Great Falls Air National Guard Base
Encyclopedia
- See: Great Falls International AirportGreat Falls International AirportGreat Falls International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located within city limits, three miles southwest of central Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana, USA...
for civil airport information
Great Falls Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Montana Air National Guard
Montana Air National Guard
The Montana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Montana. It is, along with the Montana Army National Guard, an element of the Montana National Guard.-120th Fighter Wing:...
120th Fighter Wing
120th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 120th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana.-Mission:The 120th Fighter Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard,serves a dual mission:...
.
Overview
The 120th Fighter Wing120th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 120th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana.-Mission:The 120th Fighter Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard,serves a dual mission:...
(FW) of the Montana Air National Guard
Montana Air National Guard
The Montana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Montana. It is, along with the Montana Army National Guard, an element of the Montana National Guard.-120th Fighter Wing:...
occupies 141 acre (0.57060726 km²) of leased land on the Great Falls International Airport
Great Falls International Airport
Great Falls International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located within city limits, three miles southwest of central Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana, USA...
(IAP), located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of downtown Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
. The 120th FW flies a general-purpose mission, including air defense, utilizing the F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
.
The 120th FW occupies three administrative, one services, and 43 industrial buildings totaling approximately 392372 square feet (36,452.6 m²) with 350 full-time personnel. A unit training drill is conducted twice a month and results in a surge of up to a total of 943 personnel.
BRAC 2005 sent the units F-16 Fighting Falcons to ANG bases in Alabama and Iowa; F-15 Eagles were assigned to replace them.
History
The airport was leased by the U.S. War Department during World War IIWorld 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 became a home for the 7th Ferrying Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war. During the war years, more than 7,500 bombers and fighter aircraft passed through Great Falls on their way to the war fronts in Europe and the Pacific. While using the airport as an air base, the U.S. Army acquired an additional 740 acres (3 km²) of land and built many buildings and other facilities. The airport remained under government control until June 1948, at which point the newly-established Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
deeded the airport back to the City of Great Falls with the stipulation that the facility could revert to military control in the event of a national emergency. The airport was released from this clause in 1961.