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Barksdale Air Force Base

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Barksdale Air Force Base, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 7 August 20251 source
Barksdale Air Force Base
Company typeMilitary installation
IndustryMilitary
Founded1932
Headquarters
Bossier City
,
United States
Area served
United States Air Force
Key people
Colonel Michael A. Miller (Commander), Colonel Scott Weyermuller (Vice Commander)
ProductsMilitary airbase operations, training, and global strike capabilities
Number of employees
15000+

Barksdale Air Force Base (Barksdale AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation located primarily within Bossier City, Louisiana in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. Situated over east of Bossier City near Interstate 20, it supports a workforce exceeding 15,000 active-duty and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) members.

The base's principal unit is the 2nd Bomb Wing (2 BW), recognized as the USAF's oldest bomb wing and assigned to the Eighth Air Force (8 AF) under Air Force Global Strike Command. With a fleet of roughly 44 B-52H Stratofortress bombers, the 2 BW provides versatile global strike capabilities and is responsible for training all AFGSC and AFRC crews operating the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.

Founded in 1932 as Barksdale Field, the installation honors World War I aviator and test pilot Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale (1896–1926).


Role and operations

Home to the USAF’s oldest bomb wing, the 2nd Bomb Wing (2 BW) traces its heritage back to participation in Brig Gen Billy Mitchell's 1921 offshore bombing demonstration when it was known as the 2nd Bomb Group.

The 2nd Bomb Wing comprises:

Leadership at Barksdale AFB includes Colonel Michael A. Miller as commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing and installation head, supported by Colonel Scott Weyermuller serving as vice commander.

Additional significant units stationed at Barksdale are:

Although access to the base is restricted to the public, it hosts the Barksdale Global Power Museum, which displays historic aircraft including a Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, alongside various Boeing B-52 Stratofortress models. The museum welcomes visitors daily except holidays, with an annual open house offering limited civilian entry.

Historical Land Use

Prior to the establishment of Barksdale Field in 1932, the land was primarily used for cotton plantations operated by enslaved African Americans and later by Black sharecroppers enduring oppressive conditions. The creation of the base involved seizing over 22,000 acres via eminent domain, displacing numerous Black tenant farmers and small proprietors from Bossier Parish—a chapter largely absent from official recognition.

On February 2, 1933, the base was named after 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale (1895–1926), who served with the British Royal Flying Corps during World War I and died in a 1926 observation plane test flight. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The airfield was redesignated as Barksdale Air Force Base on February 13, 1948, coinciding with the USAF becoming an independent military branch.

Constructed during the era when airships were prevalent, Hangars One and Two were designed large enough to accommodate them but never housed any. Their dimensions later allowed Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers to be parked wingtip to wingtip inside. This capability facilitated modifications at Boeing's Wichita facility ("Big Belly" and "Pacer Plank") between 1965 and 1973. After the Vietnam War, half of the B-52Fs deployed from Barksdale were replaced by upgraded B-52Gs.

Origins

As early as 1924, residents of Shreveport sought to establish a military aviation field in their vicinity. By 1926, it became clear that the 3rd Attack Wing stationed at Fort Crockett, Texas, was set to increase its size by 500%, necessitating dedicated areas for aerial gunnery and bombing practice. In response, a committee led by prominent local figures Andrew Querbes and John D. Ewing initiated efforts in 1927 to obtain federal approval for an airfield near Shreveport. After an initial denial, the U.S. Army Air Corps appointed Captain Harold Ross Harris in February 1928 to identify an appropriate location.

Captain Harris chose a cotton plantation close to Bossier City, a selection unanimously endorsed by the site committee composed of key taxpayers. This recommendation was presented to the War Department in Washington, D.C., followed by an inspection from an Army board that confirmed the site met the Air Corps’ specifications.

On 5 December 1928, the site for Barksdale Field was officially designated. The land, located outside municipal boundaries near Bossier City, was later annexed by Shreveport after being selected from among 80 contenders. More than 800 landowners sold property financed through a municipal bond issue authorized by Shreveport voters in 1929; these bonds matured in 1959. Subsequently, the city donated the property to the federal government, which funded the construction and outfitting of the base. An alternative location near Cross Lake was dismissed due to unfavorable terrain for future expansion. Following the establishment of the base, Bossier City grew around its perimeter. Although Barksdale AFB lies outside both cities' limits, it functions as an independent community with its own infrastructure while primarily relying on Shreveport’s water supply system and using Bossier City as a secondary source.

