Robins Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force
base located in Houston County
, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, 18 mi (29 km) SSE of Macon, Georgia
, and about 100 mi (160.9 km) SSE of Atlanta, Georgia. The base is named in honor of Brig Gen
Augustine Warner Robins
, the Air Force's "father of logistics".
's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
(WR-ALC) (FLZ) which is the worldwide manager for a wide range of aircraft, engines, missiles, software and avionics and accessories components. The commander of WR-ALC is Major General Robert H. McMahon. It is one of three Air Force Air Logistic Centers, the others being Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC) at Tinker Air Force Base
, Oklahoma and Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC) at Hill Air Force Base
, Utah.
The host unit at Robins AFB is the 78th Air Base Wing
(78 ABW) which provides services and support for the Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center and its tenant organizations. The Wing and Installation Commander of Robins Air Force Base is Colonel Carl A. Buhler. The Wing Vice Commander is Colonel Debra Bean.
It was Col. Thomas who chose the name "Robins" for his mentor Brig. Gen. Augustine Warner Robins
. Brig. Gen. Robin's is considered the 'father of logistics' for his system of cataloging supplies and materials. He had a lengthy military career prior to becoming the chief of the Air Corps Materiel Division. Robins traveled in China disguised as a millionaire tourist, collecting intelligence for the Army. He also went to Mexico where he served under Gen. John J. Pershing
in the Army's campaign against Pancho Villa
. He trained during World War I to become a pilot earning his wings in June 1918. He didn't get to see combat because the war was ending. Robins suffered a near-fatal plane crash in 1921 in which his jaw and arm were severely broken. Brig. Gen. Robins died of a heart attack on Father's Day, 16 June 1940 at Randolph Field, Texas, while he was Commandant of the Air Corps Training Center.
depots, and in the early 1940s Macon civic leaders, led by Mayor Charles L. Bowden and supported by Congressman Carl Vinson
, convinced the War Department to locate an airfield near Macon.
The Site Selection Butt narrowed the choice to two finalists: Ellenwood, just south of Atlanta, and Wellston, 14 miles south of Macon. The main advantage of Ellenwood was the fact that Atlanta was a major transportation hub with railroads running in every direction. Its disadvantages included the facts that the Army would have to purchase the property and the topography required extensive grading costs to construct an airfield. On the other hand, Wellston was relatively level and the necessary land would be purchased by the local government then donated to the Army. Wellston's shortcomings included the shortage of skilled labor, remote location, some swampy land, and only one railroad line, the Southern. Needless to say, local interest groups and politicians lobbied hot and heavy during the selection process to promote their respective sites
In June 1941, after much competition, the War Department approved the construction of a depot in middle Georgia peanut-farm country near the Southern Railroad whistle-stop of Wellston. The site was chosen because of its flat lands, artesian water, proximity to a main rail line, and abundant and cheap land and labor. To placate the Atlanta faction, the Army approved a general Army depot at Ellenwood, without an airfield, for Army ground forces.
Construction officially started with groundbreaking ceremonies on 1 September on a 3108 acres (12.6 km²) tract. Macon city fathers, supported by Wellston leaders, obtained property rights from the Feagin Family who were the original owners. The Army Air Forces (AAF) later bought an additional 2700 acres (10.9 km²) for the cantonment area, civilian barracks, and the pistol/rifle range. Even though Wellston was in Houston County, Bibb County leaders spent more than $100,000 to obtain Robins Field by increasing city business license taxes and county ad valorem taxes.
on Pearl Harbor
in December 1941, the number of construction workers reached 2,200 by Christmas 1941. The Army enlarged the project by purchasing 2,637 additional acres and leasing 782 more south of the depot for troop training. In May 1942, the number of construction workers peaked at 6,600. The contractors essentially completed the project by 31 August 1942. Construction on the industrial and cantonment areas was completed by 31 August 1942. The second and third phases were completed the following April.
The rapidly growing town of Wellston changed its name to Warner Robins on 1 September 1942. Known as the Georgia Air Depot in the beginning, the depot has undergone many name changes. It was redesignated seven times, eventually being named Warner Robins Army Air Depot on 14 October 1942.
Warner Robins Army Air Depot eventually assumed overall command of the Air Service Command's installations in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, a portion of Florida, and North Carolina. Warner Robins supported approximately 6,500 Army aircraft in this area with depot maintenance and supply.
Throughout World War II (1941–45), 23,670 employees repaired almost every kind of AAF aircraft, including B-17s, C-47s, B-29s, B-24s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s. Its training facilities turned out nearly 60,000 field repair mechanics for every theater of war. The workforce supplied every kind of part necessary to keep AAF planes flying, especially spark plugs. It also maintained thousands of parachutes, aircraft electronic and radio systems, and AAF small arms.
