Holloman Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
→History: sectioning |
→Luftwaffe: aDDING DETAILS |
||
| Line 89: | Line 89: | ||
==Luftwaffe== |
==Luftwaffe== |
||
On [[1 May]] [[1996]], the German Air Force Tactical Training Center |
On [[1 May]] [[1996]], the [[Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe]] established the German Air Force Tactical Training Center in concept with the 20th Fighter Squadron which provides aircrew training in the F-4F Phantom II. The TTC serves as the parent command for two German air crew training squadrons. The F-4 Training Squadron oversees all German F-4 student personal affairs, and provides German instructor pilots to cooperate in the contracted F-4 training program provided by the U.S. Air Force (20th Fighter Squadron). A second TTC unit, the Tornado Training Squadron, provides academic and tactical flying training, by German Air Force instructors, for German [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado]] aircrews. |
||
The first contingent of Tornado aircraft arrived at Holloman in March [[1996]]. More than 300 German Air Force members are permanently assigned at Holloman to the TTC - the only unit of its kind in the United States. The German Air Force Flying Training Center activated [[31 March]] with German Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Portz and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan present. The [[Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe]] has since kept up to 800 personnel at Holloman for training exercises, due to limited training space in [[Europe]]. |
|||
The [[Germany|German]] [[Luftwaffe]] has, since 1996, kept up to 800 personnel at Holloman for training exercises, due to limited training space in [[Europe]]. However, in September 2004, the Luftwaffe chief of staff, [[Klaus-Peter Stieglitz]] announced a reduction in its training program of roughly 20%. |
|||
On [[29 September]], [[1999]] two Luftwaffe Tornado's crashed near Marathon Indian Basin, about 15miles northwest of [[Carlsbad]]. The crash details were kept quiet from the American public, as the crash was investigated under Luftwaffe jurisdiction <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=17204</ref>. Subsequent questioning of the authorities revealed that a training agreemente xisted between the United States and various foreign national governments post [[World War 2]] <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=15358</ref>. |
|||
In September [[2004]], Luftwaffe chief of staff, [[Klaus-Peter Stieglitz]] announced a reduction in its training program of roughly 20%. |
|||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Revision as of 10:33, 25 October 2006
Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame
Holloman Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base in Otero County, New Mexico. Established in 1942 as Alamogordo Air Field six miles west of Alamogordo, New Mexico, it was renamed in 1948 after Col. George Holloman, a native of Rich Square, North Carolina and pioneer of early rocket and pilot-less aircraft research. The base population was 35,582 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Holloman AFB is located at 32°50′29″N 106°4′46″W / 32.84139°N 106.07944°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (32.841331, -106.079486)Template:GR. Altitude: 4,093 feet (1248 m)
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.8 km² (12.7 mi²). 32.5 km² (12.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.18%) is water. The area of the airforce base is 59,639 acres (241 km²)
Supported population: Holloman AFB supports about 21,000 Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, DoD civilians and their family members.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 2,076 people, 393 households, and 380 families residing in the town. The population density was 64.0/km² (165.7/mi²). There were 427 housing units at an average density of 13.2/km² (34.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 73.31% White, 13.20% African American, 0.58% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 6.36% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.43% of the population.
There were 393 households out of which 67.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.8% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 3.3% were non-families. 2.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 37.0% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 3.7% from 45 to 64, and 0.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 152.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 180.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,206, and the median income for a family was $37,941. Males had a median income of $20,359 versus $15,425 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,568. About 8.3% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
History
On June 10 1942, an event occurred that permanently changed the face of the Tularosa Basin -- Alamogordo Army Air Field was established at a site six miles (10 km) west of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Initial plans called for the base to serve as the center for the British Overseas Training program; the British hoped to be able to train their aircrews over the open New Mexico skies. However, everything changed when the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the Hawaiian Islands on December 7, 1941. The British decided to no longer pursue its overseas training program, and the United States military saw the location as an opportunity to train its own growing military. Construction began at the airfield on February 6, 1942 and forces began to move in on May 14 1942.
From 1942-1945, Alamogordo Army Air Field served as the training grounds for over 20 different groups, flying primarily B-17s, B-24s, and B-29s. Typically, these groups served at the airfield for about six months, training their personnel before heading to combat in either the Pacific or European Theater. The 450th Bombardment Group was one of the many to cut its teeth at Alamogordo. After training, the group went on to serve in nearly every major combat operation in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans. During their combat service, the 450th garnered two distinguished unit citations and 11 campaign credits.
After World War II, the future of the base was uncertain. In fact, rumors spread concerning the closure of the site, fueled by the fact that most operations had ceased. However, in 1947, a new era began when Air Materiel Command announced the air field would be its primary site for the testing and development of pilot less aircraft, guided missiles, and other research programs. For the next 25 years the site, which became known as the Holloman Air Development Center, and later the Air Force Missile Development Center, launched many missiles including Tiny Tim (the first Army rocket), Rascal, V-2, XQ-2 Drone, Falcon, MACE, Matador, and Shrike.
On January 13 1948 the Alamogordo installation was renamed Holloman Air Force Base, in honor of the late Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research.