Construction commenced in 1931 with development of hangars, runways, and living quarters. Initial operations began on 7 November 1932 with the arrival of the 20th Pursuit Group, which operated Boeing P-12 and P-26 Peashooter aircraft. The airfield officially opened on 2 February 1933.

By the mid-1930s, Barksdale Field had become headquarters and principal base for the 3rd Attack Wing, equipped with Curtiss A-12 and Northrop A-17 planes. It provided training for fighter and attack pilots specializing in gunnery and bombing techniques. Additional barracks were constructed during 1936–1937, while light bombers gradually replaced earlier pursuit and attack aircraft models.

World War II

In November 1940, Barksdale was developed into an Air Corps flying school, with completion of its runway apron by mid-1941. In May 1940, it served as the site for extensive "complete military maneuvers" simulating European combat conditions, involving approximately 320 aircraft and observed by Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower along with U.S. Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall.

Throughout World War II, from 1942 until 1945, Barksdale focused on training replacement crews and units such as the 27th Bombardment Group (Light), 8th Pursuit Group, and 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), among others flying aircraft including the Douglas A-24 Dauntless, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and Martin B-26 Marauder.

The 335th Bombardment Group (Medium) assumed duties as a permanent Operational Training Unit on 17 July 1942 using B-26 Marauders. This unit was succeeded by the 331st USAAF Base Unit in May 1944 and later by the 2621st USAAF Base Unit in December 1945, which continued pilot instruction until September 1947 before transitioning into the 2621st Air Force Base Unit.

During the conflict, Barksdale also accommodated significant contingents from both the Free French Air Forces and Nationalist Chinese aircrews.

Postwar years

Following the creation of the U.S. Air Force as an independent branch, the installation was renamed Barksdale Air Force Base on 13 January 1948. From 1945 until 1949, it served as the headquarters for Air Training Command. In November 1948, the 47th Bombardment Wing, Light, initially equipped with Douglas B-26 Invaders, was assigned to transition to the North American B-45 Tornado—the first operational jet bomber in the USAF and the first to conduct in-flight refueling. By March 1950, the wing had received a total of 96 B-45 aircraft.

Due to budgetary constraints, plans were made to relocate the 47th Wing’s B-45s to Yokota Air Base in Japan; however, deployment was delayed by logistical difficulties—including limited range without external fuel tanks and structural concerns. Early operational experience revealed that the fire control systems were inadequate and that engines required overhaul after just 7.5 flight hours. These issues rendered the aircraft unsuitable for overseas missions until Air Materiel Command resolved them nearly two years later.

The 47th Bomb Wing was reassigned to NATO, relocating first to Langley Air Force Base in March 1951 and then to RAF Sculthorpe in England by May. Following their departure, bomber crew training at Barksdale was discontinued.

Congressman Joe Waggonner was instrumental in safeguarding Barksdale from closure during a period of widespread base shutdowns across the country, ensuring its ongoing operation.

Cold War

On 1 November 1949, Barksdale came under the jurisdiction of Strategic Air Command (SAC) and became the site for Headquarters Second Air Force. It functioned as a SAC installation for nearly five decades, primarily serving as a training ground where units were formed before being reassigned to operational bases.

91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

The inaugural SAC unit stationed at Barksdale was the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which transferred from McGuire AFB on 1 October. Its primary mission involved worldwide strategic reconnaissance with an emphasis on aerial photography and mapping.

The wing operated a diverse fleet including Boeing RB/TRB-17 Flying Fortress, Boeing RB/TB/TRB-29 Superfortress, Douglas RC-54 Skymaster, Boeing B/RB-50 Superfortress, and North American RB-45 Tornado aircraft. It maintained overseas detachments in locations such as the United Kingdom and North Africa, with deployments typically lasting around three months.

During the Korean War, a three-aircraft detachment was sent to Johnson Air Base in Japan to support reconnaissance efforts for Far East Air Forces. The wing conducted missions over North Korea and the Sea of Japan, achieving the USAF’s first combat aerial refueling in July 1951 when a KB-29P tanker refueled an RC-45C.

With the arrival of the 376th Bomb Wing in October 1951, the 91st was relocated to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, on 16 June 1952.

