Postwar era The base became operational in January 1943, training new pilots on multi-engine aircraft. The primary training aircraft were the
Cessna AT-17 Bobcat and the
Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep. On 15 May 1945, the airfield was placed on temporary inactive status. It later became an aircraft disposal point for the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
Cold War The base sat idle for only a few years. The onset of the
Korean War in June 1950 created the need for more staff to fly During the 1950s, the base underwent many changes and changed hands from TAC to the
Strategic Air Command (SAC). Later that year, on 18 November, the
96th Bombardment Wing, Medium (96 BMW), arrived and began operations with three bomber squadrons and one air refueling squadron. The squadrons eventually flew the first all jet-engined bomber, the
B-47 Stratojet and the
KC-97 Stratofreighter, a dual-purpose cargo and air-refueling aircraft. By the end of the decade, both of these aircraft would be replaced by aircraft still in the Air Force inventory, the
KC-135 Stratotanker and the
B-52 Stratofortress. The KC-135 was the first all jet-engined air-refueling aircraft and the B-52 still remains the backbone of the USAF bomber fleet. When the 96th BW moved to
Dyess AFB, Texas, the 11th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) activated and stood on alert during the Cold War.
Previous names • Established on 17 June 1942 as: AAF Advanced Flying School, Altus, Oklahoma • Altus Army Airfield, 8 April 1943 • AAF Pilot School (Advanced TE), Altus Army Airfield, 6 August 1943 – 23 April 1946 • Inactivated 23 April 1946 – 3 March 1953 • Altus Air Force Base, 3 March 1953 – present
Major commands to which assigned • AAF Gulf Coast Training Cen, 26 June 1942 • AAF Central Flying Training Comd, 31 July 1943 • AAF Technical Service Comd, 16 May 1945 • Air Technical Service Comd, 1 July 1945 – 9 March 1946 •
Tactical Air Command, 11 June 1952 •
Strategic Air Command, 21 June 1954 •
Military Airlift Command, 1 July 1968 •
Air Mobility Command, 1 October 1992 •
Air Education and Training Command, 1 July 1993 – present
Base operating units • 453rd Base HQ and Air Base Squadron, 6 October 1942 – 1 May 1944 • 2508th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School), 1 May 1944 – 16 May 1945 • 4124th AAF Base Unit, 16 May – 13 December 1945 • 63d Air Base Group, 8 January 1953 • 4037th Air Base Group, 15 October 1953 – 18 November 1953 • 96th Air Base Group, 18 November 1953 • 11th Combat Support Gp, 1 March 1959 – 8 July 1968 • 443rd Air Base (later Combat Support) Group, 8 July 1968 • 97th Mission Support Group 1 October 1992 – present
Major units assigned • Army Air Force Pilot School (Advanced Training), 26 June 1942 – 15 May 1945 • 4124 Army Air Force Base Unit, 15 May 1945 – 13 December 1945 •
63d Troop Carrier Wing, 8 January 1953 – 14 October 1953 •
96th Bombardment Wing, 18 November 1953 – 7 September 1957 •
11th Bombardment Wing, 13 December 1957 – 25 March 1969 •
340th Air Refueling Wing, 1 July 1977 – 1 October 1992 •
443d Military Airlift Wing, Training, 5 May 1969 – 1 October 1992 •
97th Air Mobility Wing 1 October 1992 – present • Jackson County Composite Squadron
Civil Air Patrol SM-65F Atlas Missile Sites The
577th Strategic Missile Squadron operated twelve missile sites, of one missile at each site: • 577–1 2.2 mi NNE of Lugert, OK • 577–2 3.8 mi SSE of Cambridge, OK • 577–3 0.8 mi SE of Mountain Park, OK • 577–4 2.1 mi WSW of Cache, OK • 577–5 4.0 mi NNE of Manitou, OK • 577–6 2.2 mi NNE of Frederick, OK • 577–7 4.8 mi SE of Ranchland, TX • 577–8 0.6 mi NE of Creta, OK • 577–9 3.7 mi NNW of Gould, OK • 577–10 6.2 mi SW of Mangum, OK • 577–11 1.0 mi NE of Willow, OK • 577–12 2.7 mi WSW of Granite, OK ==See also==