while other buildings such as the former steam power plant and headquarters building are being renovated for new usage in the form of modern lofts and housing. Few abandoned, original buildings remain, although one dormitory facility and a former medical building on the east end of the base are owned by the state as part of the Higher Education and Technology campus and have not yet been renovated and are off-limits.

Military presence

Two remaining military facilities are the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) or Finance Center and the Air Reserve Personnel Center.

History

Lowry Air Force Base was named on 11 March 1938 in honor of Second Lieutenant Francis Lowry whose plane was shot down by German antiaircraft fire in World War I in which he flew as a forward artillery observer. Despite bad weather Lieutenant Lowry and his pilot had attempted a photo-reconnaissance mission important to the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Lowry, who came from a prominent Denver family, was the first Denver aviator killed in wartime. He is buried in a cemetery adjacent to the former Air Force Base.

Origins

In 1934 the Army Air Corps realized it was outgrowing its facilities at Chanute Field, Illinois and began looking for a new facility where it could consolidate all of its Air Service Technical training schools.

After looking at more than 80 sites across the nation, a military committee submitted a list to Congress with the names of six cities that would meet their needs. Denver ranked first, and Congress approved the Air Corps project in 1937, but Chanute remained the headquarters of the Air Corps Technical School & home to the aircraft mechanics school.

The Army formed a new branch for armament & photography training in Denver, and on October 4, 1937 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began work to convert the grounds of the former Agnes Memorial Sanatorium into a modern airfield.

In February 1938 Lowry Field came under the jurisdiction of the Air Corps Technical School, still headquartered at Chanute. The Departments of Photography and Armament moved to Lowry, followed in September by the Department of Clerical Instruction.

Classes in aerial photography began at Lowry in 1938 and aircraft arrived in June of that year. The first aircraft to land on the new paved runway was a B-18 Bolo. The sanatorium's main building became the base headquarters. In addition, the largest single barracks, housing 3,200 men, was completed in mid-1940.

World War II

Initially assigned to the Air Corps (Later Army Air Forces) Technical Training Command, the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command redesignated as the Army Air Forces Training Command on 7 July 1943, assumed responsibility for both flying and technical training. Lowry Field became the headquarters of the Western Technical Training Command.

Lowry specialized in technical training of aerial photography image interpreters at the beginning of the war, later expanding to armament, and clerical schools during Jul 1943-Jan 1944. Lowry changed from a technical school to a predominantly flying installation when flight engineering, B-29 pilot transition, and B-29 crew training began in 1943. In 1944, the flying training increased with the addition of B-29 Flight Engineer training.

Postwar era

With the end of the war, Lowry became a separation station for the Armed Forces. By the end of the 1945, Lowry was processing an average of 300 discharges a day.

In mid-October 1945, AAF Training Command delegated all stations and activities of the Headquarters Western Technical Training Command from Lowry to the new Technical Training Command at Scott Field, Illinois as part of the initial draw down of the AAF after the end of World War II. On 1 July 1946, Lowry was assigned to the Army Air Forces new Air Training Command, which it would be a part of for almost the next 50 years.

The postwar mission of Lowry again turned to Intelligence Training, as by mid- 1946 most of these people had left the service, returning to their civilian occupations. As a result, HQ AAF directed Air Training Command and Air University to establish formal courses, which were established at Lowry in July 1947. Courses taught were focused on basic training in intelligence techniques needed for combat reporting, photographic intelligence, prisoner of war interrogation, and briefing and interrogation of combat crews.

On 24 June 1948, Lowry Field was renamed Lowry Air Force Base as a result of the United States Air Force becoming a separate branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. On 26 August 1948, the 3415th Technical Training Wing was established at Lowry to command and control all training organizations at the base.

Cold War

With the beginning of the Korean War, Lowry Air Force Base expanded its training program. Courses taught, in addition to photography and armament, included rocket propulsion, missile guidance, electronics, radar-operated fire-control systems, computer specialties, gun and rocket sights, and electronically operated turret systems.

In July 1954 USAF officials named Lowry as the interim site for the new United States Air Force Academy. At the same time, Strategic Air Command also wanted to use Lowry to support missile units. According to the USAF, Lowry had to support the new academy, and if necessary, training could be relocated so that facilities were available for the academy. In fact Lowry did have to transfer training. Beginning in September, the 3415th TTW moved intelligence, comptroller, and transportation training programs to Sheppard AFB. Lowry was the interim home for the USAF Academy until construction was completed in Colorado Springs in 1959.

