Kirtland Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
- For the civil airport use of this facility, see Albuquerque International SunportAlbuquerque International SunportAlbuquerque International Sunport is a public airport located 3 miles southeast of the central business district of Albuquerque, a city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States. It is the largest commercial airport in the state, handling 5,888,811 passengers in 2009...
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 in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport
Albuquerque International Sunport
Albuquerque International Sunport is a public airport located 3 miles southeast of the central business district of Albuquerque, a city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States. It is the largest commercial airport in the state, handling 5,888,811 passengers in 2009...
. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland. The military and the international airport share the same runways, making ABQ a joint civil-military airport.
Overview
The base is the third largest installation in Air Force Materiel CommandAir Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
, covering 51,558 acres (209 km²) and employing over 23,000 people, including more than 4,200 active duty, 3,200 part-time Air Force Reserve, and 1,000 Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
personnel.
Kirtland is the home of the Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
's Nuclear Weapons Center (NWC). The NWC is the center of expertise for nuclear weapon systems, ensuring safe, secure and reliable nuclear weapons are available to support the National Command Structure and Air Force. The NWC's responsibilities include acquisition, modernization and sustainment of nuclear system programs for both the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
.
The NWC is composed of two wings–the 377th Air Base Wing
377th Air Base Wing
The 377th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.-Mission:Provide world-class nuclear surety, expeditionary forces, and support to base operations.-Units:...
and 498th Armament Systems Wing
498th Armament Systems Wing
The 498th Nuclear Systems Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was formerly known as the 498th Armament Systems Wing.-Superfortress operations 1943-1946:...
–along with ten groups and 7 squadrons.
Kirtland is also home to the 58th Special Operations Wing
58th Special Operations Wing
The 58th Special Operations Wing is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 58 SOW is part of the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force....
(58 SOW), an Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(AETC) unit that provides formal aircraft type/model/series training to the Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
(AFSOC) special operations forces (SOF) and Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC) combat search and rescue (CSAR) communities. The 58 SOW operates the MC-130H Combat Talon II and MC-130P Combat Shadow, HC-130 King, UH-1N Huey, HH-60G Pave Hawk and CV-22 Osprey
V-22 Osprey
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...
aircraft. Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is a direct reporting unit of Headquarters, United States Air Force...
is also located at Kirtland AFB.
The 150th Fighter Wing
150th Fighter Wing
The 150th Fighter Wing provides air interdiction support to the Twelfth Air Force and Air Combat Command with worldwide deployment capability. In addition, the wing maintains a Defense Systems Evaluation tasking and conducts testing of different domestic and foreign surface-to-air missile systems...
of the New Mexico Air National Guard
New Mexico Air National Guard
The New Mexico Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is, along with the New Mexico Army National Guard, an element of the New Mexico National Guard...
, an ACC-gained unit, is also home-based at Kirtland, operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
.
Major units
- Nuclear Weapons CenterNuclear Weapons Center-Mission:The center's mission is to ensure safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapon systems to support the National Command Structure and the United States Air Force warfighter.-History:...
- 377th Air Base Wing377th Air Base WingThe 377th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.-Mission:Provide world-class nuclear surety, expeditionary forces, and support to base operations.-Units:...
The 377 ABW provides munitions maintenance, readiness and training, and base operating support to approximately 76 Federal government and 384 private sector tenants and associate units. Among these is the Defense Threat Reduction AgencyDefense Threat Reduction AgencyThe Defense Threat Reduction Agency is an agency within the United States Department of Defense and is the official Combat Support Agency for countering weapons of mass destruction . DTRA's main functions are threat reduction, threat control, combat support, and technology development...
's Defense Nuclear Weapons SchoolDefense Nuclear Weapons SchoolThe Defense Nuclear Weapons School is housed on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is administered by the Combat Support Directorate of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency...
, the mission of which is to provide nuclear weapons core competencies and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high explosive (CBRNE) response training to DoD, other Federal and State Agencies, and National Laboratory personnel. - 498th Armament Systems Wing498th Armament Systems WingThe 498th Nuclear Systems Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was formerly known as the 498th Armament Systems Wing.-Superfortress operations 1943-1946:...
The 498th ABW is responsible for sustainment of nuclear munitions and cruise missiles, including operation of two munitions maintenance and storage complexes (at Kirtland AFB and Nellis AFB, Nev.) and the 498th Missile Sustainment Group at Tinker AFB, Okla. This encompasses the entire scope of nuclear weapon system support functions to include sustainment, modernization and acquisition support activities for both the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. - Detachment 8, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Directed Energy Directorate
This lab develops, integrates, and transitions science and technology for directed energy to include high-power microwaves, lasers, adaptive optics, imaging and effects to assure the preeminence of the United States in air and space. - Space Vehicles Directorate
This lab develops and transitions high pay-off space technologies supporting the warfighter while leveraging commercial, civil and other government capabilities.
