Peterson Space Force Base

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Peterson Field" redirects here. For the
FAA information (COS, KCOS) for the airfield shared by this military installation, see Colorado Springs Airport. For airfield near Plains, see Peterson Field (Georgia)
.

Peterson Space Force Base
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
17L/35R 4,115.1 m (13,501 ft) Concrete
17R/35L 3,359.5 m (11,022 ft) Asphalt
13/31 2,520.3 m (8,269 ft) Asphalt
Airfield shared with Colorado Springs Airport
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Peterson Space Force Base, previously Peterson Air Force Base, Peterson Field, and Army Air Base, Colorado Springs, is a

Cheyenne Mountain Realignment placed the nearby Cheyenne Mountain Complex on standby. On 26 July 2021, the installation was renamed Peterson Space Force Base to reflect its prominent role in the new space service.[2]

History

Colorado military construction during the

14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron was located at the Kaufman Building on Tejon St.)[9]

Army Air Base, Colorado Springs

Not to be confused with
the 1943 Colorado Springs Tent Camp
.

"Army Air Base, Colorado Springs",* construction began after 10 May 1942, on "nothing more than a large patch of Colorado plain",

20th Combat Mapping Squadron was activated on 23 July 1942, and used the Alamo Garage[11] on Tejon Street.[12] Runways were completed in August 1942,[8] and eponym 1st Lt Edward J. Peterson crashed 8 August 1942 on take off
(1st Coloradoan killed at the airfield.)

Peterson Field

For the "Colorado Springs Hqs 2AF" west of "Peterson Fld"[13] after its 1943 move from Fort George Wright to a leased facility in [14] "Colorado Springs",[15] Colorado, see Second Air Force.

Peterson Field was the airfield named on 13 December 1942,[16] and included the runway used by both the municipal airport and the military installation:[17] "Army Air Base, Peterson Field", which had begun publishing the Wingspread base newspaper by 11 July 1942.[18] The "18 Dep Rpr Sq" was assigned to the military installation from 19 January – 29 April 1943, and the installation was assigned to the Third Air Force (5 March – 1 October 1943) and by the end of the 1943 summer had tar paper barracks, an officer's club, and a theater in a Quonset.[19] After the base transferred to Second Air Force on 1 October 1943,[5] in June 1944 Peterson Field began fighter pilot training[specify] with P-40N Warhawks.[16] "In March 1943 the Third Air Force took over the photographic reconnaissance Operational Training Unit which had been operating at Peterson Field ... under the direct control of the Director of Photography since April 1942".[20]

Bomber Commands

The 4th

VIII Bomber Command
arrived 17 August 1945).

The base was inactivated 31 December 1945 after the

Casper AAF
(Wyoming, on 15 December) became detached installations of the inactive base for a short period.

During planning for the new

Air Defense Command. The "23 Photo Sq 19 May 1943-9 August 1948" remained throughout both inactive/surplus periods, and the "4600 Maint & Sup Sq" was established at the surplus base on 1 December 1950).[5]

USAF installation

The 9/11 memorial at Peterson as it appears after the 20th anniversary commemoration of the event, with wreaths laid, on September 11, 2021.

The military base at the municipal field reactivated as an off-base installation of

46th Aerospace Defense Wing on 1 April 1975.[24] In January 1968, Air Training Command's 3253d Pilot Training Squadron at Peterson Field began light aircraft indoctrination for cadets. These operations moved to the United States Air Force Academy on 21 March 1974.[25] The military base at Peterson Field gained its own base commander[specify
] on 28 February 1975.

Primary installation

External image
image icon Peterson.AF.mil gallery
image icon JFK's Air Force One at Peterson during 1963 Chidlaw Building/Cheyenne Mountain visit
image icon MAFFS aircraft at PAFB

Designated Peterson Air Force Base on 1 March 1975, when Ent AFB was being closed, Peterson was the last of the April 1945

AFCS and the 46th Wing and 4602nd Computer Services Sq to SAC).[24]: 47  ADCOM HQ offices at the Chidlaw Building became the Aerospace Defense Center
at Peterson on 1 December 1979.

Peterson's NORAD COC Backup Facility achieved

Full Operational Capability on 16 November 1982[26] from the Cheyenne Mountain Complex
which was placed on warm standby.

