Savannah Air National Guard Base
Encyclopedia
- See: Savannah/Hilton Head International AirportSavannah/Hilton Head International Airport"Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport , formerly Savannah International Airport, Travis Field and Chatham Field, is a joint civil-military airport located northwest of Savannah, Georgia just off Interstate 95, between Savannah and the city of Pooler, Georgia...
for civil airport information
Savannah Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
165th Airlift Wing
165th Airlift Wing
The Georgia Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Georgia. The Airlift Wing, which currently flies the C-130H cargo aircraft, came into existence after World War II in 1946. The unit was officially mobilized first for the Korean...
.
Overview
Savannah ANGB at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is home to the 165th Airlift Wing165th Airlift Wing
The Georgia Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Georgia. The Airlift Wing, which currently flies the C-130H cargo aircraft, came into existence after World War II in 1946. The unit was officially mobilized first for the Korean...
(165 AW), an Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC)-gained unit of the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
, currently flying the C-130H Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
tactical airlift aircraft. The wing consists of over 900 full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), Air Reserve Technician (ART) and part-time "traditional" air national guardsmen, available for domestic operations as an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
unit or world-wide deployment in support of the U.S. Air Force and unified combatant commanders.
Savannah ANGB also hosts the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC). Located at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport/Savannah ANGB, the CRTC is one of four such training facilities in the nation. The CRTC provides airspace and ranges, aircraft parking, aircraft ground equipment (AGE), maintenance areas, training facilities, dormitories and other support functions for regular U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
, Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, U.S. Navy, Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve tactical jet aviation units.
Origins
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport was originally named Chatham Field and developed as a Works Progress AdministrationWorks Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
project at Cherokee Hill, one of the highest elevations in Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. In 1939 Congress had instituted a program to improve the nation's airport infrastructure in the interest of National Defense. If local governments provided the land, the Federal Government would fund construction of the airport. The City then approached the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) about the possibility of building an airport at Cherokee Hill. The CAA accepted this proposal, informing the City that as much as $400,000 would be allocated for construction of three 4000 ft (1,219.2 m) runways. The City purchased 600 acres (242.8 ha) at the CAA approved site seven miles (11 km) northwest of town center for $20,000.
By the time the project got underway in 1941, the United States was on an unavoidable road to war and the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
as well as the Navy took an interest in the strategically located coastal airport. The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, looking for a blimp
Blimp
A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is a floating airship without an internal supporting framework or keel. A non-rigid airship differs from a semi-rigid airship and a rigid airship in that it does not have any rigid structure, neither a complete framework nor a partial keel, to help the airbag...
base in the area, attempted to gain control of the airfield. The Air Corps, on the other hand, wanted the airfield for an auxiliary of Hunter Field, located 8 miles (12.9 km) south. The Interdepartmental Air Traffic Control Board, consisting of members of the Army, Navy and CAA to resolve conflicts such as this between the services, sided with the Air Corps. The Navy eventually built a blimp base at Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
, 75 miles (120.7 km) to the south.
With the Air Corps established already in the Savannah area at Hunter Field, work on Chatham proceeded at a slow pace. The construction project involved improving runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower being built. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. Chatham Army Airfield, named for its Georgia county location, finally activated on 19 September 1943, over two years since construction began.
World War II
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, III Reconnaissance Command
III Reconnaissance Command
The III Reconnaissance Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
and the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was a direct reporting agency of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Its mission was to deal with the German Navy U-boat threat.-Lineage:...
. In June 1943, the 100th Bombardment Squadron
106th Air Refueling Squadron
The United States Air Force's 106th Air Refueling Squadron is an Air National Guard aerial refueling unit flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama.-History:...
(Medium) was assigned to the airfield flying B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
bombers on antisubmarine patrols. However, in August, the antisubmarine patrol mission was transferred to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Two days after the base's activation, First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
took over command and made Chatham a sub-base of Jacksonville AAF. First Air Force used Chatham for B-24 operational training. Although Chatham had an adequate airfield, the cantonment area was deemed lacking with accommodations for only a reduced station complement and one tactical squadron. This presented a major problem since insufficient facilities existed to accommodate a B-24 group scheduled to arrive in the latter part of October. Hard work by base personnel provided necessary facilities when the 460th Bombardment Group
460th Space Wing
The 460th Space Wing is located at Buckley Air Force Base, east of Aurora, Colorado. Since the 460th was redesignated on 1 October 2004, the wing has delivered global infrared surveillance, provided worldwide missile warning and tracking for homeland defense purposes, and provided expeditionary...