- Directed Energy Directorate
Associate units
- 150th Fighter Wing150th Fighter WingThe 150th Fighter Wing provides air interdiction support to the Twelfth Air Force and Air Combat Command with worldwide deployment capability. In addition, the wing maintains a Defense Systems Evaluation tasking and conducts testing of different domestic and foreign surface-to-air missile systems...
(New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
) (1947–present) - 58th Special Operations Wing58th Special Operations WingThe 58th Special Operations Wing is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 58 SOW is part of the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force....
(1994–present) - Air Force Inspection Agency
- Air Force Nuclear Weapons and Counterproliferation Agency
- Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterAir Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterLocated at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is a direct reporting unit of Headquarters, United States Air Force...
- Air Force Safety Center
- Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service
- Defense Threat Reduction AgencyDefense Threat Reduction AgencyThe Defense Threat Reduction Agency is an agency within the United States Department of Defense and is the official Combat Support Agency for countering weapons of mass destruction . DTRA's main functions are threat reduction, threat control, combat support, and technology development...
- Department of EnergyUnited States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, National Nuclear Security AdministrationNational Nuclear Security AdministrationThe United States National Nuclear Security Administration is part of the United States Department of Energy. It works to improve national security through the military application of nuclear energy... - Detachment 1, 342 TRS Pararescue and Combat Officer Training *School
- Detachment 1, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterAir Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterLocated at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is a direct reporting unit of Headquarters, United States Air Force...
- Detachment 3, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterAir Force Operational Test and Evaluation CenterLocated at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is a direct reporting unit of Headquarters, United States Air Force...
- Space Development and Test WingSpace Development and Test WingThe Space Development and Test Wing is a unit of the Space Command of the United States Air Force. The wing is located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.-Mission:...
(Air Force Space and Missile System CenterSpace and Missile Systems CenterThe Space and Missile Systems Center is a part of Air Force Space Command of the United States Air Force. SMC is the Air Force’s product center for the development and acquisition of space and missile systems...
) - Distributed Mission Operations Center
- Kirtland NCO Academy
- Headquarters, New Mexico Wing, Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxiliary
- National Weapons Directorate
- Office of Aerospace Studies
- Sandia National LaboratoriesSandia National LaboratoriesThe Sandia National Laboratories, managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation , are two major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratories....
Unassociated organizations
- Lovelace Respiratory Research InstituteLovelace Respiratory Research InstituteLRRI is a private, not-for-profit biomedical research organization dedicated to improving public health through research on the prevention, treatment, and cure of respiratory disease. LRRI employs over 500 staff in New Mexico and in 2008 is spending more than $60 million in the fight against...
, a non-profit biomedical research organization
immagine:Kirtland afb.jpg.estensione|didascalia
immagine:K.afb-particolare.jpg|estensione|didascalia
Immagine:K.afb-particolare2.jpg.estensione|didascalia
History
Kirtland Air Force Base was named for ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Roy C. Kirtland
Roy C. Kirtland
Roy Carrington Kirtland was a United States Army soldier, officer and aviator best known as the namesake of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
(1874–1941) in February 1942. Colonel Kirtland learned to fly in 1911 in one of the first Wright airplanes at Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Ohio. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he organized and commanded a regiment of mechanics, and served as an inspector of aviation facilities. Recalled from retirement in 1941 at the age of 65, the oldest military pilot in the Air Corps, he died of a heart attack on 2 May 1941 at Moffett Field
Moffett Federal Airfield
Moffett Federal Airfield , also known as Moffett Field, is a joint civil-military airport located between northern Mountain View and northern Sunnyvale, California, USA. The airport is near the south end of San Francisco Bay, northwest of San Jose. Formerly a United States Navy facility, the former...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In 1939 the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
leased land east of Albuquerque airport to establish a flight training base, connecting both the municipal airport and a private field, Oxnard Field. Construction on permanent facilities at Albuquerque Army Air Base began 7 January 1941 and was completed in eight months. In march the first base commander was assigned, and the following month the base received its first military aircraft, a B-18 Bolo
B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
. By summer the first troop train had arrived, along with 2,195 trainees for the new B-17 Flying Fortress. The 19th Bomb Group, designated to fly the first B-17s overseas to the Philippines, completed its training at Kirtland in July and August 1941.
During 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...
Kirtland trained flight crews for the B-17, B-24
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
and B-29
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers. The 3007th Air Base Unit contained both advanced pilot training and bombardier training schools, with the latter using AT-11 Kansan trainers to train more than 5,000 bombardiers during the war.