Also during the 1950s, Lowry functioned as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Summer White House from 1952 - 1955.

In late 1955, President Eisenhower approved recommendations of the National Security Council to research and develop an intercontinental ballistic missile program. At the same time, all of the services were preparing plans for their individual missile programs. In the Air Force, training responsibility was assigned to Lowry, which developed the first general courses in 1956, and plans called for other courses to open at Chanute AFB in 1957, Amarillo AFB in 1958, and Sheppard AFB in 1959. In 1958, Nuclear Weapons Training began at Lowry.

A reorganization in ATC in 1959 led to the 3415th TTW at Lowry be re-designated as the Lowry Technical Training Center.

In 1962, all DoD intelligence programs were consolidated at Lowry. Effective 1 July 1963, Air Training Command established the Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Center as a named activity at Lowry, and its first students entered training on 17 July. By establishing the training center, the DoD consolidated all intelligence training at a single facility. In 1984 these courses were moved to Goodfellow AFB.

Flying activities had begun at Lowry in 1938, and through the years, many different aircraft had operated from the airfield, but by the mid-1960s airspace in the Denver area had become so crowded that in 1966 the Air Force directed Lowry to shift all of its flying activities to nearby Buckley Air National Guard Base.

The 1967 closure of Amarillo AFB led to the relocation of the 3320th Retraining Group from Amarillo to Lowry. The retraining group, with its mission to rehabilitate and return to duty airmen convicted of criminal offenses, started the move on 1 July and completed it on 1 September 1967. As the Vietnam War wound down, the number of airmen with psychiatric and behavioral reorientation for airmen with drug problems reduced, and the Special Treatment Center at Lackland AFB's workload declined. Therefore in 1947, ATC suggested and the Air Staff approved the transfer of those services to the 3415th Special Training Group at Lowry AFB.

With the introduction of the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM in the mid 1980s, technical training was provided at Lowry begining in 1985. In 1987, Air Training Command graduated its first undergraduate space training (UST) class in February at Lowry.

New Strategic Missile Wing

On 18 April 1962, Lowry became the first operational base for Titan I ICBMs, with the 451st Strategic Missile Wing. The 451st replaced the 703d Strategic Missile Wing in July 1961 with two Titan I missile squadrons (724th, 725th MS). The missiles remained on alert until 15 April 1965. In the 1960s, Lowry flight operations were shifted to Buckley Field, now Buckley Air Force Base. All flying activities ceased completely in June 1966 when the last aircraft was flown out of Lowry.

With the closure of Amarillo AFB, Texas in December 1968, Lowry became the home of the 3320th Retraining Group, which provided eligible court-martialed airmen with correctional training to re-enter normal active-duty ranks after completion.

A vast construction program began in 1970 for enlisted and officer billeting facilities, which replaced many of the World War II vintage barracks. Five large (1,000 man) dormitories were constructed and a 187-space mobile home park were completed by 1974. Other facilities included a youth center, a child-care center, a chapel, and a new Airmen’s Open Mess. In 1976, the Air Force Accounting & Finance Center & the Air Reserve Personnel Center opened in the Gilchrist Building (Building 444).

Lowry first faced the base closure issue in 1978. Ultimately, the Air Force recommended keeping Lowry open at that time. With the base closure issue settled (for the time being), Lowry Technical Training Center introduced new & improved courses for the 1980s. The base became the primary training center for USAF space operations courses and began Undergraduate Space Training for officers, as well as basic and advanced training in various intelligence disciplines for officers. Lowry also handled ground & armament training for the F106, F-4, F-15, F-16, F-111, A-10,B-52 and B-1 bomber, as well as the Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM). Lowry was also instrumental in training munitions handling for modified B-52 bomber.

Base closure coming

The 1990s saw the beginning of the end at Lowry. The end of the Cold War, along with the resultant budget cuts & downsizing made base closure a reality.

In 1993, Lowry prepared to end 56 years of technical training. While training continued, Lowry’s command structure planned to implement the closure in an efficient manner. The Air Force deactivated the 3400th Technical Training Group on April 27, 1994. A parade & pass-in-review was planned, but the death of former President Richard Nixon caused the ceremonies to be postponed to the 28th. The official deactivation date, however, remained the 27th.

