Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base
Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base | |||||||||||
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United States of America | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 29°36′26″N 095°09′32″W / 29.60722°N 95.15889°W | ||||||||||
Type | Joint Reserve Base | ||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||
Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||||||
Operator | US Air Force (USAF) | ||||||||||
Controlled by | Texas Air National Guard | ||||||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||||||
Website | Official website | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
Built | 1917 | (as Ellington Field)||||||||||
In use | 1917 – present | ||||||||||
Garrison information | |||||||||||
Garrison |
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Airfield information | |||||||||||
Identifiers | AMSL | ||||||||||
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Airfield shared with Ellington Airport Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base is a joint installation shared by various active component and reserve component military units, as well as aircraft flight operations of the
Overview
The United States Air Force's 147th Attack Wing (147 ATKW) is an Air National Guard (ANG) unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC). The 147 ATKW provides a 24/7 capability with MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Systems. In its conduct of combat support sorties, the 147 ATKW provides theater and national-level leadership with critical real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Air-to-Ground Munitions and strike capability. A collocated Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) provides terminal control for weapons employment in a Close Air Support (CAS) scenario, integrating combat air and ground operations.
New construction designated under the "Grow the Army" project was completed in 2010. The project consisted of ten buildings for the Army National Guard and reserve units, including a battle command training center complete with state-of-the-art computerized equipment. "This will be a tremendous cost benefit to the Army Reserve as travel and logistical costs will be streamlined," noted Major General Eldon Regua, 75th division commander.[4]
The $80 million construction project includes a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) Battle Command Training Center, which simulates war conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan.,[5] a second Armed Forces Reserve Center with an assembly hall and offices, a Welcome Center, which will handle retention, recruitment and military identification services. The military ID center is expected to bring thousands of retired and active military annually to Greater Houston to renew or pick up IDs, Navy, Marine Corps and Army Reserve maintenance and storage facilities, a security checkpoint and the relocation of Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston from Galena Park to a new $20 million facility scheduled to be completed in 2013.
Ellington now has five of the six military branches of the U.S. Department of Defense – Army, Navy and Marine Reserve units, Army and Air National Guard – in addition to the Coast Guard under the Department of Homeland Security, and NASA operations – on one base.[6] The JRB is also the home base of a Civil Air Patrol composite squadron that routinely flies missions out of the Airport.
History
World War I
In 1917, the U.S. government purchased 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land from Dr. R. W. Knox and the Wright Land Company to establish an airbase in Houston. The location, near
The base, which consisted of a few hangars and some wooden headquarters buildings, was completed in a matter of months. By the end of 1917, the field was ready to receive its first squadron – the
During World War I, Ellington served as an advanced flight training base. As of 1918, Ellington had its own gunnery and bombing range on a small peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico near San Leon, Texas. Training units assigned to Ellington Field were:[9]
- Post Headquarters, Ellington Field, November 1917 – January 1920
- 120th Aero Squadron (Service), November 1917 – February 1918 (Deployed to: American Expeditionary Forces, France)
- 69th Aero Squadron (II), February 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "A", July–November 1918
- 70th Aero Squadron(II), March 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "B", July–November 1918
- 113th Aero Squadron(II), March 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "C", July–November 1918
- 232d Aero Squadron(II), April 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "D", July–November 1918
- 233d Aero Squadron(II), April 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "E", July–November 1918
- 250th Aero Squadron, November 1917
- Re-designated as Squadron "F", July–November 1918
- 272d Aero Squadron, April 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "G", July–November 1918