301st Bombardment Wing

The 301st Bombardment Wing joined Barksdale’s operations on 7 November 1949 after transferring from Smoky Hill AFB, Kansas. Although operating under a joint headquarters with the 91st, it conducted separate tactical missions. Initially flying B-29 Superfortresses, it pioneered aerial refueling techniques using KB-29 tankers.

In 1953, the wing upgraded its fleet to include Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers and transitioned its tankers to Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter aircraft. Its focus remained on strategic bombing training and aerial refueling operations, with deployments to England in 1953 and French Morocco in 1954.

On 15 April 1958, the wing was reassigned to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, where it shifted into an electronic countermeasures (ECM) role conducting covert intelligence activities.

To bolster base security, the U.S. Army established the Barksdale Defense Area in 1959 by deploying Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile installations near Bellevue (BD-10) and Stonewall (BD-50), Louisiana. Presumably operated by the 562nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, these missile sites remained active from November 1960 until they were decommissioned in March 1966 due to nationwide reductions in air defense programs.

376th Bombardment Wing

On 10 October 1951, the 376th Bombardment Wing was transferred to Barksdale from Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas. Initially operating older B-29 Superfortress aircraft, the 514th Bombardment Squadron focused on training for atomic bomb missions until June 1953, when it transitioned to Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers, which then took over the nuclear strike role. Beginning in 1954, the wing utilized EB-47 Stratojets primarily for electronic countermeasures (ECM), a mission it had undertaken since September 1953.

The wing relocated to Lockbourne Air Force Base on 1 December 1957, replacing the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, and was redesignated as the 376th Bombardment Wing (ECM), continuing its operation of EB-47E aircraft.

4238th Strategic Wing

Following the departure of the 301st and 378th Bomb Wings in 1957 and 1958, Barksdale welcomed Boeing's newest strategic platforms: the B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker. The base’s focus shifted from SAC training roles to active operational duties.

Activated on 3 May 1958 and originating from the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB, Texas, the 4238th Strategic Wing operated B-52F bombers alongside KC-135A tankers, including units such as the 436th Bomb Squadron and the 913th Air Refueling Squadron. In alignment with SAC’s dispersal policy designed to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet first strike, half of its fleet of fifteen bombers remained on a fifteen-minute alert status—fully armed and fueled—while the remainder supported training and aerial refueling missions.

1st Combat Evaluation Group

Between 1961 and 1990, the 1st Combat Evaluation Group, which reported directly to SAC Headquarters at Offutt AFB, was responsible for command-level standardization and evaluation of SAC aircrews. It conducted radar scoring for simulated bombing exercises and provided contingency support for ground-directed bombing operations. During the Vietnam War, detachments were deployed to Southeast Asia. In 1990, a segment of this group evolved into the 99 Electronic Combat Range Group before being incorporated into Nellis AFB’s 98th Range Wing.

2nd Bombardment Wing

The inactivation of the 4238th Strategic Wing occurred on 1 April 1963. Subsequently, the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Heavy, reassigned from Hunter AFB in Georgia, assumed Barksdale’s B-52 and KC-135 responsibilities without personnel or equipment changes. Its squadrons were redesignated as the 20th Bombardment Squadron and the 913th Air Refueling Squadron.

For over forty years, the 2nd Bomb Wing has served as Barksdale’s host unit. The 20th Bomb Squadron operated B-52F models until June 1965 before relocating to Carswell AFB; it was succeeded by the 62nd Bomb Squadron flying B-52G aircraft reassigned from Eglin AFB. The wing also incorporated the 596th Bomb Squadron in April 1968 from Dow AFB.

During the Vietnam conflict, the wing participated in Operations Arc Light and Young Tiger by deploying B-52Gs in Linebacker I and II campaigns (1972–73). These B-52G aircraft were equipped with onboard ECM systems to counter surface-to-air missile threats and utilized Motorola SST-181 X Band Beacon Transponders for Combat Skyspot targeting. Some missions involved mid-flight rerouting of bombers to less hazardous targets during Linebacker II. All personnel returned to Barksdale by late 1973.

Post-Vietnam era

From 1973 through 1992, Barksdale hosted SAC's annual Strategic Air Command Bombing and Navigation Competition, where elite bomber and tanker crews competed while sharing best practices to improve operational readiness.

On 1 January 1975, Headquarters Second Air Force was deactivated and replaced by Headquarters Eighth Air Force, which relocated from Andersen AFB, Guam, where it had commanded SAC strategic operations during Vietnam. At Barksdale, Eighth Air Force absorbed both operations and personnel previously assigned to Second Air Force.

