Klamath Falls Airport
Encyclopedia
Klamath Falls Airport , also known as Kingsley Field, is a joint civil-military public airport
located four miles (6 km) southeast of Klamath Falls
, in Klamath County
, Oregon
, USA
. The airport has two runway
s. It is mostly used for military and general aviation
, but also has limited commercial service.
As Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base
, the airport serves as the home of the Oregon Air National Guard
's 173d Fighter Wing
(173 FW) flying the F-15 Eagle
. An Air Education and Training Command
(AETC)-gained unit, the 173 FW specializes as an advanced air-to-air combat training center for Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15
pilots, as well as hosting joint and combined air combat exercises for all US military services and those of Canada. Kingsley Field is also home to a USAF flight surgeon
training school. The 173d Fighter Wing is currently under the command of Colonel James C Miller.
In 1928 the citizens of Klamath Falls approved the sale of $50,000 worth of bonds to construct an airport. The airport was known as the Klamath Falls Municipal Airport and consisted of gravel runways and one Fixed Base Operator. In 1942, the airport was selected as a site for a Naval Air Station
subsequently named NAS Klamath Falls. In 1945, the airport transferred back to civilian use.
In 1954, the airport was selected as a site for U.S. Air Force installation under a joint civil-military arrangement supporting Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command
(ADC) aircraft and squadrons. In 1957, the airport was dedicated as Kingsley Field in honor of 2nd Lieutenant David R. Kingsley
, USAAF, an Oregonian killed in action on June 23, 1944 after a B-17 bombing mission over the oil fields of Ploesti, Rumania. In 1976, ADC was inactivated and control of the military installation passed to Tactical Air Command
(TAC). In 1978, the Department of Defense chose to close Kingsley Field as a regular Air Force installation, transferring all military facilities to the Air National Guard
.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located four miles (6 km) southeast of Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
, in Klamath County
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport has two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s. It is mostly used for military and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, but also has limited commercial service.
As Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Oregon Air National Guard 173d Fighter Wing.-Overview:The 173d Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard occupies of leased land on the Klamath Falls Airport, located approximately southeast of Klamath Falls, Oregon...
, the airport serves as the home of the Oregon Air National Guard
Oregon Air National Guard
The Oregon Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is, along with the Oregon Army National Guard, an element of the Oregon National Guard...
's 173d Fighter Wing
173d Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 173d Fighter Wing is a unit located at Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, Oregon.-Mission:Train the Best Air-to-Air Combat Pilots, Train Flight Doctors, and Serve Our State and Nation in Times of Peace and War.-History:...
(173 FW) flying the F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
. 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)-gained unit, the 173 FW specializes as an advanced air-to-air combat training center for Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
pilots, as well as hosting joint and combined air combat exercises for all US military services and those of Canada. Kingsley Field is also home to a USAF flight surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
training school. The 173d Fighter Wing is currently under the command of Colonel James C Miller.
In 1928 the citizens of Klamath Falls approved the sale of $50,000 worth of bonds to construct an airport. The airport was known as the Klamath Falls Municipal Airport and consisted of gravel runways and one Fixed Base Operator. In 1942, the airport was selected as a site for a Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
subsequently named NAS Klamath Falls. In 1945, the airport transferred back to civilian use.
In 1954, the airport was selected as a site for U.S. Air Force installation under a joint civil-military arrangement supporting Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
(ADC) aircraft and squadrons. In 1957, the airport was dedicated as Kingsley Field in honor of 2nd Lieutenant David R. Kingsley
David R. Kingsley
David R. Kingsley was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, USAAF, an Oregonian killed in action on June 23, 1944 after a B-17 bombing mission over the oil fields of Ploesti, Rumania. In 1976, ADC was inactivated and control of the military installation passed to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(TAC). In 1978, the Department of Defense chose to close Kingsley Field as a regular Air Force installation, transferring all military facilities to the 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...
.
Airline
External links
- Klamath Falls Airport (official site)