Holloman Air Force Base wrote its name into the annals of American history in the 1950s and 1960s. On December 10, 1954, Lt Col (Dr.) John P. Stapp received the nickname "The fastest man alive" when he rode a rocket propelled test sled, Sonic Wind No. 1, to a speed of 632 miles per hour (283 m/s). Additionally, Captain Joseph W. Kittinger Jr. stepped out of an open balloon gondola at 102,800 feet (31,300 m) on August 16, 1960, in an attempt to evaluate techniques of high altitude bailout. Capt Kittinger’s jump lasted 13 minutes reaching a velocity of 614 miles per hour (274 m/s). That jump broke four world records: highest open gondola manned balloon flight, highest balloon flight of any kind, highest bailout, and longest free fall. A final noteworthy event occurred on November 29, 1961, when ENOS, a chimpanzee trained at Holloman’s HAM facility (Holloman Aero-Medical laboratory), was the first U.S. specimen launched into orbit. ENOS was launched in a Mercury-Atlas capsule that completed two orbits around the Earth and was safely recovered three hours, 21 minutes later.
On 12 July 1963, after serving at Chaumont Air Base, France as a conventional strike force in Europe, the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing moved to Holloman Air Force Base. The 366th arrived armed with the F-84 and converted to the F-4 in 1965. In support of combat operations in Vietnam, the wing moved to Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam in March 1966.
Another new era began in the Tularosa Basin on 1 July 1968, when the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing arrived at Holloman Air Force Base. The 49th's F-4 Phantom IIs introduced a new era of fighter aircraft training and operations, which continued for the next three decades and until today. In 1977 the 49th transitioned to the F-15 Eagle, the Air Force's top air-to-air weapon. In 1992, Holloman Air Force Base again garnered national attention when the Air Force's most technological fighter, the F-117A Nighthawk made its new home at Holloman.
The world's first operational aircraft fighter to exploit low observable (stealth) technology, the F-117A officially arrived at Holloman AFB May 9, 1992.
Holloman is home to the world's longest high speed test track of 50,788 feet (15.40 km). It is also the fastest test track at nearly 10,000 feet per second (3 km/s), or Mach 9. The 846th Test Squadron set the world land speed record for a railed vehicle with a recent run of 6,453 mph (2885 m/s or 10430 km/h), or Mach 8.5.
Holloman is also home to the 49th Medical Group and their physiological training facility, which includes the most advanced and fastest centrifuge, nicknamed the "Ought Nine", so called for its ability to accelerate from zero to nine G's (88 m/s²) in less than two and a half seconds.
Future
In February 2006 the Bush Administration announced that Holloman would cease to be home to the F-117 stealth fighters. This move coincides with an announcement that the F-117 will be removed from service around 2008. On March 1, 2006, it was announced by the United States Air Force that Holloman would be the new home of two squadrons of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. While it is unknown whether Holloman will receive both of the squadrons due to periodic military cutbacks, the Air Force has recommended that Holloman be the third base to receive a squadron of F-22s.
Aircraft flowm from Holloman
- Past aircraft flown at Holloman AFB: B-17, B-24, B-29, B-57, P-47, AT-38B, F-4D, F-15, F-84, F-100, HH-60G, QF-106, German Luftwaffe F-4F,
- Present aircraft flown at Holloman AFB: T-38 Talon, F-117A Nighthawk, QF-4 drone, German Luftwaffe Tornado
Luftwaffe
On 1 May 1996, the German Luftwaffe established the German Air Force Tactical Training Center in concept with the 20th Fighter Squadron which provides aircrew training in the F-4F Phantom II. The TTC serves as the parent command for two German air crew training squadrons. The F-4 Training Squadron oversees all German F-4 student personal affairs, and provides German instructor pilots to cooperate in the contracted F-4 training program provided by the U.S. Air Force (20th Fighter Squadron). A second TTC unit, the Tornado Training Squadron, provides academic and tactical flying training, by German Air Force instructors, for German Tornado aircrews.
The first contingent of Tornado aircraft arrived at Holloman in March 1996. More than 300 German Air Force members are permanently assigned at Holloman to the TTC - the only unit of its kind in the United States. The German Air Force Flying Training Center activated 31 March with German Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Portz and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan present. The German Luftwaffe has since kept up to 800 personnel at Holloman for training exercises, due to limited training space in Europe.
On 29 September, 1999 two Luftwaffe Tornado's crashed near Marathon Indian Basin, about 15miles northwest of Carlsbad. The crash details were kept quiet from the American public, as the crash was investigated under Luftwaffe jurisdiction [1]. Subsequent questioning of the authorities revealed that a training agreemente xisted between the United States and various foreign national governments post World War 2 [2].
In September 2004, Luftwaffe chief of staff, Klaus-Peter Stieglitz announced a reduction in its training program of roughly 20%.
References
- Airport Master Record (FAA Form 5010), also available as a printable form (PDF)
- Holloman AFB (official web site)
External links
- Resources for this U.S. military airport:
- FAA airport information for HMN
- AirNav airport information for KHMN
- ASN accident history for HMN
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KHMN
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective September 5, 2024