In 1978, with the arrival of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Eighth Air Force Museum was established to honor the legacy of the "Mighty Eighth" during World War II. The museum's collection expanded over time to include aircraft such as the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, B-52D and G Stratofortresses, British Avro Vulcan B.Mk2, General Dynamics FB-111A, Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman, Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, North American P-51D Mustang, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

In November 1981, Barksdale’s 32nd Air Refueling Squadron received its first operational KC-10A tanker. The squadron later transferred to the 458th Operations Group in June 1992 and then to the 305th Operations Group in July 1995. Meanwhile, the 71st ARS moved to McGuire AFB's 458th Operations Group in New Jersey. The final KC-135 tanker was retired from Barksdale in March 1994—now exhibited at the museum—and its last KC-10 departed for McGuire AFB in October.

In April 1982 and again in December 1990, the Columbia made stops at Barksdale en route to Cape Canaveral. After the February 2003 Columbia disaster, Barksdale’s hangar—being nearest to where debris fell—served as a collection site for orbiter fragments before their transfer to Kennedy Space Center.

On 20 September 2009, Barksdale functioned once more as a refueling point for Space Shuttle Discovery during its piggyback return flight from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth back to Kennedy Space Center, remaining overnight prior to departure.

Operation Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm

Barksdale Air Force Base was instrumental in Operation Just Cause in Panama (1989), as well as Operation Desert Shield (1990) and Operation Desert Storm (1991). The initial combat mission of Desert Storm originated from Barksdale, where seven B-52G bombers undertook a 35-hour flight—the longest combat mission recorded at that time—launching conventional air-launched cruise missiles against targets in Iraq. Additionally, B-52s stationed at Morón Air Base, Spain, were responsible for dropping 10% of all munitions deployed by the U.S. Air Force during the Gulf War.

Post-Cold War Developments

Following its return from operations in the Middle East, the 2nd Bombardment Wing was redesignated as the 2nd Wing on 1 September 1991 under the newly implemented objective wing organization.

The installation transitioned towards diplomatic engagements and training initiatives, highlighted by a March 1992 visit to Dyagilevo Air Base, Russia, involving two B-52s and a KC-10 tanker. In May 1992, Barksdale hosted two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bombers, an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft, and 58 Russian personnel for six days, including participation in the final Strategic Air Command Bombing and Navigation Competition awards ceremony. The Russians returned in August 1994 with a Tu-95 bomber and an Ilyushin Il-78 refueling aircraft. Barksdale also strengthened relations with the Ukrainian Air Force in 1994 through visits involving a B-52 and KC-10 at Poltava Air Base, Ukraine.

In April 1992, the main base saw 265 buildings designated on the National Register of Historic Places as the Barksdale Field Historic District. On 1 June 1992, command authority shifted from the disbanded Strategic Air Command to the newly formed Air Combat Command (ACC), with active-duty aircraft adopting ACC tail codes "LA".

Modernization efforts commenced in 1992 when the 596th Bomb Squadron phased out its B-52G models in favor of B-52H aircraft transferred from deactivating SAC squadrons. The 596th was deactivated on 1 October 1993 and succeeded by the 96th Bomb Squadron. Furthermore, on 17 December 1992, the 20th Bomb Squadron along with its B-52Hs relocated to Barksdale from the closing Carswell AFB, Texas.

In October 1993, following the transfer of the 71st Air Refueling Squadron and its KC-135A/Q tankers to Air Mobility Command, the 2nd Wing was renamed as the 2nd Bomb Wing. A third B-52H squadron, designated as the 11th Bomb Squadron, was activated at Barksdale on 1 July 1994 to serve as a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for B-52H aircrews.

Combat Operations During the 1990s

In September 1996, Barksdale-based B-52s fired thirteen AGM-86C CALCM missiles targeting Iraqi surface-to-air missile installations and air defense radar sites during Operation Desert Strike, a response to Saddam Hussein’s attacks on Kurdish populations. This operation marked the inaugural combat deployment of the B-52H model. Within an 80-hour timeframe, personnel and aircraft were rapidly deployed forward to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, executed the strike mission, and returned to home station.

In November 1997, forces from Barksdale were dispatched to Diego Garcia amid escalating Iraqi provocations, maintaining presence until June 1998 to reinforce regional stability and prepare for potential military operations.