NORAD-USNORTHCOM headquarters at the Eberhart-Findley Building

The 1st Space Wing replaced the

Ent AFB Federal Building to Peterson Building 2[citation needed] (renamed the Eberhart-Findley Building in October 2012).[26] On 15 May 1992, the personnel and equipment of both the 1st SW and 3d SSW merged to become the 21st Space Wing. Peterson's Space Analysis Center was at the corner of Academy & Fountain Blvds by 2004 before moving on base to bldg 1470, and in 2004 the Space Operations School used a building along I-25
at Woodmen Drive.

Posting the Colours
at the Air Force birthday ceremony, September 2016.

The

Black Forest fire
at Colorado Springs flew from Peterson AFB.

Some buildings from the Second World War have survived. Buildings remaining in 1996 were "the terminal, now the Peterson Air and Space Museum, the Broadmoor hangar, and the Spanish House" next to the museum,[28] along with Building 391, Building 365, supply warehouses and office buildings, and aircraft hangars and maintenance shops.[8]

The base's Retiree Activities Office has the representative for the Air Force Retiree Council Area IV (Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming).[29]

On 20 December 2019, Air Force Space Command was redesignated as the U.S. Space Force and elevated to become an independent military branch.[30] With the new military branch, the Fourteenth Air Force and its units became Space Force Space Operations Command and Air Force Space Command's headquarters was redesignated as the Pentagon.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Peterson Space Force Base.[31][32][33][34][35][36]

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Peterson, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

References

Despite the number of vintage records with "Army Air Base, Colorado Springs", Mueller in 1989 (p. 471) claims the military installation next to the municipal airfield was initially named "Air Support Command Base" in May 1942, but does not identify an Air Support Command headquarters ever being at the air base, nor that base was even assigned to one of the support commands.

