Locating Air Force Base Sites: History's Legacy

This study describes military, technical, economic, and political reasoning that has influenced the location, or basing, of major flying and nonflying units in the continental United States, excluding Alaska, between 1907 and 2003. Specifically, it deals with the basing of bomber, fighter, airlift and missile units, training installations, logistic centers, and product centers. Locating flying and nonflying organizations involves assigning them to installations, usually Air Force bases, that are compatible with their missions. This volume, is intended as a reference work offering historical perspective on current basing issues. It examines four critical periods in the history of USAF basing :1907 through August 1947, September 1947 through 1960, 1961 to 1987, and 1988–2003.