In addition to aircraft maintenance and supply, air depots also trained aviation support personnel. These included air depot groups and air service groups, plus medical, military police, quartermaster, ordnance, chemical, and signal personnel. Warner Robins sent its first trained unit, the 38th Air Depot Group, overseas in December 1942. It is estimated that over 50,000 Army personnel trained at Warner Robins during the war.
, Florida.
The Berlin Airlift (1949) and the Korean War
(1950–53) restored the workforce to 17,697 by December 1952. In addition to its normal mission, the depot returned most of the B-29s in storage to active service. During the war, Robins AFB overhauled and modified B-29 and F-84 aircraft as well as repairing F-80 and F-86 fighters. In 1951, the Air Force began a $3.5 million construction project. When this project reached completion in 1952, the Air Force made Robins AFB a permanent installation. Personnel strength grew in proportion and reached 17,697 by the end of 1952. A devastating F4
tornado struck the Warner Robins, Ga., area on 30 April 1953. Fortunately, the tornado struck immediately after the day shift had ended and casualties were minimal. The base sustained $2 million in damage and one fatality, an officer's wife. All told, this one tornado caused the area 19 fatalities, 350 injuries, and $10 million in damage that left 1000 homeless. This was one of the earliest tornadoes ever to be caught on film.
As the Korean War ended, along came a new conflict – the Cold War. Robins AFB assumed the management of the Matador and later the Mace surface-to-surface missiles as well as the Martin B-57 Canberra. To expedite services of Robins AFB to U.S. Air Force units all over the world, the 7th Logistic Support Squadron was transferred to Robins AFB in October 1954 with C-124 Globemaster transport airplanes.
In 1955, the Air Force added a new 12,000 x 300-ft all-weather runway to the airfield. By the end of the 1950s, Robins AFB assumed management of virtually all the cargo aircraft in the Air Force that included the C-47, C-54, C-117, C-118, C-123, C-124, and the C-130. As a result, Robins called itself the "cargo center of the Air Force." Also in the late 1950s, Robins added a Strategic Air Command
base on the eastern side of the Air Force Base. SAC units at Robins initially operated B-47 "Stratojets" before upgrading to B-52 "Stratofortresses".
To provide air defense of the base, United States Army Nike-Hercules Surface-to-air missile sites were constructed during 1959. Sites were located near Byron (R-88) 32°40′20"N 083°47′09"W, and Jeffersonville (R-28) 32°37′42"N 083°21′05"W Georgia. They were operational between November 1960 and March 1966.
When the U.S. Air Force closed down its maintenance depots at the former Brookley AFB in Mobile, Alabama
and the former Olmsted AFB
in Middleton Township
, Pennsylvania
, Robins AFB assumed the workload of these depots. Some Robins AFB SAC units re-deployed to Guam
or Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War
and took part in many of the bombing missions. Maintenance teams from Robins frequently traveled to Southeast Asia to repair severely damaged aircraft. Robins AFB eventually managed the Lockheed C-141, C-7, and the F-15 Eagle as well as modifying the C-130s to the gunship configuration.
Robins played a key role in the Vietnam War
(1964–73), supplying troops and materiel through the Southeast Asian Pipeline and modifying AC-119G/K and AC-130 gunships. Also playing a role were the C-141, the C-130, the C-123, and the C-124 cargo aircraft—all maintained at Robins. In 1973 these same C-141s supported the resupply of Israel in the Yom Kippur War
. In October 1983, C-130s from Robins supported U.S. forces in the invasion of Grenada
.
Between 1977 and 1981, Robins was the air base used by former President Jimmy Carter
during his tenure on visits to his hometown of Plains
. SAC's B-52s left Robins in 1983, and the 19th Wing assumed solely a refueling mission with KC-135s.
, Robins provided record numbers of parts, repairs, and personnel to coalition forces in the Persian Gulf. Robins-maintained F-15 Eagle
s and the E-8 Joint STARS
played key roles in defeating the Iraqi military powers. In March–June 1999, during Operation Allied Force, the same employees and weapon systems played a decisive role in defeating the forces of the Yugoslavia
n president Slobodan Milosevic
.
In 1996, the Georgia Air National Guard
's 116th Fighter Wing at Dobbins AFB relinquished their F-15 aircraft and moved to Robins, transitioning to B-1 Lancer
bombers and being redesignated as the 116th Bomb Wing. That same year, the former 93rd Bomb Wing at Robins was reactivated as the 93rd Air Control Wing with the E-8 Joint STARS
aircraft. In 2001, the B-1 bombers left Robins AFB and the Georgia Air National Guard entered into a merged Active-Guard "associate" wing arrangement in the Joint STARS mission with the active Air Force, with the Air National Guard
holding lead responsibility as the 116th Air Control Wing
.
