Eglin Air Force Base

Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame Eglin Air Force Base is the home of the United States Air Force 96th Air Base Wing of the Air Force Materiel Command, and is also headquarters for more than 45 associate units.

Eglin is one of the largest Air Force bases in the world, covering 724 square miles (1,875 km²) of reservation and 97,963 square miles (253,723 km²) of water ranges in the Gulf of Mexico.

It is located 1 mile southwest of Valparaiso, Florida at 30°27'26" North, 86°33'3" West (30.457156, -86.550815)Template:GR.

Eglin employs more than 8,500 military and approximately 4,500 civilians, with an additional 2,200 jobs due to move to Eglin under the 2005 BRAC.

Major Units At Eglin

Air Armament Center

The Air Armament Center is one of four product centers in Air Force Materiel Command. Serving as the focal point for all Air Force armaments, the center is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, deployment and sustainment of all air-delivered weapons.

The AAC applies advanced technology, engineering and programming efficiencies across the entire product life cycle to provide superior combat capability to the warfighter. The center plans, directs and conducts test and evaluation of US and allied air armament, navigation/guidance systems and command and control systems. It operates two Air Force installations, providing host support not only to Eglin, but also Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

The center supports the largest single base mobility commitment in the Air Force. AAC accomplishes its mission through four components — the Armament Product Directorate (Eglin), the 46th Test Wing (Eglin), the 96th Air Base Wing (Eglin) and the 377th Air Base Wing (Kirtland).

33d Fighter Wing

F-15C of the 60th Fighter Squadron.

The 33d Fighter Wing is a combat-flying unit of Air Combat Command's Ninth Air Force and is a major tenant unit on Eglin Air Force Base. Operational squadrons are:

• 58th Fighter Squadron (Blue tail stripe)
• 60th Fighter Squadron (Red tail stripe)

F-15C/D Eagles of the 33d Fighter Wing are tail coded "EG".

The wing's mission is to "Maintain the world's best rapidly deployable air control and air superiority forces for theater Commander-in-Chiefs." The wing participated in Airpower Expeditionary Force III (AEF III) in the small Southwest Asia country of Qatar and currently has an alert commitment to the North Atlantic country of Iceland. In addition to the flying operations of the 33d, the 728th Air Control Squadron has participated in Steady State (support of the drug war in South America), Deny Flight and supports a rotation to Kuwait.

Support units of the 33d Fighter Wing are the 33d Operations Support Squadron, the 33d Logistics Support Squadron, the 33d Maintenance Squadron and the 728th Air Control Squadron.

33d Wing History

In 1965 the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing reactivated at Eglin and began flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. During the Vietnam War, the 33d TFW trained, equipped and deployed eight combat squadrons of F-4s to Southeast Asia. While there, aircrews of the 33d TFW scored two aerial victories.

The 33d TFW received its first F-15 Eagle in 1978 and continues to fly the Eagle to present day. In 1980s the wing was the first in Tactical Air Command to take part in the Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP). Additionally, the wing won William Tell, a biennial Air Force-wide air-to-air competition, in 1984 and 1986, followed by the "Long Arrow" competition, a no-notice air-to-air competition, in 1987.

The wing's F-15s saw their first combat in October 1984 when the 33d participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the rescue of American medical students from Grenada. Five years later, the 33d saw action during the removal of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in Operation Just Cause.

In 1990-91, the wing participated in the thwarting of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The wing distinguished itself by scoring 16 aerial kills, including the first kill of the war, the most of any single unit. In addition to the kills, the 33d accomplished a number of firsts including: the most air-to-air kills, the most double kills and the most sorties and hours flown by any unit in the combat theater. The 33d FW, the only unit whose wing commander scored an air-to-air victory, destroyed the most MiG-29s (a total of five).

Following Desert Shield/Storm, the Air Force restructured its forces. Under the new structure the 33d was redesignated the 33d Fighter Wing. The same year, it became the first fighter wing to bring the AIM-20 AMRAAM (Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) into full combat capable service.

In 1994, the 33d participated in Operation Uphold Democracy, providing support to the recognized government in Haiti. The same year, the wing participated in Operation Vigilant Warrior, the close monitoring of Saddam Hussein in a perceived strengthening of force.

46th Test Wing

The 46th Test Wing is responsible for the test and evaluation (T&E) of nonnuclear munitions, electronic countermeasures, and navigation/ guidance systems for the Air Armament Center. The Wing performs the research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) of systems for US and international governments, the DoD and other federal and state government agencies, and private industry.

The Wing also operates, maintains and manages the Eglin AFB land and water ranges, a complex exceeding 120,000 square miles.

The Wing’s T&E facilities evaluate the newest generation of precise, long range, small, stealthy and autonomous systems. The McKinley Climatic Lab is an environmental chamber large enough to accommodate military (B-1 and B-2) and commercial (MD-90) aircraft. Environments ranging from -65 to +165oF with 100-mph winds, icing, clouds, rain, and snow can be created. The Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility (GWEF), the only facility of its kind in the world, can evaluate the complete spectrum (millimeter wave, laser, infrared, radio frequency and electro-optical/visible) of seekers and inertial/GPS systems.

The Wing manages a 10-mile long high-speed test track through the 46th Test Group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. This track is a national resource, accelerating test sleds to speeds approaching Mach 9.

The Wing is home to 3,926 military, civilian, and contractor personnel dedicated to ensuring USAF systems will continue to be second to none. The Wing’s world class technical facilities coupled with the creative thinking of its staff produce affordable technical solutions to contemporary technical problems. To maintain its technical edge the Wing actively encourages advanced technical education for its scientists and engineers through a tuition assistance program.