- 285th Aero Squadron, March 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "H", July–November 1918
- 286th Aero Squadron, March 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "I", July–November 1918
- 303d Aero Squadron (Service), June 1918
- Re-designated as Squadron "K", July–November 1918
- Squadron "L", August–December 1918
- Squadron "M", September–December 1918
- Squadron "N", November–December 1918
- 850th Aero Squadron,
- Re-designated as Squadron "O",
- Squadron "X", September–December 1918
- Squadron "Y", September–December 1918
- Squadron "Z", September–December 1918
- Flying School Detachment (Consolidation of Squadrons A-Z), November 1918 – September 1919
For the first months of operation, Ellington Field had no pilot fatalities. Within the year, however, this record changed for the worse. By August 1918, Ellington Field recorded the most pilot fatalities of the 18 U.S. Army Air Service training bases in the United States.[7] Ellington became well known in military circles, and had a series of "firsts", including the first camp newspaper, the first American aerial gunnery and bombing range, the first "canteen girls", and the first aerial ambulance in American military history.[7] Before the end of the war, approximately 5,000 men and 250 aircraft were assigned to the base.[10]
Ellington was considered surplus to requirements after World War I and the base was inactivated as an active duty airfield in January 1920. A small caretaker unit was kept at the airfield for administrative reasons, but generally, the only flight activity during this time was from Army pilots stationed at Kelly Field who flew down to practice landings on Ellington's runways.[7]
Inter-war years
In May 1923, the War Department had ordered the small caretaker force at Ellington Field to dismantle all remaining structures and to sell them as surplus. Orders to abandon Ellington Field were abruptly halted, however, when the War Department authorized the
Though the 111th Observation Squadron had the excess World War I storage and maintenance facilities at Ellington Field, the squadron did not have a true headquarters building. Major Law requested funds from Texas and the U.S. National Guard, but unfortunately monies were not available for new buildings. Law, however, was able convince several local Houston businessmen to donate space in a downtown office building. In 1924, the 111th Observation Squadron headquarters was relocated to the Gas Company Building in downtown Houston. The use of downtown civilian facilities, however, highlighted the two major inadequacies of Ellington Field: deteriorating facilities and the great distance of the field from Houston.[7]
In 1925 General William Mitchell conducted a "flying tour" of all National Guard Observation Squadrons throughout the United States. On a return trip from the West Coast, General Mitchell came to south Texas for an inspection of Ellington Field. Once on the ground, Mitchell commented that the 111th Observation Squadron was one of the best units in the nation. Mitchell spoke to enthusiastic crowds at Ellington Field confirming his belief that a strong Air Force was vital to national defense.[7]
Also the possibility of a new municipal airfield endangered the existence of Ellington Field, rumors circulated throughout the Texas National Guard that the War Department wanted to transfer the aviation schools at Kelly and Brooks Fields to Houston. In 1926, Houston was in the process of planning a modern municipal airfield so that Houston would remain a center of commerce and trade in south Texas.[7]
Several years later in 1927, Ellington's status was again threatened as local city leaders began to discuss the construction of a municipal airport. That airport, the present day William P. Hobby Airport, confirmed the squadron's fears that Ellington's aging facilities were obsolete; as a result the Texas National Guard decided to move the 111th to new facilities at the municipal airport instead.[7]
The Texas National Guard and 36th Infantry Division bought most of the airfield's buildings, but the field remained unused; by 1928 Ellington was again overtaken by tall prairie grass. That same year, a fire engulfed what was left of the airfield, consuming its remaining structures, except for the concrete foundations and a metal water tower. For the next 12 years, the U.S. military leased the land to local ranchers for use as pasture.[7]
World War II
World War II, with its increasing need for trained pilots, helped to reestablish Ellington Field as an active facility. Rep. Albert Thomas, one of Houston's representatives in the United States House of Representatives, pushed for rebuilding Ellington as a pilot training center. Beyond the area's excellent weather for flying, Thomas argued that the Houston area's petroleum refineries, upon which the war effort depended, would need military protection in the region.[7] In 1940, construction began on a much-expanded Ellington Field, which eventually included five control towers, two 46,000-square-foot (4,300 m2) hangars, the most modern medical complex in south Texas and 74 barracks.
