Hamilton Army Airfield

Hamilton Field/AFB/AAF
Part of Air/Aerospace Defense Command
Located in Novato, California
Hamilton Field, 2006 US Geological Survey photo
Hamilton AFB Show map of California Hamilton AFB Show map of the United States
Coordinates	38°3′28″N 122°30′45″W / 38.05778°N 122.51250°W / 38.05778; -122.51250
Type	Air Force base
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force United States Army
Site history
Built	1932–1935
In use	1934–1974
Garrison information
Garrison	Aerospace Defense Command

Hamilton Field (Hamilton AFB) was a

.

History

Hamilton Field was named after First Lieutenant

]

Origins

What would eventually become Hamilton Air Force Base has its origins in the late 1920s, when the airfield was first established. It was first unofficially named; the Marin County Air Field, Marin Airfield, Marin Meadows Air Field, and the Army Air Base at Marin Meadows. It was officially termed from 1929 until 1932 the "Air Corps Station, San Rafael." ^{[citation needed]} With formal development beginning, it was named Hamilton Field on 12 July 1932.^{[citation needed]}

Construction of the airfield began about 1 July 1932, with the airfield being originally designed to accommodate four bomb squadrons and their personnel. Captain Don L. Hutchins, later Colonel Don L. Hutchins in WWII, of the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) reported on duty as the first commanding officer of the new field on 25 June 1933, and Captain John M. Davies' 70th Service Squadron arrived that December as the first squadron assigned to the base.^{[citation needed]}

The Hamilton Field Station Complement replaced the 70th Service Squadron on 1 March 1935. The original construction program was completed on 12 May 1935, at which time the field was ceremonially handed over to Brigadier General Henry 'Hap' Arnold, commanding the 1st Wing, by Governor Frank Merriam of California.^{[citation needed]}

The

Bomber mission

Hamilton Field was originally a bomber installation. On 5 May 1934, the first planes assigned to Hamilton were

of the 88th Observation Squadron were assigned to Hamilton.

The B-12 bombers housed at Hamilton Field were phased out in 1937, and the 7th Bomb Group was re-equipped with the Douglas B-18 Bolo. The B-18 was a standard two-engine short-range bomber, and was capable of airlifting combat-equipped troops en masse, an important advance in combat techniques at the time.

The next step forward in bomber technology was the development of the

on 7 September 1940, to train with B-17s.

Fighter mission

Hamilton became a fighter base under the USAAC Air Force Combat Command in December 1940, becoming the home of the 9th, 10th and

.

The arrival of the pursuit wings and their crews caused crowding at the base and initiated the first of many housing problems. Hamilton was assigned to the USAAC 4th Air Force, on 7 December 1941, and the airfield was designated an air defense base for the West Coast as part of the Western Defense Command on 5 January 1942.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

In response to the growing crisis in the Pacific, on 6 December 1941, the

, one set down on the Kahuku Golf Course, and the remainder landed at Hickam under the strafing of Japanese planes.

The B-17Es of the 7th Bombardment Group were moved back to Hamilton from Utah for deployment to the

.

World War II

During World War II, Hamilton was an important West Coast air training facility. Its mission was that of an initial training base for newly formed fighter groups. The airfield was rapidly expanded to a wartime status, with construction of additional barracks, mess halls, administration buildings, warehouses, Link Trainer buildings, schools, hospital and other structures.

The following units trained at Hamilton:

Group	Assigned dates	Aircraft type
78th Fighter Group	May 1942 – November 1942	P-38 "Lightning"
329th Fighter Group	10 July 1942 – 13 July 1942	P-38 "Lightning"
354th Fighter Group	10 November 1942 – 18 January 1943	P-39 "Airacobra"
357th Fighter Group	1 December 1942 – 4 March 1943	P-51 "Mustang"
363rd Fighter Group	1 March 1943 – August 1943	P-39 "Airacobra"
367th Fighter Group	15 July 1943 – 11 October 1943	P-38 "Lightning"
369th Fighter Group	1 August 1943 – 5 November 1943	P-40 "Warhawk"
372nd Fighter Group	28 October 1943 – 7 December 1943	P-40 "Warhawk"
478rd Fighter Group	1 December 1943 – 12 December 1943	P-39 "Airacobra"