On 30 September 1994, the base officially closed.

Previous names

• Denver Branch, Air Corps Technical School, 27 Aug 1937
• Air Corps Technical School, Denver Branch, 29 Sep 1937
• Lowry Field, 11 Mar 1938
• Lowry Air Force Base, 24 Jun 1948-27 April 1994

Major commands to which assigned

• Army Air Corps, 2 September 1937;
• Air Corps Technical Training Command, 26 March 1941

Redesignated AAF Technical Training Command, 15 March 1942

• AAF Training Command, 31 July 1943

Redesignated Air Training Command, 1 July 1946

• Air Educational and Training Command, 1 June 1992-27 April 1994

Major units assigned

• Air Corps Technical School

Redesignated Army Air Force Technical School

Redesignated Air Force Technical School

Redesignated USAF Technical School, 1 Jan 1938-15 August 1972

• 331st Twin Engine Fighter Training Group, 24 October 1943-1 January 1944
• 389th Bombardment Group, 19 April-1 June 1943
• 446th Bombardment Group, 8 June-19 October 1943
• 322d Troop Carrier Wing, 12 Jun 1947-27 June 1949
• 3415th Technical Training Wing, 26 August 1948-27 April 1994
• USAF Technical Gunnery School, 12 October 1950-1 January 1960
• USAF Academy, 14 August 1954-19 July 1959
• 701st Strategic Missile Wing, 25 September 1958-1 July 1961

Redesignated 451st Strategic Missile Wing, 25 April 1961-25 June 1965

• 848th Strategic Missile Squadron, 1 February 1960-1 July 1961

Redesignated 724th Strategic Missile Squadron, 1 July 1961-25 June 1965

• 849th Strategic Missile Squadron, 1 August 1960-1 July 1961

Redesignated 726th Strategic Missile Squadron, 1 July 1961-25 June 1965

• USAF Intelligence Training Center, 1 July 1963-27 April 1994
• 3320th Retraining Group, 1 September 1967-27 April 1994
• USAF School of Applied Aerospace Sciences, Lowry, 1 August 1972-1 April 1977
• 3420th Technical Training Group, 30 April 1976-27 April 1994
• 3430th Technical Training Group, 30 April 1976-15 June 1978
• 3440th Technical Training Group, 30 April 1976-27 April 1994
• 3450th Technical Training Group, 30 April 1976-27 April 1994
• 3460th Technical Training Group, 30 April 1976-27 April 1994
• 3400th Technical Training Wing, 1 April 1777-1 January 1978; 1 November 1979-27 April 1994

HGM-25A Titan I Missile Sites

The 848th (later 724th) Strategic Missile Squadron operated three missile sites (1 Feb 1960-25 Jun 1965)

• 724-A, 8 miles SSW of Watkins, Colorado 39°38′55″N 104°41′27″W
• 724-B, 10 miles SSW of Watkins, Colorado39°36′18″N 104°38′48″W
• 724-C, 8 miles SE of Watkins, Colorado 39°39′57″N 104°29′38″W

The 849th (later 725th) Strategic Missile Squadron operated three missile sites: (1 Aug 1960-25 Jun 1965)

• 725-A, 14 miles SE of Watkins, Colorado 39°35′15″N 104°27′42″W
• 725-B, 4 miles NNE of Deer Trail, Colorado39°40′06″N 104°01′41″W
• 725-C, 5 miles SSE of Elisabeth, Colorado 39°18′17″N 104°33′47″W (Approximate)

See also

• Colorado World War II Army Airfields
• Chapel No. 1 The Eisenhower Memorial Chapel, National Registry of Historic Places.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1).
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. ISBN 0912799536; 0160022614
• Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
• Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
• A Brief History of Lowry Air Force Base Report (Source of history) - a reference book available for public access at the Welcome Desk at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (online version no longer available).
• Levy, Michael and Scanlan, Patrick M. (Staff Sargent) (1987). PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE: A History of Lowry Air Force Base, 1937-1987. History Office, Lowry AFB ATC (out of print, no longer available).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Neufeld, J. (1990). The development of ballistic missiles in the United States Air Force, 1945-1960. Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-62-5.

External links

• Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
• The Logan School
• The Neighborhood Network of the Lowry Community