In 2004, the Warner Robins Air Logistic Center and Robins AFB are jointly the largest single industrial complex in the State of Georgia. The 23,000 civilian employees have an annual payroll over $1 billion. The Logistic Center manages and overhauls the F-15, C-141 Starlifter
, C-5 Galaxy
, C-130 Hercules
, and the AC-130 gunships—and all of the Air Force's helicopters. In addition, the Center also supports the C-17 Globemaster III
and U-2
aircraft.
Until June 2008, Robins was also the home of the KC-135s of the 19th Air Refueling Group
, when the unit was deactivated, then reactivated a month later as the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. The E-8s of the 116th Air Control Wing
continues to operate at Robins as a combined Regular Air Force and Georgia Air National Guard
air control wing, and the headquarters of the Air Force Reserve Command
is also located on the base. The metropolis of Warner Robins, Georgia
has grown in proportion to become the sixth largest city in Georgia, according to some ways of counting.
The C-27J Schoolhouse
, operated by L-3 Link, officially began classes at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia in September 2008. L-3 Link (a subsidiary of L-3 Integrated Systems) operates the official C-27J schoolhouse at the Georgia Department of Defense
's Fixed Wing Flight Facility at Robins AFB. This world class flight facility includes training classrooms, computer learning center, a large 100 person auditorium with high-definition audio-visual equipment, flight planning and fight operations areas. The facility also houses the resident Government Flight Representative
and Aviation Program Team assigned to the C-27J contract. Fixed Wing Flight Facility Robins AFB is also home of Hotel Company, 171st Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard
. H Company flies the Short C-23 Sherpa to support time sensitive, mission critical cargo delivery to the warfighter.
Note: MATS (Military Air Transport Service
); SAC (Strategic Air Command
); MAC (Military Airlift Command
); AMC (Air Mobility Command
)
, begun in 1981, has four major structures on forty-three acres and ninety historic aircraft.
The museum is also home to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame which honors outstanding Georgians prominent in aviation. The 93 aircraft and missiles on display include a B-52, SR-71, a Marietta, Georgia
-built B-29, and a specially modified C-130 Hercules
that was used in the failed Iran-hostage rescue mission.
It has become a major regional educational and historical resource that hosts more than 500,000 visitors annually.
metropolitan area, and is the single largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a work force of over 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members. The population was 3,949 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the base has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.1 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.73%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,949 people, 696 households, and 682 families residing in the base. The population density was 1,458.3 people per square mile (562.6/km²). There were 791 housing units at an average density of 292.1/sq mi (112.7/km²). The racial makeup of the base was 57.53% White, 32.19% Black or African American
, 0.58% Native American, 2.68% Asian, 0.43% Pacific Islander, 2.43% from other races
, and 4.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population.
There were 696 households out of which 82.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.6% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.0% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.57.
In the base the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 36.0% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 1.6% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 131.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 144.6 males.
The median income for a household in the base was $37,420, and the median income for a family was $37,656. Males had a median income of $21,929 versus $14,820 for females. The per capita income for the base was $12,506. About 4.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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 Houston County
Houston County, Georgia
Houston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on May 15, 1821, as one of five huge counties, later reduced in the formation of Bibb, Crawford, Pike, Macon and Peach counties. As of the 2000 census, the population is 110,765...
, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, 18 mi (29 km) SSE of Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, and about 100 mi (160.9 km) SSE of Atlanta, Georgia. The base is named in honor of Brig Gen
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Augustine Warner Robins
Augustine Warner Robins
General Augustine Warner Robins is often credited as the Father of Logistics in the modern United States Air Force, then known as the Army Air Corps...
, the Air Force's "father of logistics".
Overview
Robins AFB is the home of the 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....
's Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center performs sustainment and depot maintenance on a number of US Air Force weapon systems. Specifically it supports AC-130, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, E-8 Joint STARS, EC-130, F-15 Eagle, HC-130, HH-60 Pave Hawk, MC-130, MH-53 Pave Low,...
(WR-ALC) (FLZ) which is the worldwide manager for a wide range of aircraft, engines, missiles, software and avionics and accessories components. The commander of WR-ALC is Major General Robert H. McMahon. It is one of three Air Force Air Logistic Centers, the others being Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC) at Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, Oklahoma and Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC) at Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force Base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air...
, Utah.
The host unit at Robins AFB is the 78th Air Base Wing
78th Air Base Wing
The 78th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 78th ABW acts as the host unit at Robins.-Mission:...
(78 ABW) which provides services and support for the Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center and its tenant organizations. The Wing and Installation Commander of Robins Air Force Base is Colonel Carl A. Buhler. The Wing Vice Commander is Colonel Debra Bean.