In February 1946, Kirtland was placed under the Air Materiel Command and it ceased its flight training activities. Kirtland's new role was to develop proper aircraft modifications for weapons delivery and to determine ballistic
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
characteristics for nuclear weapons. Kirtland's role in the testing and evaluation of special weapons increased in 1947 when Kirtland Army Air Field, became Kirtland Air Force Base.
In September 1948 the first Convair B-36
Convair B-36
The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" was a strategic bomber built by Convair and operated solely by the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1959. The B-36 was the largest mass-produced piston engine aircraft ever made. It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built , although there have...
was modified to carry nuclear weapons at Kirtland, followed by the first B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
in December of that year.
In December 1949, Kirtland became headquarters for the Air Force Special Weapons Center. In 1963, the Special Weapons Center gave up much of its research and development work to the newly created Air Force Weapons Laboratory.
11 April 1950, – A B-29 bomber carrying a nuclear weapon, four spare detonators, and a crew of thirteen crashed into a mountain near Manzano Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, three minutes after departure from the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. The crash resulted in a major fire which was reported by the New York Times as being visible from "fifteen miles." The bomb's casing was completely demolished and its high explosives ignited upon contact with the plane's burning fuel. However, according to the Department of Defense, the four spare detonators and all nuclear components were recovered. A nuclear detonation was not possible because the weapon's core, while being carried on-board, was not placed in the weapon for safety reasons. All thirteen crew members were killed. [4]
On 1 July 1971, Kirtland merged with Manzano Base and Sandia Base
Sandia Base
Sandia Base was, from 1946 to 1971, the principal nuclear weapons installation of the United States Department of Defense. It was located on the southeastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico...
, its neighbors to the east.
Early in 1974, at the direction of the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is a direct reporting unit of Headquarters, United States Air Force...
was organized at Kirtland to direct and oversee operational testing of aircraft and other equipment.
The Air Force Special Weapons Center was dismantled on 1 April 1976.
On 1 October 1982, the Air Force Space Technology Center was activated at Kirtland. On 13 December 1990, it was combined with three Air Force laboratories to become Phillips Laboratory
Phillips Laboratory
Phillips Laboratory was a research and development organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command. In 1997, the Laboratory was merged into the Air Force Research Laboratory as the Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates. It was located at Kirtland Air Force Base in...
. It recently joined other laboratories and became part of the Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and...
.
Also located on Kirtland AFB was the National Atomic Museum, which has since moved and been renamed the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.
In 1992, the Kirtland Underground Munitions Storage Complex (KUMSC) was activated at Kirtland AFB. KUMSC is the largest storage facility for nuclear weapons in the world. The facility provides storage, shipping and maintenance for the United States Air Force
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...
and Navy. It is operated by the 898th Munitions Squadron (898 MUNS) and the 377th Security Forces Squadron (377 SFS). The facility is state of the art, with more than 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) located entirely underground. Total number of deliverable nuclear warheads stored there is over 3,000. The majority of the munitions include the B83
B83 nuclear bomb
The B83 nuclear weapon is a variable yield gravity bomb developed by the United States in the late 1970s, entering service in 1983. With a maximum yield of 1.2 megatons, it is currently the most powerful atomic weapon in the US arsenal...
and B61
B61 nuclear bomb
The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. It is an intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design....
gravity bombs, and W80, and W87
W87
The W87 is an American thermonuclear missile warhead. It was created for use on the MX or Peacekeeper ICBM, 50 of which, with up to 12 warheads per missile, were deployed during the 1986-2005 period...
warheads for the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) and Minuteman III ICBM's.
In November 2009 the 377th Air Base Wing, commanded by Colonel Michael S. Duvall, and 498th Nuclear Systems Wing, commanded by Colonel Richard M. Stuckey, failed their nuclear security inspections. The inspections were conducted by Air Force Material Command and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
On 27 January 2010 the 898th Munitions Squadron, which manages and maintains 2,000 nuclear warheads in and around the base, was decertified. The action meant that the squadron could no longer perform its mission of safeguarding the weapons at the Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex until it passed a nuclear surety inspection. The squadron was recertified on 11 June 2010.
