Bolling Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
The legislation ordered the consolidation of Naval Support Facility Anacostia
Naval Support Facility Anacostia
Naval Support Facility Anacostia is a United States Naval Base in Anacostia, Washington, D.C. and is conjoined with Bolling Air Force Base. NSF Anacostia falls under the command of Naval Support Activity Washington.-History:...
(NSF) and Bolling Air Force Base (BAFB), which were adjoining, but separate military installations, into a single joint base – one of 12 joint bases formed in the country as a result of the law.
Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C.
Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C.
United States Coast Guard Station Washington is a United States Coast Guard station located on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. The station was commissioned on September 23, 2003.-External links:...
, is located on the post, next to the Capitol Cove Marina.
The only aeronautical facility at the base is a 100 by helipad (ICAO
ICAO airport code
The ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-character alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. These codes are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization, and published in ICAO Document 7910: Location Indicators.The ICAO codes are used by air traffic...
: KBOF).
Overview
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) is responsible for providing installation support to 17,000 military, civilian employees and their families, 48 mission and tenant units, including ceremonial units (United States Air Force Honor Guard, USAF Band, USAF Chaplains, the Navy Ceremonial Guard), various Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Joint Service commands and other DOD and federal agencies.History
JBAB’s property has been a Department of Defense (DOD) asset since 1917. From its beginning, the installation has included the Army Air Corps (predecessor to today’s Air Force) and Navy aviation and support elements. The tract of land selected for the base was scouted by William C. OckerWilliam C. Ocker
William Charles Ocker was an American aviation pioneer. He is known as the "Father of Instrument Flying".-Biography:...
at the direction of General Billy Mitchell. The base began near Anacostia
Anacostia
Anacostia is a historic neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Its historic downtown is located at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue It is the most famous neighborhood in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, located east of the Anacostia River, after which the...
in 1918, as the only military airfield near the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
and was originally named The Flying Field at Anacostia on 2 October 1917. It was renamed Anacostia Experimental Flying Field in June 1918.
Not long after its acquisition by the military, the single installation evolved into two separate, adjoining bases; one Army (later Air Force) and one Navy. Bolling Field was officially opened 1 July 1918 and was named in honor of the first high-ranking air service officer killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Colonel Raynal C. Bolling
Raynal Bolling
Colonel Raynal Cawthorne Bolling was the first high-ranking U.S. officer to be killed in combat in World War I. He laid the foundation for the United States Army Air Service in the American Expeditionary Force...
. Colonel Bolling was the Assistant Chief of the Air Service, and was killed in action near Amiens, France, on 26 March 1918 while defending himself and his driver, Corporal Paul L. Holder, from an attack by German soldiers.
In the late 1940s, Bolling Field’s property became Naval Air Station Anacostia and a new Air Force base, named Bolling Air Force Base, was constructed just to the south on 24 June 1948.
Bolling AFB has served as a research and testing ground for new aviation equipment and its first mission provided aerial defense of the capital. It moved to its present location, along the Potomac in the city's southwest quadrant
Washington, D.C. (southwest)
Southwest is the southwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and is located south of the National Mall and west of South Capitol Street. It is the smallest quadrant of the city. Southwest is small enough that it is frequently referred to as a neighborhood in and of...
, in the 1930s.
Over the years, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard units, as well as DOD and federal agencies also found the installation to be an ideal place from which to operate.
- In 1918, pilots from the installation were dispatched by President Woodrow Wilson to create the first permanent airmail route from Washington, D.C. to New York, N.Y.
- Navy seaplanes were first tested and Air Force aerial refueling techniques were developed by installation-based personnel and military commands.
- Following its successful transatlantic flight in 1927, Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" returned to the installation. Soon after, the aircraft was utilized for Lindbergh's goodwill flight to Mexico and South America.
- Air Force Lt. Col. Henry "Hap" Arnold led a bomber flight from Bolling Field on a 4,000-mile journey to Alaska in 1934, to demonstrate the capabilities of long-range strategic bombing missions.
- Throughout World War II, the installation served as a training and organizational base for personnel and units going overseas. It also served as the aerial gateway to the nation's capital.
- The Air Force’s first headquarters was established at the installation, as Army Air Forces Headquarters in 1941 and, with the creation of the United States Air Force, Air Force Headquarters in 1947.
- The Sacred Cow, President Harry Truman's initial official aircraft and Franklin Roosevelt's only official aircraft, retired from service on the installation in 1961. This aircraft was the predecessor to Air Force One and was used for both presidential and VIP support missions. President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which created the United States Air Force, at the desk on board this aircraft.
- In 1962, fixed-wing aircraft operations at the air force and naval installations ceased, due to congested airspace around Washington National Airport on the opposite shore of the Potomac River.
Although fixed-wing aircraft operations ceased, the installations continued their important service to the country and the world, serving in many capacities, including service with the Military Airlift Command (MAC); the headquarters for the Air Force District of Washington; the Air Force 11th Wing; Commander, Naval Installations Command, Naval Media Center (now, Defense Media Activity-Navy) and many other military commands and federal agencies
The Air Force District of Washington
Air Force District of Washington
Air Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
(AFDW) was created and activated at Bolling on 1 October 1985 with the mission of providing administrative support to Air Force members. On 15 July 1994, AFDW was deactivated, but was reactivated 5 January 2005 to "provide a single voice for Air Force requirements in the National Capital Region" according to the base's website.
Bolling field units also provide ceremonial support to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
, Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff, mainly through 11th Wing
11th Wing
The 11th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. It is stationed at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland. It is the host unit at Joint Base Andrews....