53d Wing

The 53d Wing, which is comprised of three groups, numbers more than 1,800 military and civilians at 16 various locations throughout the United States. The wing serves as the focal point for the Combat Air Forces in electronic warfare, armament and avionics, chemical defense, reconnaissance, and aircrew training devices. The wing reports to the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, a Direct Reporting Unit to Headquarters Air Combat Command.

The 53d wing is also responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces. Current wing initiatives include advanced self-protection systems for combat aircraft, aircrew life support systems, aerial reconnaissance improvements, new armament and weapons delivery systems, and improved maintenance equipment and logistics support.

The 53d Wing's 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron plans, executes and reports ACC's weapon system evaluation programs for bombers (B-52, B-1 and B-2) and nuclear capable fighters (F-15 and F-16). These evaluations include operational effectiveness and suitability, command and control, performance of aircraft hardware and software systems, employment tactics, and accuracy and reliability of associated precision weapons. These weapons include air-launched cruise missiles, standoff missiles, and gravity bombs. Results and conclusions support acquisition decisions and development of war plans. The unit also performs operational testing on new systems and tactics development for the B-52.

History

Location of Eglin AFB, Florida

In 1933 an airport was established near the City of Valparaiso, Florida. In 1935 this airport became the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base. On 4 August,1937 the base was redesignated Eglin Field in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin of the United States Army Air Corps, who was killed in 1937 in an aircraft crash.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, a proving ground for aircraft armament was established at Eglin. The U.S. Forestry ceded to the War Department the Choctawhatchee National Forest. In 1941, the Air Corps Proving Ground was activated, and Eglin became the site for gunnery training for Army Air Forces fighter pilots, as well as a major testing center for aircraft, equipment, and tactics. In March 1942, the base served as one of the sites for Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle to prepare his B-25 crews for their raid against Tokyo.

After the war, Eglin became a pioneer in developing the techniques for missile launching and handling; and the development of drone or pilotless aircraft. In 1947, a successful drone flight from Eglin to Washington, D.C. was conducted.

In 1950 the Air Force Armament Center was established at Eglin. After the start of the Korean War, test teams moved to the combat theater for testing in actual combat. In 1957, the Air Force combined the Air Proving Ground Command and the Air Force Armament Center to form the Air Proving Ground Center. In 1968, the Air Proving Ground Center was redesignated the Armament Development and Test Center to centralize responsibility for research, development, test and evaluation, and initial acquisition of nonnuclear munitions for the Air Force.

In 1975, the installation served as one of four main U.S. Vietnamese Refugee Processing Centers, where base personnel housed and processed more than 10,000 Southeast Asian refugees. Eglin again became an Air Force refugee resettlement center processing over 10,000 Cubans who fled to the U.S. between April and May of 1980.

In 1998, as part of the Air Forces' strategic plan to guide the service into the 21st Century, the Air Force Development Test Center became the Air Force Materiel Command's Air Armament Center (AAC), responsible for development, acquisition, testing, and fielding all air-delivered weapons.

National historic status

There are two U.S. National Historic Landmark Districts with connections to the base: Camp Pinchot and Eglin Field.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 8,082 people, 2,302 households, and 2,262 families residing on the base. The population density is 1,019.8/km² (2,640.1/mi²). There are 2,320 housing units at an average density of 292.7/km² (757.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the base is 71.79% White, 14.82% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.96% Asian, 0.38% Pacific Islander, 4.23% from other races, and 5.33% from two or more races. 11.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,302 households out of which 79.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.8% are married couples living together, 5.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 1.7% are non-families. 1.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.50 and the average family size is 3.51.

On the base the population is spread out with 43.5% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 1.6% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 100.6 males.

The median income for a household on the base is $31,951, and the median income for a family is $31,859. Males have a median income of $25,409 versus $19,176 for females. The per capita income for the base is $10,670. 4.5% of the population and 4.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Climate

Warm, subtropical weather lasts almost nine months out of the year. The annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 60 inches. Year-round, the average temperatures run:

    Jan - Mar: 60-69 High and 42-51 Low

    Apr - Jun: 76-88 High and 58-72 Low

    Jul - Sep: 86-89 High and 70-77 Low

    Oct - Dec: 63-79 High and 44-69 Low

The area gets only 50 to 60 days of annual precipitation or more rainfall. There are few days without sunshine which allows year-round outdoor activities.

Civil rocketry

Eglin Air Force Base is also a launch site for civil rockets of NASA. There are three launch pads: one at 29.6700 N, 85.3700 W at Cape San Blas; and two on Santa Rosa Island at 30.3800 N, 86.7400 W and 30.3800 N, 86.8170 W. Rockets launched here have included Arcas, Nike Cajun, Nike Apaches, Nike Iroquois, etc. [1] This site was formerly operated by the 4751st ADS with CIM-10 Bomarcs, inactivated in 1973. In the 1940s, captured V-1 and American copy Ford JB-2 Loon buzzbombs were launched out over the Gulf of Mexico from these sites.

Trivia

Infielder Jay Bell was born here. Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson cut his teeth as a sports writer for the base newspaper in the late 1950s, when the area was still a sleepy fishing community.

See also

• Air Force Armament Museum
• Rocket launch sites
• Tactical Air Command
• Air Combat Command
• Ninth Air Force

References

• 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., 1989

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

External links

• Eglin Air Force Base Home Page
• Eglin information
• Eglin history