A contingent of six B-52s and accompanying personnel redeployed to Diego Garcia in November 1998 under the banner of the 2nd Air Expeditionary Group due to Iraq’s noncompliance with U.N. weapons inspections. Although planned strikes were initially suspended following Iraqi concessions, deteriorating cooperation culminated in Operation Desert Fox in December 1998—a concentrated three-day assault targeting Iraqi military infrastructure.

Between March and June of 1999, ten B-52s from the 2nd Bomb Wing operated out of RAF Fairford during Operation Allied Force. They flew over 180 sorties and released more than 6,600 munitions against strategic targets within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to halt ethnic Albanian expulsions from Kosovo.

"War on Terror"

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Barksdale provided a secure landing site for President George W. Bush’s return flight and swiftly deployed forces to initiate the first airstrikes in Operation Enduring Freedom. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, both active and reserve B-52 units from Barksdale executed more than 150 combat missions targeting southern Iraq.

On 30 August 2007, a B-52 from Minot AFB inadvertently transported six AGM-86 cruise missiles equipped with W80 nuclear warheads to Barksdale without notifying either the crew or the base. This event led to disciplinary measures within Air Force leadership and resulted in the resignations of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Michael Moseley. As a direct outcome, the Air Force Global Strike Command was established in August 2009 with its headquarters located at Barksdale.

The 2nd Bomb Wing officially joined Global Strike Command on 1 February 2010.

Effective 1 January 2011, the Air Force Reserve Command deactivated the 917th Wing and activated the 307th Bomb Wing, which incorporated its B-52 squadrons. Meanwhile, A-10 units remained stationed at Barksdale under the newly created 917th Fighter Group, reporting to the 442nd Fighter Wing based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri.

In 2013, a North Korean propaganda photograph identified Barksdale as one of four potential U.S. nuclear targets, alongside the Pentagon, Pearl Harbor, and naval installations in San Diego. This designation is primarily due to Barksdale housing Global Strike Command headquarters and its nuclear bomber fleet. Analysts interpret this targeting as also symbolically connected to President Bush’s sheltering at Barksdale following 9/11. Although base officials declined to elaborate extensively, they stressed that U.S. forces remain highly capable and prepared to project decisive power.

917th Wing (Air Force Reserve Command)

The origins of the 917th Wing trace back to its establishment as the 917th Troop Carrier Group on 17 January 1963 at Barksdale, assigned under the 435th Troop Carrier Wing with a mission supporting the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II operations of the 78th Troop Carrier Squadron.

On 1 July 1963, both units were reassigned to the 442nd Troop Carrier Wing under Military Air Transport Service (MATS), consolidating all Air Force Reserve C-124 groups. Subsequently, they transferred again on 25 March 1965 to the 512th Troop Carrier Wing.

Reflecting shifts in active duty force structure, the unit was redesignated as the 917th Air Transport Group in 1965 and then became the 917th Military Airlift Group in 1966. The group earned recognition with the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award after logging over 55,000 accident-free flying hours while supporting worldwide missions.

On 26 April 1972, it was redesignated as the 917th Special Operations Group under Tactical Air Command. As its mission evolved further, it became the 917th Tactical Fighter Group on 1 October 1973, replacing the 78th Troop Carrier Squadron with the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron. By the late 1980s, it had been elevated to wing status as the 917th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Following the June 1992 restructuring that merged Tactical Air Command and most Strategic Air Command units into Air Combat Command (ACC), "Tactical" was dropped from its title.

On 1 October 1993, major changes included deactivating the 46th Fighter Training Squadron as fighter training shifted to active duty forces. The wing took on a strategic role by adding B-52H bombers and establishing the 93rd Bomb Squadron. This composite unit was thereafter known simply as the 917th Wing.

The 2005 BRAC recommended realigning assets from Eielson AFB by transferring some A-10 aircraft from Alaska and from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans’ 926th Fighter Wing to Barksdale’s 917th Wing, aiming to reduce costs and consolidate fighter resources.

On 20 September 2009, Barksdale functioned as a refueling stop for Space Shuttle Discovery aboard a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft during its ferry flight back to Kennedy Space Center, highlighting its strategic logistical role.