Auxiliary training fields used by Hamilton Field during World War II were:

• Montague Air Force Auxiliary Field 41°43′45″N 122°32′30″W / 41.72917°N 122.54167°W / 41.72917; -122.54167
• Napa Army Airfield 38°12′56″N 122°16′49″W / 38.21556°N 122.28028°W / 38.21556; -122.28028
• Willows Municipal Airport 39°31′12″N 122°13′13″W / 39.52000°N 122.22028°W / 39.52000; -122.22028
• Redding Army Airfield 40°30′42″N 122°17′38″W / 40.51167°N 122.29389°W / 40.51167; -122.29389
• Siskiyou County Army Airfield 41°46′53″N 122°28′05″W / 41.78139°N 122.46806°W / 41.78139; -122.46806 (Siskiyou County Army Airfield)

In addition, the

being assigned early in 1942. The 1503rd AAF Base Unit was also stationed here.

Postwar use

In 1946, the Fairfax, California B-17 crash took place as a B-17 bomber attempted to land at Hamilton Field.

In the initial postwar years, Hamilton remained Air Transport Command's primary West Coast facility until 1948 when

in the mid-1950s to Hamilton also as part of its reserve forces.

However, the new

Air Force Reserve

in 1973.

325th Fighter Group/Wing

The initial Air Defense Command major unit at Hamilton was the

. The units mission was air defense training missions along the West Coast.

In the immediate postwar years, the Black Widow was pressed into service as an air defense interceptor in response to the USAAF's problems in developing a useful jet-powered night/all-weather fighter. The war-weary P-61s were soon replaced in May 1948 by the North American

, and on 10 May the Wing and component groups and squadrons were redesignated as All Weather. The 325th was the first Air Defense Command group to receive the F-82.

The 325th Fighter Wing (All Weather) also was established on 10 May 1948, as part of the "one base, one wing" concept, with the 325th Fighter Group becoming a subordinate unit of the wing. The unit was transferred on 27 June 1948, to

78th Fighter Wing

With the departure of the 325th for Washington, the

in 1942 and served as part of its air defense organization. Although briefly inactivated between 1952 and 1956, the 78th Fighter Wing was the host unit at Hamilton until it was inactivated in 1969.

The 78th Fighter Group's initial operational fighter squadrons were the

. As its predecessor, the 325th, the mission of the 78th Fighter Wing was the air defense of the Pacific coast. The wing and subordinate units were redesignated as the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 January 1950.

The first production Northrop

interceptor was accepted by the USAF during February 1951, and entered service with the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. However, in retrospect, the F-89B was rushed into squadron service too rapidly. There were not enough trained pilots and radar operators, and there were not enough maintenance personnel who knew the intricacies of the complex and troublesome Hughes E-1 fire control system. The in-service rate of the F-89B was appallingly low, and crashes were all too frequent.

In 1949, the ADC

. Its subordinate 28th AD controlled the operational air defense Groups and Squadrons.

566th Air Defense Group

Hamilton AFB

or Oxnard AFB, California in 1964.

As part of a reorganization of Air Defense Command, on 6 February 1952, the 78th FIW was inactivated and in its place, the 4702d Defense Wing stood up at Hamilton. The 4702d was a placeholder unit until the 566th Air Defense Group of the 28th Air Division assumed control of the base on 7 November 1952. Units of the 566th ADG at Hamilton were:

• 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  (6 February 1952 – 18 August 1955) (F-86F)
• 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  (6 February 1952 – 18 August 1955) (F-86F)
• 325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (April 1954 – 18 August 1955) (F-86D)

  Reassigned from

  Travis AFB, California

• 496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  (20 March 1953 – August 1954) (F-86D)

When the 78th FIW was inactivated, the 82d FIS was transferred to the 4703d Defense Wing at

Washington

.

During its time at Hamilton, the 325th FIS sponsored the "Sabre Knights" aerial demonstration team. In August 1955 the 325th unit designation was transferred to Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin.

The 496th FIS was activated on 20 March 1953, as a fighter-interceptor squadron at Hamilton as part of the west coast air defense forces. Partially equipped at first with six F-51Ds, the squadron soon transitioned to F-86D aircraft and prepared to move to Europe. In August 1954 the 496th FIS was transferred to

.