Major units
- Warner Robins Air Logistics CenterWarner Robins Air Logistics CenterThe Warner Robins Air Logistics Center performs sustainment and depot maintenance on a number of US Air Force weapon systems. Specifically it supports AC-130, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, E-8 Joint STARS, EC-130, F-15 Eagle, HC-130, HH-60 Pave Hawk, MC-130, MH-53 Pave Low,...
Has worldwide management and engineering responsibility for the repair, modification and overhaul of the F-15 Eagle, C-130 Hercules, and C-5 Galaxy aircraft. In addition to these weapon systems, the ALC has worldwide management responsibility for the U-2 Dragon Lady, all Air Force helicopters, all special operations aircraft and their peculiar avionics systems. The center also provides logistic support for all the C-17 Globemaster III, Air Force missiles, vehicles, general purpose computers, and many avionics and electronic warfare systems used on most Air Force aircraft. - 78th Air Base Wing78th Air Base WingThe 78th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 78th ABW acts as the host unit at Robins.-Mission:...
The wing provides physical, military and community operations and business infrastructure processes for Robins AFB and its 39 associate units. Responsible for logistics readiness, medical, civil engineer, security, comptroller activities, contracting, morale and welfare, mission support, public affairs, legal civilian personnel and environmental management for the installation.- 78th Mission Support Group
- 78th Civil Engineer Group
- 78th Security Forces Squadron
- 78th Operations Support Squadron
- 78th Comptroller Squadron
- 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing330th Aircraft Sustainment WingThe 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:...
The wing provides weapon system logistics support, oversees unscheduled and programmed depot maintenance, and manages modification efforts for the Air Force’s fleet of C-5, C-130, C-17, F-15, U-2, and E-8C Joint STARS aircraft, Global Hawk,Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS), MC-130, HC-130 and various special operations combat search and rescue aircraft and helicopters to include AC-130H/U,MC-130E/H/P, EC-130J, MH-53J/M, HH-60G, UH-1N,TH-1H, and HC-130P/N. In addition the wing is the engineering authority for all the aircraft above except for C-17, Global Hawk, and E-8C.- 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group
- 560th Aircraft Sustainment Group
- 580th Aircraft Sustainment Group
- 730th Aircraft Sustainment Group
- 830th Aircraft Sustainment Group
- 402d Maintenance Wing402d Maintenance WingThe 402d Maintenance Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:Provide depot maintenance, engineering support, and software development to major weapon systems .-Subordinate Organizations:402d Aircraft...
Provides depot maintenance, engineering support and software development to major weapon systems (F-15, C-5, C-130, C-17 and SOF aircraft). Achieves command objectives providing a capability/capacity to support peacetime maintenance requirements, wartime emergency demands, aircraft battle damage repair and a ready source of maintenance of critical items.- 402d Aircraft Maintenance Group
- 402d Commodities Maintenance Group
- 402d Electronics Maintenance Group
- 402d Maintenance Support Group
- 402d Software Maintenance Group
- 402d Business Development & Partnership
- 542d Combat Sustainment Wing542d Combat Sustainment WingThe 542d Combat Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:...
Provides our nation’s war fighters and allies the most combat capable and affordable electronic warfare systems in the world. The 542 CSW delivers a full spectrum of combat capabilities by designing, acquiring, installing, and sustaining electronic warfare, avionics, support equipment, vehicles, missiles, and weapons. Responsible for life-cycle management of over 800 systems valued at $56.2B. Manages $4.21B in executable funds and $8B in contracts to foster improvement in the agile logistics environment. Directly responsible for management of seven ACAT II programs. Programs include: electronic warfare, airborne and ground communication, navigation, precision attack systems,weapons and missiles, support equipment (SE),Automatic Test Systems (ATS), industrial equipment, vehicles, Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR),Air Force life support systems, armament, specialized programs, and supply chain management activities for WR-ALC.- 542d Combat Sustainment Group
- 562d Combat Sustainment Group
- 642d Combat Sustainment Group
- 742d Combat Sustainment Group
- 752d Combat Sustainment Group
- 762d Combat Sustainment Group
- 782d Combat Sustainment Group
Tenant Units
- 689th Combat Communications Wing689th Combat Communications WingThe 689th Combat Communications Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The wing was activated on 9 October 2009...
- 5th Combat Communications Group5th Combat Communications GroupThe 5th Combat Communications Group is a specialized, highly trained unit of the United States Air Force. The 5th Mob is currently based at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia...
- 5th Combat Communications Group
- 116th Air Control Wing116th Air Control WingThe United States Air Force's 116th Air Control Wing is a joint active duty/Air National Guard air control wing located at Robins AFB, Georgia.-Mission:...
- HMLA-773HMLA-773Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 49 ...