Bossier Base

Bossier Base, currently known as The East Reservation due to its position to the east of the airstrip, was originally a Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA) facility with Q clearance for maintenance and WSA functions throughout the Cold War. Comparable to Sandia Base's Manzano site, it operated independently from both the USAF and Barksdale AFB in the past but has since been integrated into the primary base complex.

Based units

Units assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, including both flying and significant non-flying entities.[1]

Units designated GSU represent Geographically Separate Units stationed at Barksdale but reporting to parent commands located elsewhere.

United States Air Force

Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC)

  • Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command
  • Eighth Air Force
    • Headquarters, Eighth Air Force
    • 2nd Bomb Wing (Host Wing)
      • Headquarters, 2nd Bomb Wing
      • 2nd Comptroller Squadron
      • 2nd Operations Group
      • 2nd Maintenance Group
        • 20th Bomber Generation Squadron (activated August 22, 2024)
        • 96th Bomber Generation Squadron (activated August 22, 2024)
        • 2nd Maintenance Squadron
        • 2nd Munitions Squadron
      • 2nd Medical Group
        • 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron
        • 2nd Dental Squadron
        • 2nd Medical Operations Squadron
        • 2nd Medical Support Squadron
      • 2nd Mission Support Group
        • 2nd Contracting Squadron
        • 2nd Communications Squadron
        • 2nd Force Support Squadron
        • 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron
        • 2nd Security Forces Squadron

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)

  • Tenth Air Force
    • 307th Bomb Wing
      • Headquarters, 307th Bomb Wing
      • 307th Operations Group
      • 307th Maintenance Group
        • 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
        • 307th Maintenance Squadron
        • 707th Maintenance Squadron
        • 307th Maintenance Operations Flight
      • 307th Mission Support Group
        • 307th Civil Engineer Squadron
        • 307th Force Support Squadron
        • 307th Logistics Readiness Squadron
        • 307th Security Forces Squadron

Air Combat Command (ACC)

Primary Commands Assigned

  • Fourth Corps Area (U.S. Army), 1 August 1932 – 1 March 1935
  • GHQ Air Force, 1 March 1935 – 15 October 1940
  • Southeastern Air Corps Training Center, 15 October 1940 – 6 December 1941
  • AF Combat Command, 6 December 1941 – 10 February 1942
  • 3d Air Force, 10 February 1942 – 6 June 1945
  • Continental Air Forces, 6 June 1945 – 1 November 1945

Significant Units Assigned

  • 20th Pursuit Group, from 31 October 1932 to 19 November 1939
  • 3d Attack Group, between 19 February and 1 March 1935
  • Station Complement, Barksdale Field, from 1 March 1935 to 26 August 1936
  • Base HQ and 6th Air Base Squadron GHQ, from 26 August 1936 until 13 June 1943
  • 335th Bombardment Group (Medium), active from 17 July 1942 to 1 May 1944
  • 331st AAF Base Unit, serving from 1 May 1944 to 1 December 1945
  • 2621st AAF Base Unit, between 1 December 1945 and 26 September 1947
  • 2621st AF Base Unit, from 26 September 1947 to 26 August 1948
  • 3500th Pilot Training Wing, in operation from 26 August 1948 to 14 October 1949
  • 47th Bombardment Wing, active between 19 November 1948 and 2 October 1949
  • 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, from 14 October 1949 to 16 June 1952

Education

The installation falls under the jurisdiction of the Bossier Parish School District.

Residences located on the primary base are zoned for Waller Elementary School, Rusheon Middle School, and Bossier High School. The East Reservation sector is served by T. L. Rodes Elementary School (PreK-Grade 1), Platt Elementary School (Grades 2-3), Princeton Elementary School (Grades 4-5), Haughton Middle School, and Haughton High School.

See also

Additional sources

  • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, originally published in1961 (reissued in1983 by Office of Air Force History).
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories: 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History,1984.
  • Mueller, Robert. Air Force Bases Volume I: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States on September17,1982. Office of Air Force History,1989.
  • Lloyd, Alwyn T. (2000). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to Strategic Air Command,1946–1992. Pictorial Histories Publications.
  • Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications.
  • Turner Publishing Company (1997). Strategic Air Command: The Story of the Strategic Air Command and Its People. Turner Publishing Company.
  • USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
  • ArmyAirForces.com
  • Strategic-Air-Command.com

External links

  1. ↑ "Units". Barksdale Air Force Base. US Air Force. Retrieved 29 May 2019.

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