On 18 August 1955, the 78th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was reactivated at Hamilton under the 28th AD with the 83d and 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons flying F-86D Sabres.

78th Fighter Wing (Air Defense)

In 1956, it was decided to elevate the operational units at Hamilton back to a Wing level, and the 566th ADG was inactivated, and the 78th was redesignated as the 78th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 September, being reactivated on 18 October. The reactivated wing consisted of the 83d and 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons.

F-86Ds

The 78th Fighter Wing was initially equipped with the North American F-86D interceptor version of the Sabre. Although, in reality it was a quite different aircraft than the F-86H model, the predominant version used after the Korean War. In the late 1950s, the F-86D served as the main air defense weapon against Soviet bomber attacks. In retrospect, the Soviet bomber threat was grossly exaggerated, but it cannot be denied that the presence of the F-86D interceptor was an important deterrent.

F-104As

The Lockheed F-104A had originally been scheduled to replace the

beginning in 1956. However, by the time that the F-104A was finally ready for delivery, Air Force requirements had changed. The Starfighter's relatively low endurance and its lack of ability to carry a significant offensive weapons load made it no longer suitable for TAC. Consequently, the TAC lost all interest in the F-104A even before it was scheduled to enter service.

This might ordinarily have been the end of the line for the F-104A. However, delays in the delivery and development of the

Convair F-106A Delta Dart

Mach 2+ fighter-interceptor for ADC Command had at that time become worrisome, and the USAF decided to go ahead and accept the F-104As originally destined for the TAC and assign them to the ADC as a stopgap measure.

The selection of the F-104A for the ADC was sort of curious, since it had not been originally designed as an interceptor and it lacked an adequate endurance and had no all-weather capability. However, its high climb rate made it attractive to the ADC and it was hoped that the Starfighter could fill in until the F-106 became available.

First to get the F-104A was the

during the Quemoy crisis. The crisis was peacefully resolved, and the aircraft were returned to the USA.

The F-104A was not very well suited for service as an interceptor. Its low range was a problem for North American air defense, and its lack of all-weather capability made it incapable of operating in conjunction with the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system. The F-104As were replaced by the end of 1960 by more heavily armed all-weather McDonnell

squadrons.

F-101B/Fs

With the relative failure of the F-104A in the interceptor role, the 84th FIS was re-equipped with the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo in 1959 and the 83d FIS in 1960. The F-101Bs were modified versions of the SAC F-101A nuclear attack aircraft (designed for one-way missions carrying tactical nuclear weapons) by modifying the avionics systems and fire control systems for air-to-air missiles. The last F-101Bs were delivered in March 1961, and once the teething troubles with its fire control system issues were corrected, the F-101B proved to be a quite successful interceptor. However, it was outshone by the faster and more maneuverable Convair F-106A Delta Dart when that interceptor finally entered service.

Along with the F-101Bs, the dual-seat F-101F trainer was also flown at Hamilton. F-101Fs were equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable.

F-106As

The Convair F-106A Delta Dart replaced the F-101 at Hamilton during 1968. The F-106 was considered by many as being the finest all-weather interceptor ever built. It served with the 84th FIS until 1987, nearly 20 years. On 30 September 1968, the 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was transferred to Hamilton from Paine AFLD,

Washington

and was inactivated, with its F-106s being reassigned to the 84th FIS.

NORAD

On 1 April 1966, in addition to reactivating the

Semi Automatic Ground Environment

(SAGE) system. The SAGE Combat Center utilized a three-string AN/GSA-51 computer system. Headquarters Western NORAD Region was inactivated at Hamilton Air Force Base on 31 December 1969.

1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense)

On 31 December 1969, the

as a result of its closing, replacing the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing which was inactivated. Its operational squadron was the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which was reassigned from the inactivating 78th FIW. The 84th FIS continued to fly the F-106.

At Hamilton the 1st FW was an administrative organization of the ADC

.

26th Air Division (ADC/ADTAC)

With the transfer of the 1st FW, the 84th FIS continued to operate at Hamilton until 30 August 1973 directly under the Aerospace Defense Commands 26th Air Division.