- Army Aviation Support Facility Robins AFB
- Hotel Company, 171st Aviation Regiment (C-23 TAC)
- C-27J Aircraft Qualification Schoolhouse
- 94th Aerial Port Squadron
- 367th Recruiting Group
- Robins NCO Academy
- Air Force Metrology and Calibration (AFMETCAL)
History
The War Department, in search of a site for an Army Air Corps Depot, selected the sleepy whistle-stop town known as Wellston, Georgia, 15 miles south of Macon. Army Colonel Charles Thomas, originally from Atlanta, landed at the Herbert Smart Airport near Camp Wheeler near Macon in October, 1941 to oversee the building of the location which would later become the home to Wellston Air Depot at Robins Field (later to become Robins AFB).It was Col. Thomas who chose the name "Robins" for his mentor Brig. Gen. Augustine Warner Robins
Augustine Warner Robins
General Augustine Warner Robins is often credited as the Father of Logistics in the modern United States Air Force, then known as the Army Air Corps...
. Brig. Gen. Robin's is considered the 'father of logistics' for his system of cataloging supplies and materials. He had a lengthy military career prior to becoming the chief of the Air Corps Materiel Division. Robins traveled in China disguised as a millionaire tourist, collecting intelligence for the Army. He also went to Mexico where he served under Gen. John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
in the Army's campaign against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
. He trained during World War I to become a pilot earning his wings in June 1918. He didn't get to see combat because the war was ending. Robins suffered a near-fatal plane crash in 1921 in which his jaw and arm were severely broken. Brig. Gen. Robins died of a heart attack on Father's Day, 16 June 1940 at Randolph Field, Texas, while he was Commandant of the Air Corps Training Center.
Origins
The 1935 Wilcox-Wilson bill provided for construction of new army air logisticsMilitary logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
depots, and in the early 1940s Macon civic leaders, led by Mayor Charles L. Bowden and supported by Congressman Carl Vinson
Carl Vinson
Carl Vinson was a United States Representative from Georgia. He was a Democrat and the first person to serve for more than 50 years in the United States House of Representatives...
, convinced the War Department to locate an airfield near Macon.
The Site Selection Butt narrowed the choice to two finalists: Ellenwood, just south of Atlanta, and Wellston, 14 miles south of Macon. The main advantage of Ellenwood was the fact that Atlanta was a major transportation hub with railroads running in every direction. Its disadvantages included the facts that the Army would have to purchase the property and the topography required extensive grading costs to construct an airfield. On the other hand, Wellston was relatively level and the necessary land would be purchased by the local government then donated to the Army. Wellston's shortcomings included the shortage of skilled labor, remote location, some swampy land, and only one railroad line, the Southern. Needless to say, local interest groups and politicians lobbied hot and heavy during the selection process to promote their respective sites
In June 1941, after much competition, the War Department approved the construction of a depot in middle Georgia peanut-farm country near the Southern Railroad whistle-stop of Wellston. The site was chosen because of its flat lands, artesian water, proximity to a main rail line, and abundant and cheap land and labor. To placate the Atlanta faction, the Army approved a general Army depot at Ellenwood, without an airfield, for Army ground forces.
Construction officially started with groundbreaking ceremonies on 1 September on a 3108 acres (12.6 km²) tract. Macon city fathers, supported by Wellston leaders, obtained property rights from the Feagin Family who were the original owners. The Army Air Forces (AAF) later bought an additional 2700 acres (10.9 km²) for the cantonment area, civilian barracks, and the pistol/rifle range. Even though Wellston was in Houston County, Bibb County leaders spent more than $100,000 to obtain Robins Field by increasing city business license taxes and county ad valorem taxes.
World War II
Spurred on by the Japanese attackAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in December 1941, the number of construction workers reached 2,200 by Christmas 1941. The Army enlarged the project by purchasing 2,637 additional acres and leasing 782 more south of the depot for troop training. In May 1942, the number of construction workers peaked at 6,600. The contractors essentially completed the project by 31 August 1942. Construction on the industrial and cantonment areas was completed by 31 August 1942. The second and third phases were completed the following April.
The rapidly growing town of Wellston changed its name to Warner Robins on 1 September 1942. Known as the Georgia Air Depot in the beginning, the depot has undergone many name changes. It was redesignated seven times, eventually being named Warner Robins Army Air Depot on 14 October 1942.
Warner Robins Army Air Depot eventually assumed overall command of the Air Service Command's installations in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, a portion of Florida, and North Carolina. Warner Robins supported approximately 6,500 Army aircraft in this area with depot maintenance and supply.
Throughout World War II (1941–45), 23,670 employees repaired almost every kind of AAF aircraft, including B-17s, C-47s, B-29s, B-24s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s. Its training facilities turned out nearly 60,000 field repair mechanics for every theater of war. The workforce supplied every kind of part necessary to keep AAF planes flying, especially spark plugs. It also maintained thousands of parachutes, aircraft electronic and radio systems, and AAF small arms.
