Coolidge Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Coolidge Air Force Base was a United States Air Force
base on the island of Antigua
that operated from 1941-1948. It later reopened as Coolidge International Airport and is now known as V. C. Bird International Airport
The airport was built as an American military air base during World War II
and named Coolidge Airfield after Capt. Hamilton Coolidge
(1895–1918), a United States Army Air Service
pilot killed in World War I
.
Flying units assigned to the airfield were:
Renamed Coolidge Air Force Base in 1948, it was closed as a result of budgetary cutbacks in 1949 with right of re-entry retained by the United States.
and, later, the Antigua government upon independence, for the establishment and maintenance of missile tracking facilities. Antigua Air Station remains on a portion of the former Coolidge AFB.
, NASA continues utilize the Antiqua facility for launch tracking services on an as-needed basis, and did so for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory
on 26 November 2011.
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 on the island of Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
that operated from 1941-1948. It later reopened as Coolidge International Airport and is now known as V. C. Bird International Airport
The airport was built as an American military air base during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and named Coolidge Airfield after Capt. Hamilton Coolidge
Hamilton Coolidge
Hamilton Coolidge , was an American pursuit pilot, flying ace in World War I, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross....
(1895–1918), a United States Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
pilot killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Flying units assigned to the airfield were:
- 35th Bombardment Squadron35th Bombardment SquadronThe 35th Bombardment Squadron a United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 322d Bombardment Group, based at Phillips Field, Beltsville, Maryland...
(25th Bombardment Group) 11 Nov 1941-Nov 1942 (B-18 Bolo) - 12th Bombardment Squadron (25th Bombardment Group) 23 Nov 1943-24 Mar 1944 (B-25 Mitchell)
- 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron4th Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 5600th Composite Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone. It was inactivated on 14 March 1949.-History:...
(Antilles Air CommandAntilles Air CommandThe Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico...
) 21 May-5 Oct 1945
Renamed Coolidge Air Force Base in 1948, it was closed as a result of budgetary cutbacks in 1949 with right of re-entry retained by the United States.
Antiqua tracking station
Agreements were subsequently reached with the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and, later, the Antigua government upon independence, for the establishment and maintenance of missile tracking facilities. Antigua Air Station remains on a portion of the former Coolidge AFB.
, NASA continues utilize the Antiqua facility for launch tracking services on an as-needed basis, and did so for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...
on 26 November 2011.