The 84th FIS was reassigned to Castle Air Force Base near Merced, California on 1 September 1973, as part of Hamilton's closedown, transferring its F-106s and effectively ending the air defense role of Hamilton AFB.

At Castle, the 84th FIS continued to fill the Air Defense role throughout the 1970s, eventually retiring its F-106s in 1981. The squadron was redesignated the 84th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron on 1 July 1981, flying T-33s as its primary aircraft for live electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) training. Participated in live flying exercises as targets for various Tactical Air Command ADTAC air divisions and for the F-15s of the 49th TFW at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The 84th FITS also flew target missions for the weapons controller training program.

The 84th FITS was inactivated on 27 February 1987.

United States Air Force Reserve Units

349th Military Airlift Wing

Along with its air defense mission, Hamilton AFB was Headquarters for the

.

The 349th was bestowed the history and lineage of the

, the reserve personnel of the 349th were called to active duty and used as fillers in other wings that were not up to combat strength. Consequently, the 349th TCW was inactivated on 2 April 1951.

349th Fighter-Bomber Wing

With the reconstruction of reserve forces on 26 May 1952, the unit was reorganized as a

Republic F-84 Thunderstreak

(1956–1957).

349th Troop Carrier/Military Airlift Wing

In September 1957, the unit was redesignated as the 349th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, with the following squadrons: (97th, 312th, 313th,

314th Troop Carrier Squadrons

) and assigned to Tactical Air Command.

The 349th flew the

. The 349th, like the other reserve troop carrier wings, was completely equipped and ready to move with only a few hours notice as was the case during the Cuban call-up. Only four hours after the first call to report for duty was made, 95 percent of the wing's flying personnel had checked in and were ready to move. With the cessation of the crisis, the wing was relieved from active duty on 28 November.

The 349th was redesignated the 349th Military Airlift Wing on 1 June 1966, when the unit was reallocated to Military Airlift Command. The Wing controlled four (921st, 938th, 939th and 941st) airlift groups.

The unit flew the

and Pacific theaters of operations, as well as points in Europe and the Middle East.

On 25 July 1969, the 349th MAW was transferred to

Travis AFB

.

452d Military/Tactical Airlift Wing

On 1 January 1972, the Air Force reassigned the

KC-135E Stratotanker

.

Closure

The active Air Force ceased its activities on the base after 1 October 1973, when the 452d was relieved of host base responsibility, with most of the flight line facilities being transferred to the

(GSA) for public sale.

The 452d TAW operated at a low level of activity until 11 January 1976, when an agreement was finally reached to close Hamilton as part of the post-Vietnam War drawdown of the military. The base was placed in a caretaker status on that date pending final disposition. A controversy then developed over future civilian use between those supporting its adaptation into a major civilian airport, those bitterly opposed to its continued use as an airfield at all, and those holding varying intermediate degrees of opinion.

From 1980 to 1983, Hamilton AFB was home to the Refugee Transit Center, an operation of the International Organization for Migration for the processing of refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Afghanistan. Three former Air Force barracks were used as temporary housing, in addition to three other smaller buildings for administration. As many as 180,000 refugees were given overnight rest at Hamilton before moving on to other parts of the country.^{[citation needed]}

The GSA public sale occurred in 1985, and finally, in December 1988, the

), the Navy vacated its Hamilton housing in 1996.

Major commands to which assigned

• Headquarters, United States Army Air Corps, 12 July 1932
• GHQ Air Force, 1 March 1935

  Redesignated: Air Force Combat Command, 18 December 1940

• 4th Air Force, 7 December 1941 – 5 January 1942
• Western Defense Command, 5 January 1942
• Fourth Air Force, 18 September 1942

  IV Fighter Command

  San Francisco Fighter Wing, 1 May 1942 – 15 December 1944

• Continental Air Forces, 15 December 1944
• Air Defense Command
  , 21 March 1946
• Continental Air Command

  Air Defense Command (Agency), 1 December 1948 – 1 July 1950

• Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command
  , 1 July 1950
• Air Force Reserve
  , 1 October 1970 – 30 January 1976

Major units assigned

Air Force Reserve

Units

• 68th Reconnaissance Group
  (SAC), 9 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 72d Reconnaissance Group
  (SAC), 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 329th Troop Carrier Group (MATS), 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951

  Redesignated: 349th Fighter-Bomber Wing (TAC), 13 June 1952 – 1 September 1957

  Redesignated: 349th Military Airlift Wing (MATS/MAC), 1 September 1957 – 25 July 1969

• 452d Military Airlift Wing
  (MAC), 1 January 1972 – 12 January 1976

  Inactivated as host unit after 1 October 1973, although limited presence maintained until reassigned.