, consisting of the 760th , 761st, 762nd, and the 763rd Bombardment Squadrons, arrived on 29 October 1943.
After the 460th BG deployed to Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during January 1944, First Air Force changed Chatham's mission to replacement training. The 302d Bombardment Group
302d Airlift Wing
The 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
(355th, 356th
356th Airlift Squadron
The 356th Airlift Squadron is part of the 433d Airlift Wing at Kelly Field Annex, Texas. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing global airlfit.-Mission:...
, 357th
357th Airlift Squadron
The 357th Airlift Squadron is part of the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft providing global airlfit.-History:...
and 420th) flew B-24s as the Operational Training Units, training replacement B-24 aircrews. The 460th was replaced by squadrons of the 302d Bombardment Group
302d Airlift Wing
The 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
(355th, 356th
356th Airlift Squadron
The 356th Airlift Squadron is part of the 433d Airlift Wing at Kelly Field Annex, Texas. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing global airlfit.-Mission:...
, 357th
357th Airlift Squadron
The 357th Airlift Squadron is part of the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft providing global airlfit.-History:...
and 420th) flying B-24s as Operational Training Units, training replacement B-24 aircrews.
On 1 May 1945, Chatham AAF was transferred from the First to the Third Air Force. Among the eight generals present for the ceremony was Major General Frank Hunter
Frank O’Driscoll Hunter
Major General Frank O. Hunter was a World War I flying ace, one of four United States Army Air Service pilots who downed nine enemy aircraft. Hunter became an advocate of fighter aircraft strategy and tactics. In World War II he served as chief of the VIII Fighter Command and, later, the First Air...
, commander of the First Air Force, a Savannah native, and the namesake of nearby Hunter Field. Among his acts that day, Hunter decorated eleven of Chatham's men.
Chatham's new mission under Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
was a training base for the B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
. By July, 29 B-29s were on hand. However, with the end of the war in 1945, Chatham AAF was no longer needed and it was placed on inactive status on 10 January 1946, with the 324 Army Air Force Base Unit (Standby) assuming caretaker duties over the facility.
Cold War
The reconstituted Georgia Air National Guard stationed its 158th Fighter Squadron158th Airlift Squadron
The 158th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130 Hercules. It is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 165th Airlift Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
at Chatham Field on 13 October 1946, flying its P-47 Thunderbolts until 1949 when it moved to Hunter AFB to accommodate the active-duty Air Force.
On 17 July 1947, the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The 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...
reactivated the Airfield. Chatham was assigned to Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The 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...
, with the 380th Bombardment Group being assigned to jurisdiction of the base, and work was begun to modernize the airfield from its World War II wartime configuration into a permanent Air Force Base with modern facilities. Although Chatham had an adequate airfield for B-29 operations, the cantonment area was in poor condition. Constructed to last for five years, the buildings had reached the end of their life expectancy. In addition, the buildings' shortcomings also included outside latrines and potbellied stoves for heating.
In January 1948, the base was renamed Chatham Air Force Base. On 1 November 1948 Boeing B-50 Superfortress
B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
aircraft were assigned to the base from the 307th Bombardment Group
307th Bombardment Group
The 307th Air Refueling Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 47th Air Division, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California...
, with a mission being transition training of B-29 bomber crews to the new B-50. On 1 March 1949, Chatham was reassigned to Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
and the 2d Bombardment Group was reassigned from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
to Chatham, with B-50s.
The inadequacies of the support facilities at Chatham caused the Air Force to make the decision to leave Chatham and move to Hunter or leave Savannah. The facilities at Hunter AFB were built in the 1930s to permanent specifications and made Hunter much more desirable than Chatham. The City of Savannah interceded with the Air Force and offered to trade the larger Hunter Field
Hunter Army Airfield
Hunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, then a municipal airport, for the smaller Chatham AFB to keep SAC and the USAF in Savannah. This arrangement was agreed to and on 29 September 1950, the 2d Bomb Group moved to Hunter AFB and Chatham was turned over to the City of Savannah.
In 1953, when the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
158th Fighter Squadron
158th Airlift Squadron
The 158th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130 Hercules. It is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 165th Airlift Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
returned from activation during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, it was based at Travis Field. This required the extension of Travis's east/west runway to 8000 ft (2,438.4 m). for the Guard's F-84 Thunderjet
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
s.