In addition to aircraft maintenance and supply, air depots also trained aviation support personnel. These included air depot groups and air service groups, plus medical, military police, quartermaster, ordnance, chemical, and signal personnel. Warner Robins sent its first trained unit, the 38th Air Depot Group, overseas in December 1942. It is estimated that over 50,000 Army personnel trained at Warner Robins during the war.
Cold War
The depot's complement began a steady decline after the war, and by March 1946 only 3,900 employees remained. In the post-war era, Robins assumed the task of storing surplus war material and thousands of vehicles. The depot also cocooned and stored 250 B-29s. On 18 September 1947, the Army Air Force became the United States Air Force. Five months later on 16 February 1948, the airfield was re-designated Robins Air Force Base. Robins received its first major tenant when the Fourteenth Air Force moved there from Orlando AFBOrlando Executive Airport
Orlando Executive Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Orlando, a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is owned by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority...
, Florida.
The Berlin Airlift (1949) and 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...
(1950–53) restored the workforce to 17,697 by December 1952. In addition to its normal mission, the depot returned most of the B-29s in storage to active service. During the war, Robins AFB overhauled and modified B-29 and F-84 aircraft as well as repairing F-80 and F-86 fighters. In 1951, the Air Force began a $3.5 million construction project. When this project reached completion in 1952, the Air Force made Robins AFB a permanent installation. Personnel strength grew in proportion and reached 17,697 by the end of 1952. A devastating F4
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado struck the Warner Robins, Ga., area on 30 April 1953. Fortunately, the tornado struck immediately after the day shift had ended and casualties were minimal. The base sustained $2 million in damage and one fatality, an officer's wife. All told, this one tornado caused the area 19 fatalities, 350 injuries, and $10 million in damage that left 1000 homeless. This was one of the earliest tornadoes ever to be caught on film.
As the Korean War ended, along came a new conflict – the Cold War. Robins AFB assumed the management of the Matador and later the Mace surface-to-surface missiles as well as the Martin B-57 Canberra. To expedite services of Robins AFB to U.S. Air Force units all over the world, the 7th Logistic Support Squadron was transferred to Robins AFB in October 1954 with C-124 Globemaster transport airplanes.
In 1955, the Air Force added a new 12,000 x 300-ft all-weather runway to the airfield. By the end of the 1950s, Robins AFB assumed management of virtually all the cargo aircraft in the Air Force that included the C-47, C-54, C-117, C-118, C-123, C-124, and the C-130. As a result, Robins called itself the "cargo center of the Air Force." Also in the late 1950s, Robins added a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
base on the eastern side of the Air Force Base. SAC units at Robins initially operated B-47 "Stratojets" before upgrading to B-52 "Stratofortresses".
To provide air defense of the base, United States Army Nike-Hercules Surface-to-air missile sites were constructed during 1959. Sites were located near Byron (R-88) 32°40′20"N 083°47′09"W, and Jeffersonville (R-28) 32°37′42"N 083°21′05"W Georgia. They were operational between November 1960 and March 1966.
When the U.S. Air Force closed down its maintenance depots at the former Brookley AFB in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and the former Olmsted AFB
Olmsted Air Force Base
Harrisburg Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Harrisburg International Airport, Pennsylvania. It is located west-southwest of Middletown, Pennsylvania....
in Middleton Township
Middleton Township
Middleton Township may refer to:* Middleton Township, Columbiana County, Ohio* Middleton Township, Wood County, Ohio* North Middleton Township, Pennsylvania* South Middleton Township, Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Robins AFB assumed the workload of these depots. Some Robins AFB SAC units re-deployed to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
or Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and took part in many of the bombing missions. Maintenance teams from Robins frequently traveled to Southeast Asia to repair severely damaged aircraft. Robins AFB eventually managed the Lockheed C-141, C-7, and the F-15 Eagle as well as modifying the C-130s to the gunship configuration.
Robins played a key role in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(1964–73), supplying troops and materiel through the Southeast Asian Pipeline and modifying AC-119G/K and AC-130 gunships. Also playing a role were the C-141, the C-130, the C-123, and the C-124 cargo aircraft—all maintained at Robins. In 1973 these same C-141s supported the resupply of Israel in the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
. In October 1983, C-130s from Robins supported U.S. forces in the invasion of Grenada
Invasion of Grenada
The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was a 1983 United States-led invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 100,000 located north of Venezuela. Triggered by a military coup which had ousted a four-year revolutionary government, the invasion...
.
Between 1977 and 1981, Robins was the air base used by former President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
during his tenure on visits to his hometown of Plains
Plains, Georgia
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Notable people:...
. SAC's B-52s left Robins in 1983, and the 19th Wing assumed solely a refueling mission with KC-135s.