Ellington Field was the site for advanced flight training for bomber pilots. Initial plans called for the training of 2,800 bomber pilots per year at Ellington Field or about ten percent of the total number of pilots trained throughout the United States. Beginning at five-week intervals, classes of 274 cadets entered the 10-week course. Cadets moved from the
Ellington Field was also a site for the USAAC, later USAAF, Bombardier School, also known as "the Bombardment Academy of the Air." At Ellington Field, officials planned to train 4,480 bombardier cadets per year. Bombardier cadets spent most of their time during the 10-week course in the classroom learning the skills necessary to accurately drop bombs on enemy targets. Hands-on training for the bombardier cadets took place over the Gulf of Mexico. In AT-10s or AT-11s, bombardier students practiced bombing several small islands in Matagorda Bay or small target boats anchored in the bay. The Bombardier School remained at Ellington Field until 1942.[7]
In 1943, Ellington Field became the site for advanced navigator training when the Army Air Forces Training Command transferred the Navigator School from
By the end of 1943, more than 65 women who served in the Women's Army Corps were also stationed at Ellington. The WACs worked in noncombat Army jobs in order to free men for combat duty. "By taking over an Army job behind the lines, she frees a fighting man to join his fellow soldiers on the road to Victory," stated WAC director Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby.[11] With the end of World War II, Ellington served primarily as a reserve air base from the end of the war in 1945 until 1948.[7]
Cold War
Air Training Command
In 1948, Ellington Airport was one of many airfields selected to be reactivated in an effort to maintain a large military force in the United States after World War II.
Navigation training was enhanced at Ellington when the Air Force installed a microwave navigation system. To help navigators learn celestial positioning, a Houston resident paid for the construction of a planetarium at Ellington. The planetarium, which stood 50 feet (15 m) high and was topped by an aluminum dome, could hold 40 students.[7]
In 1952, Air Training Command (ATC) expanded the training program at Ellington with the establishment of a multi-engine flying training program as part of Flying Training Air Force. As a cost-cutting measure, Headquarters USAF directed ATC in November 1953 to reorganize its Air Force Observer training program and decrease training time. ATC managed the restructure by converting primary observer training into a primary basic course and by providing advanced instruction in the basic course. Ellington was designated to provide primary observer training, with the establishment of the 3605th Observer Training Wing. In 1956, navigator and observer training were consolidated, which consisted of 42 weeks, including 180 hours of in-flight training.
During 1958–59, USAF navigator training operations were eliminated at Ellington and consolidated at
The City of Houston annexed Ellington Air Force Base in the 1960s.[13]
Air Defense Command / Aerospace Defense Command
Ellington AFB was selected as one of the first of twenty-four
Radar facilities were activated in April 1952 with the 149th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron of the California Air National Guard operating an AN/CPS-6B radar set. On 1 February 1953 the 747th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron assumed operational control of the site. The station was designated P-79. In 1955 the Air Force placed an
In addition to the main facility, Ellington operated two
- Fannett, TX (P-79A): 29°45′28″N 094°14′44″W / 29.75778°N 94.24556°W
- Van Vleck, TX (P-79B): 28°59′43″N 095°54′52″W / 28.99528°N 95.91444°W
By 1960 Ellington performed air traffic control duties for the FAA with an
Assignments:
- 33d Air Division, 1 February 1953
- Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, 1 January 1960
- 4752d Air Defense Wing, 1 September 1961
- Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, 25 June 1963
- 31st Air Division
In late 1972, the radar facilities at Ellington were reactivated by the now-renamed
The
Air Force Reserve
The Air Force transferred Ellington AFB to Continental Air Command (CONAC) effective 1 April 1958 and undergraduate navigator training was reassigned to Mather AFB, California and James Connally AFB, Texas. As a result, in 1959, Ellington was downgraded to a reserve Air Force Base and, with the exception of a U.S. Coast Guard air station established in 1963, has primarily served a Reserve Component (RC) air base ever since.