, the United States Air Force Honor Guard and The United States Air Force Band.
The Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
built its Defense Intelligence Analysis Center
Defense Intelligence Analysis Center
The Defense Intelligence Analysis Center is the largest of the Defense Intelligence Agency's facilities. It is located on Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. The DIAC was built in 1987 and designed by Smith, Hinchman and Grylls Associates to consolidate DIA activities in the Washington,...
at Bolling Air Force Base and moved many of its operations there in 1987.
Major commands to which assigned
- Director of Military Aeronautics, 28 June 1918
- 3d Service Command, 6 March 1928
- Chief of Air Corps (Exempted Station), 1 July 1936
- General Headquarters Air Force, 15 March 1941
- Redesignated Air Force Combat Command, 20 June 1941
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 13 October 1942 - Headquarters, United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, 7 July 1943 - Continental Air Forces, 17 July 1945
- Second Air Force
- Redesignated: Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 21 March 1946- Bolling Field Command, 16 December 1946
- Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 1 August 1952 - Bolling Field Command, 1 October 1957
- Redesignated Headquarters Command, United States Air Force, 17 March 1958
- Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, 1 July 1976 - Air Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
, 1 October 1985 - 5 July 1994; 7 July 2005–present - Headquarters, United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, 5 July 1994 - 7 July 2005
- Military Airlift Command
Major units assigned
- 312th Aero Sq (Service), July 1918-17 August 1919
- 99th Observation Sq, 18 August 1919-21 March 1921
- HQ Detachment, Bolling Field, 11 July 1922-31 March 1928
- General Headquarters, Air Force, 1 October 1933-28 February 1935
- 14th Air Base Group, 1 March 1935-31 March 1944
- 1st Staff Squadron, 1 September 1936-31 March 1944
- 2d Staff Squadron, 1 September 1936-31 March 1944
- 4th Staff Squadron, 17 May 1941-31 March 1944
- Air Force Combat Command, 28 March 1941-12 March 1942
- V Air Support Command (redesignated: Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
), 23 July - 28 October 1942 - 5th Bombardment Wing, 10–31 July 1942
- VIII Ground Air Support Command, 28 April-29 May 1942
- 10th Ferrying Squadron, 10 April 1942-1 March 1943
- Transatlantic Sector, AAF Ferrying Command,
- Redesignated, Transatlantic Sector, Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
, 21 February 1942-15 April 1943- XII Air Support Command, 25 September-19 October 1942
- Twelfth Air Force, 20–28 August 1942
- 26th Transport Group, 1 March 1943-21 February 1944
- Army Air Force Base Unit 1
- Redesignated Air Force Base Unit 1, 1 April 1944-1 April 1948
- 503d Army Air Force Base Unit, 21 February 1944
- Redesignated: 503d Air Force Base Unit, 27 September 1947-1 April 1948
- Continental Air Forces, 15 December 1944-20 October 1946
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 21 March 1946-20 October 1946 - Bolling Field Command. 15 December 1946
- Redesignated: Headquarters Command, USAF, 17 March 1958-1 July 1976
- 1st Special Air Missions Squadron
- Redesignated: 1111th Special Air Mission Squadron
- Redesignated: 1299th Air Transport Squadron, 10 March 1948 - 10 July 1961
- 16th Special Air Missions Group
- Redesignated: 1100th Special Air Missions Group
- Redesignated: 2310th Air Transport Group, 10 March 1948-29 November 1952
- 1100th Air Base Wing, 16 March 1949-30 September 1977
- Redesignated: 1100th Air Base Group, 30 September 1977-15 December 1980
- Redesignated: 1100th Air Base Wing, 15 December 1980-15 July 1994
- Air Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
, 1 October 1985 - 5 July 1994; 7 July 2005–present - 11th Wing11th WingThe 11th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. It is stationed at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland. It is the host unit at Joint Base Andrews....
, 15 July 1994–30 September 2010
- Air Force District of Washington
See also
Base Realignment and Closure 2005 Department of Defense Joint Basing Program:- Joint Base Lewis-McChordJoint Base Lewis-McChordJoint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
- Joint Base Andrews
- Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
- Joint Base Myer-Henderson HallJoint Base Myer-Henderson HallJoint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is a base of the United States military that is located in Virginia which is made up of Fort Myer, Fort McNair, and Henderson Hall. It was created as the result of the Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 process...
- Joint Base Elmendorf-RichardsonJoint Base Elmendorf-RichardsonJoint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-HickamJoint Base Pearl Harbor-HickamJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a United States military facility adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy Naval Base Pearl Harbor, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:Joint Base Pearl...
- Joint Base San AntonioJoint Base San AntonioJoint Base San Antonio is a United States military facility located in San Antonio, Texas. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 502d Air Base Wing, Air Education and Training Command ....
- Joint Base CharlestonJoint Base CharlestonJoint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command...
- Joint Base Langley-EustisJoint Base Langley-EustisJoint Base Langley–Eustis is a United States military facility located in Hampton and Newport News, Virginia. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 633rd Air Base Wing, Air Combat Command...
- Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort StoryJoint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort StoryJoint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story is a base of the United States military that is located in the Virginia Beach, Virginia which is made up of Fort Story and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. It was created as the result of the Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 process...
- Joint Region MarianasJoint Region MarianasJoint Region Marianas is a United States military facility located on Guam. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy.-Overview:...
External links
- Bolling Air Force Base at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- Bolling AFB Relocation Information and Bolling AFB Q&A
- DC Military guide to the base