Previous names
- Albuquerque Army Air Base, 8 March 1941
- Kirtland Army Air Field, 24 February 1942
Major commands
- AF Combat Command, c. 8 March 1941 – 6 December 1941
- West Coast Air Corps Training Command, 6 December 1941 – 23 January 1942
- Air Corps Flying Training Command, 23 January 1942 – March 1942
- AAF Flying Training Comd, March 1942 – 31 July 1943
- AAF Training Comd, 31 July 1943 – 1 March 1945
- Second AF, 1 March 1945 – 21 January 1946
- Fourth AF, 31 January 1946 – 14 April 1945
- Continental Air Forces, 16 April 1945 – 21 March 1945
- Strategic Air Comd, 21 March 1945 – 1 December 1946
- Air Materiel Comd, 1 December 1946 – 1 December 1949
- Special Weapons Comd, 1 December 1949 – 1 April 1952
- Air Research and Development Comd, 1 April 1952 – 1 April 1961
- Air Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
, 1 April 1961 – 1 July 1977 - Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, 1 July 1977 – 1 July 1992 - Air Force Materiel CommandAir Force Materiel CommandAir Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
, 1 July 1992 – present
Base operating units
- 3d Air Base Sq, 11 April 1941 – 19 July 1942
- 3d Base HQ and Air Base Sq, 19 July 1942 – 1 May 1944
- 3007th AAF Base Unit, 1 May 1944 – 1 March 1945
- 237th AAF Base Unit, 1 March 1945 – 31 January 1946
- 428th AAF Base Unit, 1 February 1946 – 10 March 1949
- HQ and HQ Sq, 2758th AF Base, 10 March 1949 – 5 July 1949
- 3078th Air Base Gp, 5 July 1949 – 1 December 1949
- 4910th Air Base Gp, 1 December 1949 – 1 May 1955
- 4900th Air Base Gp, 1 May 1955 – 1 April 1976
- 4900th Air Base Wg, 1 April 1976 – 1 July 1977
- 1606th Air Base Wg, 1 July 1977 – 1 June 1993
- 377th Air Base Wing, 1 June 1993 – present
- 898th Munitions Squadron 1 July 1994–present
Kirtland in pop culture
- The 1943 RKO Radio Pictures film BombardierBombardier (film)Bombardier is a 1943 film war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces. The film stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott. Bombardier was nominated for an Academy Award in 1944 for the special effects used in the film...
was primarily filmed at the base. - In an the science-fiction television show The X-FilesThe X-FilesThe X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
, part of the episode SpaceSpace (The X-Files)"Space" is the ninth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on November 12, 1993. It was written by series creator Chris Carter, directed by William Graham, and featured guest appearances by Ed Lauter and Susanna...
takes place on the base. - It was mentioned in the film ContactContact (film)Contact is a 1997 American science fiction drama film adapted from the Carl Sagan novel of the same name and directed by Robert Zemeckis. Both Sagan and wife Ann Druyan wrote the story outline for the film adaptation of Contact....
as being the place where AWACSE-3 SentryThe Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
planes originated from. - The character Jane Margolis in the AMC television show Breaking BadBreaking BadBreaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
says in the episode "Phoenix" of season 2Breaking Bad (season 2)The second season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad premiered on March 8, 2009 and concluded on May 31, 2009. It consisted of 13 episodes, each running approximately 47 minutes in length. AMC broadcast the second season on Sundays at 10:00 pm in the United States...
that she draws tattoos for "college kids and airmen from Kirtland." - Kirtland AFB becomes the temporary U.S. Capital after a nuclear blast destroys Washington, D.C. and four other cities in Lee Boyland's "Clash of Civilizations" trilogy.
Jet Fuel Spill
In 1999, after the opening of a new bulk-fuel-storage facility at the base, a jet fuel oil leak was discovered from a broken 16-in. pipe. It was later learned that the pipe had been leaking fuel undetected since 1950. The Air Force initially estimated that pipe leaked roughly between 1 and 2 million gallons of jet fuel in that 49-year span. However, state environmental officials believe the number may be as high as 8 million gallons. The escaped jet fuel is now floating a foot thick atop Albuquerque's water table 500 ft (152.4 m). beneath the ground toward the wells that supply the city's drinking water. New Mexico officials estimated the cleanup could cost $100 million and have maintained that the Air Force's original plan to clean up the spill could take 56 years.See also
- Air Force Materiel CommandAir Force Materiel CommandAir Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
- Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
(Air Defense Command) - Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
(Air Defense Command) - New Mexico Air National GuardNew Mexico Air National GuardThe New Mexico Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is, along with the New Mexico Army National Guard, an element of the New Mexico National Guard...
- New Mexico World War II Army AirfieldsNew Mexico World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in New Mexico for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- 34th Air Division (United States)34th Air Division (United States)The 34th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan...
- Kirtland AFB UFO sightingKirtland AFB UFO sightingThe Kirtland AFB UFO sighting was an observation of an unidentified flying object at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, late in 1957...
- Mesa del SolMesa del SolMesa del Sol is a proposed mixed use community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.-History:Mesa del Sol was approved as part of a public-private partnership strategy with the State of New Mexico, City of Albuquerque and University of New Mexico and has been planning stages since the 1980s...
-a major new part of Albuquerque.