Source for major commands and major units assigned:^[3][4][5][6]

Hamilton today

Following its closure, many of the facilities at the airfield have been reclaimed by the city of

and is funded by federal, state, and regional burses.

Most non-original structures have been removed and replaced with housing subdivisions. Seven of the nine original hangars have been converted into offices, retaining their façade while being renovated on the inside. In July, 2017, a proposed tenth hangar is set to be built to match the look and feel of the original nine hangars. This part of the base is now called Hamilton Landing. Several of the original base buildings designed by Capt. Nurse and built in the early '30s have been renovated, including the former base headquarters, three of the large airmen's barracks, and the Firehouse. Others, such as the War Dept. Theatre, the base hospital, the Bachelor Officers' Quarters, and the Officers' Club remain intact either awaiting renovation or demolition. The Discovery Channel show MythBusters has used hangar space at Hamilton to carry out some of their experiments. Some scenes for the 1984 film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were filmed at Hamilton, as were some scenes from the 1983 film The Right Stuff, and the television show Emergency! in 1978.

The

and homes; these units were part of the old Hamilton Air Force Base housing. Due to the buildings' age, there is a need for maintenance, and many housing units are vacant, boarded up and in caretaker status. Many issues experienced with older homes (e.g. insufficient wiring and water damage) are currently experienced by Coast Guard tenants. The Coast Guard planned to sell all or most of their 50 acres of land and homes through a GSA sale in 2020. Since the Coast Guard property was not included in the base environmental studies, this area will need environmental review.

The base's environmental conditions were extensively studied as part of the redevelopment and wetlands restoration effort. Contaminated soil was removed or treated as needed. An underground methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) plume was discovered near the former gas stations. A small number of homes were cautioned against planting fruit trees. This plume has since dissipated and the warning is no longer in effect.^[8]

Architectural significance

The base was originally built via contract awarded 5 December 1933; most of the buildings were complete by late 1934. Captain Howard B. Nurse, Construction Quartermaster, supervised the design and construction. He departed from traditional base design by rendering the buildings in the

roofs topped the buildings. Recessed porches, cantilevered balconies, polychrome tile bands and wrought iron grillework complement the designs.

In 1993 and 1994, the

Historic American Buildings Survey

documented many of the structures within Hamilton Field, assessing each one for historic value.

Gallery

• 
  Headquarters main entrance in 2008
• 
  Headquarters main entrance in 1993
• 
  Headquarters exterior arcade with polychrome tile band
• 
  Headquarters interior entrance and phone booth
• 
  Headquarters lobby side view
• 
  Hospital building in the

  Spanish Revival

  style
• 
  Street lamps are octagonal ornamental metal housings atop hexagonal cast red concrete with granite aggregate columns
• 
  Theatre building with cast-in-place Churrigueresque concrete medallion serving as attic vent

See also

• California World War II Army Airfields
• Air Transport Command (World War II)
• San Pablo Bay topics

Notes

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Donald, David (2004) Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War. AIRtime
  ISBN 1-880588-68-4
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History.
  ISBN 0-89201-092-4
  .
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History.
  ISBN 0-912799-12-9
  .
• United States Air Force Historical Research Agency Research Division, Organizational History Branch
• Baugher, Joe. "USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present". Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
• Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia Of Military Aircraft

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hamilton Air Force Base.

• California State Military Museum: Hamilton Air Force Base
• Hamilton Field, Hamilton AFB, Hamilton Army Airfield
• California State Coastal Conservancy - Hamilton/Bel Marin Keys Wetlands Restoration Archived 2016-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
• US Army Corps of Engineers - Hamilton Airfield Wetland Restoration Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
• City of Novato Parks & Facilities: Hamilton Field History Museum^{[permanent dead link]}
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. CA-2398, "Hamilton Field, East of Nave Drive, Novato, Marin County, CA"