Modern era
In 1990–91, during the Persian Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Robins provided record numbers of parts, repairs, and personnel to coalition forces in the Persian Gulf. Robins-maintained 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...
s and the E-8 Joint STARS
E-8 Joint STARS
The Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System is a battle management and command and control aircraft of the United States Air Force...
played key roles in defeating the Iraqi military powers. In March–June 1999, during Operation Allied Force, the same employees and weapon systems played a decisive role in defeating the forces of the Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n president Slobodan Milosevic
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
.
In 1996, the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
's 116th Fighter Wing at Dobbins AFB relinquished their F-15 aircraft and moved to Robins, transitioning to B-1 Lancer
B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...
bombers and being redesignated as the 116th Bomb Wing. That same year, the former 93rd Bomb Wing at Robins was reactivated as the 93rd Air Control Wing with the E-8 Joint STARS
E-8 Joint STARS
The Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System is a battle management and command and control aircraft of the United States Air Force...
aircraft. In 2001, the B-1 bombers left Robins AFB and the Georgia Air National Guard entered into a merged Active-Guard "associate" wing arrangement in the Joint STARS mission with the active Air Force, with 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...
holding lead responsibility as the 116th Air Control Wing
116th Air Control Wing
The United States Air Force's 116th Air Control Wing is a joint active duty/Air National Guard air control wing located at Robins AFB, Georgia.-Mission:...
.
In 2004, the Warner Robins Air Logistic Center and Robins AFB are jointly the largest single industrial complex in the State of Georgia. The 23,000 civilian employees have an annual payroll over $1 billion. The Logistic Center manages and overhauls the F-15, C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
, C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, and the AC-130 gunships—and all of the Air Force's helicopters. In addition, the Center also supports the C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
and U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
aircraft.
Until June 2008, Robins was also the home of the KC-135s of the 19th Air Refueling Group
19th Operations Group
The 19th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 19th Airlift Wing, stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas....
, when the unit was deactivated, then reactivated a month later as the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. The E-8s of the 116th Air Control Wing
116th Air Control Wing
The United States Air Force's 116th Air Control Wing is a joint active duty/Air National Guard air control wing located at Robins AFB, Georgia.-Mission:...
continues to operate at Robins as a combined Regular Air Force and Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
air control wing, and the headquarters of the Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
is also located on the base. The metropolis of Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located primarily in Houston County with a small portion in Peach County. The city has its own metropolitan statistical area . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 48,804...
has grown in proportion to become the sixth largest city in Georgia, according to some ways of counting.
The C-27J Schoolhouse
Alenia C-27J Spartan
The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's G.222 , with the engines and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules...
, operated by L-3 Link, officially began classes at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia in September 2008. L-3 Link (a subsidiary of L-3 Integrated Systems) operates the official C-27J schoolhouse at the Georgia Department of Defense
Georgia Department of Defense
The Georgia Department of Defense is a state agency charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the Georgia National Guard...
's Fixed Wing Flight Facility at Robins AFB. This world class flight facility includes training classrooms, computer learning center, a large 100 person auditorium with high-definition audio-visual equipment, flight planning and fight operations areas. The facility also houses the resident Government Flight Representative
Government Flight Representative
A Government Flight Representative is a US Military Officer or similarly qualified US Government Civilian with the responsibility for aircraft operations conducted by commercial contractors using Department of Defense aircraft.-Authority:...
and Aviation Program Team assigned to the C-27J contract. Fixed Wing Flight Facility Robins AFB is also home of Hotel Company, 171st Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard
Georgia Army National Guard
The Georgia Army National Guard is the Army National Guard component of the Georgia National Guard, administratively part of the Georgia Department of Defense. It consists of more than 11,100 Citizen-Soldiers training in more than 79 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state...
. H Company flies the Short C-23 Sherpa to support time sensitive, mission critical cargo delivery to the warfighter.