  1. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Airport Diagram – Peterson AFB (KCOS)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Kerridge, Kasia (26 July 2021). "Peterson, Schriever and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force installations renamed to Space Force Monday". KKTV. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  3. ^ Stratton, Major James H.; Cox, Lt L.E.; Harmon, Lt H.C. (August 1941). Report on Sites for Military Airfield in the Vicinity of Colorado Springs, Colorado (Report). available at USAFA Special Collections; Harmon, Harold C. Series One--Site Selection and Development; Box 1 Folder 1.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Futrell, Robert F. (July 1947). Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States: 1939–1945 (Report). Vol. ARS-69: US Air Force Historical Study No 69 (Copy No. 2). Air Historical Office.
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2013. Between 1 January 1951 and 28 February 1975 the base commander of Ent AFB also commanded Peterson Fld.
  6. ^ Organization History (First Installment): Second Photographic Group Reconnaissance (Report). Special Collections, USAF Academy Library (item 128.31:17). From Activation 7 May 1942 to 31 December 1942{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ a b Prinzo (Corporal, 2nd Grp payroll clerk) (c. 1945), [description of sites used by 2nd Photo Grp] (document with quotation){{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) (quoted by First Installment)
  8. ^ a b c Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Nash, Jeff (30 April 2012). "April 28 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Peterson Air Force Base". AFSPC.af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013. (republication of 2007 series of Space Observer articles) Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ISBN 9780595199686
    . Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b HQ Memo to HQ PROTU, 7 July 1942 (quoted by First Installment)
  11. ISBN 9780938021995
    . Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  12. ^ Colorado Springs Area Telephone Directory (phone book image), 1940, archived from the original on 20 July 2005
  13. ^ Army Air Forces Installations: 15 July 1944 (Map). (included at 7 unnumbered Futrell pages between pages 156 and 157) NOTE: The map shows the "COLORADO SPRINGS HQS 2AF" south-southwest of "PETERSON FLD", but perhaps is not-to-scale. The June 1944 AAF: The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces also identifies the "2nd Air Force" at "Colorado Springs" under "Brig. Gen. U. G. Ent", so perhaps the general was in command of the tent camp that later was named for him. Also, since Futrell p. 128 vaguely states the 2AF HQ was at a "leased facility", citing "Hist. 2d AF, 1943, v. 1, pp. 129–155", perhaps that source names the specific leased facility (e.g., city building at the tent camp.)
  14. ^ "Hist. 2d AF, 7 December 1941 to 31 December 1942, v. 2, p. 370; OCE, Hist. Branch, Mil. Constr. in the United States Under the Direction of the [illegible] and the C of E, v. 2, p. 258." (cited by Futrell Ch. IV, pp. 126 & 232)
  15. ^ Arnold, Henry H. (May 1944). AAF: The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces (June 1944--Special Edition for AAF Organizations ed.). New York: Pocket Books.
  16. ^ a b c d Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Nash, Jeff. "Peterson Air Force Base: From tiny air field to sprawling complex". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2013. October 1943. The 383rd Bomb Group relocated here from Geiger Field, Washington, and formed a combat crew training school utilizing the B-24 "Liberator" heavy bomber.
  17. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency[full citation needed]
  18. ^ "Wingspread". Colorado Springs, Colo. : Milo W. Williams. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via Trove.
  19. ^ a b Didion, Joan (14 August 1965). "John Wayne: A love song". Saturday Evening Post: 76–79. In the summer of 1943 ... at Peterson Field [there were] tar-paper barracks and the temporary [air]strip and ... they brought in the first B-29. ... There was an Officer's Club, but no swimming pool; all the club had of interest was artificial blue rain behind the bar ... sat on folding chairs in the darkened Quonset Hut which served as a theater
  20. ^ Quotation by Futrell Ch. IV, p. 131, which cites the source(s) on p. 234: Hist. 3d AF, Flying Training 1941 to 1944, v. 1, p. [tbd]; Narrative Hist. Rpt., Peterson Fld., 29 April 1942 to 1 October 1943, v. 2, pp. 2–4, in AFSHO 287.50-1, v. 2.
  21. ^ Mueller p. 471 claims Peterson's base operating unit was the 263rd AAF BU from 8 Mar 1945 – 17 December 1946 — during the inactive and surplus period, but Mueller p. 8 claims the 263rd AAF BU was at Andrews AFB from 17 March 1946 until 23 February 1948. Perhaps "263" is a Mueller typo that should be "268", which is the number of the base operating unit for the preceding period and that Mueller claims continued until 10 March 1946?
  22. ^ a b c Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Toro, MSgt. Radames; Barrios, MSgt. Ramon A. (1 August 1993). "Chapter 1: Command Overview". Space Operations Orientation Course (Third ed.). Peterson AFB, Colorado: 21st Crew Training Squadron. At the end of the war in 1945, the U.S. Government returned control of the [Peterson] field to the City of Colorado Springs and many of the military buildings were torn down. In 1948 ... the 15th Air Force, then headquartered at Ent AFB ... One year later, the 15th Air Force relocated to March AFB California, and ... the Air Force portion of Peterson Field were placed on inactive status. ... Operational control at this time was provided by the 4600 Air Base Group ... On 1 October 1979, control of [Peterson AFB] was transferred to the Strategic Air Command. ... During December 1987, 2500 USSPACECOM and AFSPACECOM personnel relocated to their new Headquarters on Peterson AFB from the Chidlaw Building in Colorado Springs ... (p. 3)
  23. ^ "4602d AISS Unit History Sampler" (transcribed excerpts of Secret History of 4602D Air Intelligence Squadron). Cufon.org. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  24. ^ a b c d Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: compiled by Johnson, Mildred W. (31 December 1980) [Feb 1973 original by Cornett, Lloyd H. Jr]. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. pp. 18, 40. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  25. ^ A Brief History of Keesler AFB and the 81st Training Wing (PDF) (Report). Vol. A-090203-089. pp. 173, 198. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  26. ^ a b Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Gates, SSgt Andrew (September 1996). "Medal of Honor grove highlights Air Force heroes". Guardian. Peterson AFB: 21st Space Wing public affairs: 16–17. Medal of Honor grove, an anchor point for the base's historic district
  29. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Peterson Air Force Base - 21st Space Wing Retiree Activities Office Archived 2013-06-09 at the Wayback Machine Peterson.af.mil (2004-10-01) Retrieved on 2013-09-18
  30. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Fact Sheet". spaceforce.mil.
  31. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Peterson Units". Peterson AFB. US Space Force. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  32. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Units of the 21st Space Wing". Peterson AFB. US Air Force. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  33. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Peterson AFB – Mission Partners". MyBaseGuide. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  34. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Units". 302nd Airlift Wing. US Air Force. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  35. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "561st Network Operations Squadron". Air Forces Cyber. US Air Force. July 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  36. ^ Public Domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "70th ISR Wing". 25th Air Force. US Air Force. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.

External links

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