While a full-fledged active duty installation, Ellington AFB had routinely hosted several college level
In 1959, the
After Ellington's transfer to CONAC in 1958,
From 1958 until 1972, the 446th was the host wing for Ellington, changing its name to the
Despite the 446th's interim inactivation, Air Force Reserve flying activities continued at Ellington under the
In 1976, the 924 TAG relocated to
Texas Air National Guard
With these post-1976 transitions, the Texas Air National Guard and the 147 FIG became the dominant military presence at what was now-Ellington ANGB.
The history of the ANG presence at Ellington dates to 1957 when the Texas Air National Guard's 111th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (111 FIS) at then-Ellington AFB was authorized to expand to a group level and was redesignated the 147th Fighter-Interceptor Group (147 FIG) under the 136th Air Defense Wing. On 1 July 1957, the National Guard Bureau extended federal recognition to the 147th Fighter-Interceptor Group.
Initially equipped with the
On 1 January 1970, the 147th became the Air National Guard's Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for the F-102A/TF-102B when the active duty Air Force ceased F-102A training and closed
In 1982, the F-101s were retired and the 147th was reequipped with the
The
With the retirement of 147th's F-16 aircraft, the 24/7/365 Continental NORAD Region (CONR) air defense alert mission for the western Gulf of Mexico and southern Texas border previously performed by the 147th needed to be replaced by another F-16 unit. As a result, the 138th Fighter Wing (138 FW) of the Oklahoma Air National Guard assumed the 147th's former 24/7/365 alert mission and now maintains a rotational detachment of F-16C aircraft, pilots, maintainers, and security personnel as an operating location what is now Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.[17]
On 28 July 2017, the 147 RW began transition to the also unmanned and remotely piloted
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA use
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Ellington Field was utilized for pilot and navigator training for the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Naval Air Reserve, Marine Air Reserve, and foreign students.[8]
Current status
Ellington Field was officially inactivated by the Air Force in 1976 and all
See also
- Air National Guard
- Civil Air Patrol (US Air Force Auxiliary)
- List of military installations in Texas
- List of active United States military aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of United States Air Force installations
- Texas World War II Army Airfields
- 33d Flying Training Wing (World War II)(Flying Training)
- 80th Flying Training Wing (World War II)(Navigation Training)
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- List of Training Section Air Service airfields
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ "Airport Diagram – Ellington (EFD)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ "LT. ERIC LAMAR ELLINGTON - 1887-1913". earlyaviators.com. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ William R. Evinger: Directory of Military Bases in the U.S., Oryx Press, Phoenix, Ariz., 1991, p. 147.
- ^ "Fly2Houston - Houston Airport System". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ^ "Houston: Military training exercises held at Ellington Airport | khou.com Houston". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ^ "Military growth at Ellington poised to boost economy". yourhoustonnews.com. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Ellington Field: A Short History, 1917–1963" (PDF). jsc.nasa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 November 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
- ^ a b "Ellington Field". tshaonline.org. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
- ^ Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)
- ^ "Ellington Field". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 15 February 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
- ^ "WACS Train at Ellington Field, Texas". UT Discovery. Archived from the original on 8 May 2005. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
- ^ "Annexations in Houston Or How we grew to 667 square miles in 175 years Archived 20 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine." City of Houston Planning and Development Department. p. 39 of 62. Retrieved on 21 February 2017.
- ^ Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980) - ^ Winkler, David F. & Webster, Julie L., Searching the Skies, The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, [1][dead link] US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL (1997).
- ^ "Civil Air Patrol squadrons". The Air Force Association (AFA). Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
- ^ "OK Air National Guard aircraft crashes, pilot unharmed".
- ^ "Ellington Field Aircraft" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration, www.nasa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Ellington name changes from “Field” to “Airport” Archived 26 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine." Houston Airport System. 15 January 2009. Retrieved on 17 January 2009.