Major commands
- Air Service Command, 22 July 1942
- Redesignated: Army Air Forces Materiel and Services Command, 17 July 1944
- Redesignated: Army Air Forces Technical Service Command, 31 August 1944
- Redesignated: Air Technical Service Command, 1 July 1945
- Redesignated: Air Materiel Command, 9 March 1946
- Redesignated: Air Force Logistics CommandAir Force Logistics CommandAir Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
, 1 April 1961 – 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 June 1992 – present - Air Force Reserve Command, 17 February 1997–present
- Air Force Materiel Command
Major units assigned
- 4th Station Complement Squadron
- Operating from Herbert Smart Airport, Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, GeorgiaAugusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, 11 April 1942 – 18 August 1942 - Operating from Robins Field, 18 August 1942 – 4 January 1943
- Wellston Air Depot
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Air Depot, 22 June 1942
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Depot Area Command, 3 January 1945
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Air Service Center, TBD
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Air Technical Service Center, TBD
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Air Material Area, 21 May 1951
- Redesignated: Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, 1 April 1961 – present
- 479th Base HQ and Air Base Sq, 4 January 1943 – 16 June 1943
- HQ Robins Fld, 16 June 1943 – 1 April 1944
- 4117th AAF Base Unit, 3 January 1945
- Redesignated: 4117th AF Base Unit, 26 September 1947
- Redesignated: HQ, Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, 28 August 1948
- Redesignated: HQ, Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, 21 May 1951
- Redesignated: HQ, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, 1 April 1961 – present
- 2104th Air Weather Group (MATS), 1 June 1948 – 24 October 1950
- 1727th Air Transport Squadron (MATS), 9 October 1948 – 1 November 1954
- HQ, Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 29 October 1949 – 1 September 1960 - 2853d Air Base Wing, 1 August 1953
- Redesignated: 2853d Air Base Gp, 16 October 1964–1994
- 7th Air Transport Squadron (MATS), 18 October 1954 – 8 January 1966
- 4137th Strategic Wing (SAC), 1 February 1959 – 1 February 1963
- HQ, Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, 16 April 1961 – 1 August 1968 - 465th Bombardment Wing465th Bombardment WingThe 465th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 57th Air Division, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It was inactivated on 21 July 1968....
(SAC), 1 February 1963 – 25 July 1968 - 58th Military Airlift Squadron (MAC), 6 January 1966 – 15 August 1971
- 19th Bombardment Wing (SAC), 25 July 1968
- Redesignated: 19th Air Refueling Wing (SAC), 1 October 1983
- Redesignated: 19th Air Refueling Group (AMC), 1 July 1996 – 28 May 2008
- HQ, Air Force Reserve (Agency), 1 August 1968
- Redesignated: HQ, Air Force Reserve CommandAir Force Reserve CommandThe Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
(MAJCOM), 17 February 1997 – present- 78th Air Base Wing78th Air Base WingThe 78th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 78th ABW acts as the host unit at Robins.-Mission:...
, 1 October 1994–present - 116th Air Control Wing116th Air Control WingThe United States Air Force's 116th Air Control Wing is a joint active duty/Air National Guard air control wing located at Robins AFB, Georgia.-Mission:...
, 1995–present - 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing330th Aircraft Sustainment WingThe 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:...
, Unknown – Present - 402d Maintenance Wing402d Maintenance WingThe 402d Maintenance Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:Provide depot maintenance, engineering support, and software development to major weapon systems .-Subordinate Organizations:402d Aircraft...
, Unknown – Present - 542d Combat Sustainment Wing542d Combat Sustainment WingThe 542d Combat Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:...
, 2006–present
- 78th Air Base Wing
Note: MATS (Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
); SAC (Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
); MAC (Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The 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...
); AMC (Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
)
Museum of Aviation
Near the base is the Museum of AviationMuseum of Aviation
The Museum of Aviation is the second-largest aerospace museum of the United States Air Force. The museum is located just outside Warner Robins, Georgia, and near Robins Air Force Base. It has a total of five different buildings containing 93 different aircraft on . The SR-71A Blackbird on display...
, begun in 1981, has four major structures on forty-three acres and ninety historic aircraft.
The museum is also home to the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame which honors outstanding Georgians prominent in aviation. The 93 aircraft and missiles on display include a B-52, SR-71, a Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
-built B-29, and a specially modified C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
that was used in the failed Iran-hostage rescue mission.
It has become a major regional educational and historical resource that hosts more than 500,000 visitors annually.
Geography
The base is in the MaconMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
metropolitan area, and is the single largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a work force of over 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members. The population was 3,949 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the base has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.1 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.73%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,949 people, 696 households, and 682 families residing in the base. The population density was 1,458.3 people per square mile (562.6/km²). There were 791 housing units at an average density of 292.1/sq mi (112.7/km²). The racial makeup of the base was 57.53% White, 32.19% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.58% Native American, 2.68% Asian, 0.43% Pacific Islander, 2.43% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.94% of the population.
There were 696 households out of which 82.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.6% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.0% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.57.
In the base the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 36.0% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 1.6% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 131.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 144.6 males.
The median income for a household in the base was $37,420, and the median income for a family was $37,656. Males had a median income of $21,929 versus $14,820 for females. The per capita income for the base was $12,506. About 4.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
See also
- Georgia World War II Army AirfieldsGeorgia World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Georgia for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- Air Technical Service Command
- Museum of AviationMuseum of AviationThe Museum of Aviation is the second-largest aerospace museum of the United States Air Force. The museum is located just outside Warner Robins, Georgia, and near Robins Air Force Base. It has a total of five different buildings containing 93 different aircraft on . The SR-71A Blackbird on display...
- 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....
- Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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 ....