Clinton County Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Clinton County Air Force Base was a United States Air Force
base located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southeast of the central business district
of Wilmington
, a city in Clinton County
, Ohio
, United States
.
was built in 1930. The landing strip was approved by the Civil Works Administration
in 1933. In 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Authority took control of Wilmington Airport for use as an emergency landing field. In 1942, the Army Air Corps
took over the airport, renaming it Clinton County Army Air Field. The Air Material Command the airfield for glider research, training and development until the end of World War II
.
The airfield was closed after World War II, but reopened during the Korean War
. By 1958, the Clinton County Air Force Base was home to the newly created 249th Air Reserve Training Wing. The runway was extended from 6,000 to 9,000 feet in 1960. The air force base was closed in 1971 and its operations were transferred to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus
.
The base was decommissioned in 1972 and the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) began developing the area as the Wilmington Industrial Air Park (WIAP). It also became home to the Great Oaks Joint Vocational School District. In 1977, the Southern State Community College
opened, using old barracks buildings as classrooms. In 1980, Midwest Air Charter was acquired by Airborne Freight Corporation, resulting in Airborne Express
, which became the largest tenant at WIAP and resulted in the airfield being named Airborne Airpark
.
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...
base located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Wilmington
Wilmington, Ohio
Wilmington is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,520 at the 2010 census. At city entrances from state routes, county roads, and U.S. highways, the city slogan of "We Honor Our Champions" is seen, accompanied by signs that highlight various...
, a city in Clinton County
Clinton County, Ohio
Clinton County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,040. The 2008 Census Population Estimate places the figure at 43,200. It is named for former U.S. Vice-President George Clinton...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The airport opened in 1929 and a small hangarHangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
was built in 1930. The landing strip was approved by the Civil Works Administration
Civil Works Administration
The Civil Works Administration was established by the New Deal during the Great Depression to create manual labor jobs for millions of unemployed. The jobs were merely temporary, for the duration of the hard winter. Harry L. Hopkins was put in charge of the organization. President Franklin D...
in 1933. In 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Authority took control of Wilmington Airport for use as an emergency landing field. In 1942, 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...
took over the airport, renaming it Clinton County Army Air Field. The Air Material Command the airfield for glider research, training and development until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The airfield was closed after World War II, but reopened 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...
. By 1958, the Clinton County Air Force Base was home to the newly created 249th Air Reserve Training Wing. The runway was extended from 6,000 to 9,000 feet in 1960. The air force base was closed in 1971 and its operations were transferred to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
The base was decommissioned in 1972 and the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) began developing the area as the Wilmington Industrial Air Park (WIAP). It also became home to the Great Oaks Joint Vocational School District. In 1977, the Southern State Community College
Southern State Community College
Southern State Community College is a community college centrally based in Hillsboro, Ohio. The college is divided into four campuses located in Sardinia , Washington Courthouse , Hillsboro , and Wilmington , Ohio....
opened, using old barracks buildings as classrooms. In 1980, Midwest Air Charter was acquired by Airborne Freight Corporation, resulting in Airborne Express
Airborne Express
Airborne Express was an express delivery company and cargo airline. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, its hub was at Wilmington, Ohio.Airborne was founded as the Airborne Flower Traffic Association of California in 1946 to fly flowers from the state of Hawaii to US Mainland.Airborne Express...
, which became the largest tenant at WIAP and resulted in the airfield being named Airborne Airpark
Airborne Airpark
Airborne Airpark is a public-use airport located two nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Wilmington, a city in Clinton County, Ohio, United States...
.
External links
- Clinton County AFB, Ohio at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...