Andrews Air Force Base
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Andrews Air Force Base (ICAO code KADW) is a United States Air Force base near Washington, DC and the home base of the U.S. presidential aircraft, Air Force One. Originally known as Camp Springs Army Air Base, the base was renamed to Andrews Field in 1945 after Frank Maxwell Andrews, a pivotal figure in the development of the U.S. Air Force, who had died in an airplane accident in 1943.
[edit] Location
The base is located a few miles southeast of Washington, in Prince George's County, Maryland near the town of Morningside. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.8 mi² (17.7 km²). 6.8 mi² (17.7 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water. There are two runways on the base; the western runway is 11,300 ft (3,440 m) in length, and the eastern runway is 11,700 ft (3,570 m) in length.
[edit] Tenants at Andrews
[edit] 89th Air Expeditionary Force (AEF)
The 89th Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) based at Andrews has an operational force of over 1,000 personnel. The 89th Airlift Wing provides global Special Air Mission (SAM) airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the President, Vice President, Combat Commanders, senior leaders and the global mobility system as tasked by the White House, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Air Mobility Command. The 89th Airlift Wing maintains 24/7 alert, operating the Executive Airlift Training Center and Government Network Operation Center.[1]]
A reorganization occurred on 22 June 2006 that redesignated the old host-unit of Andrews AFB, the 89th Airlift Wing, as a tenant unit. The new host unit for Andrews AFB is the 316th Wing which falls under the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW). The primary mission at Andrews AFB is to transport the President of the United States and provide worldwide airlift for the Vice President of the United States, the President's Cabinet, members of Congress, military leaders and other high ranking dignitaries. Support can only be given to a limited number of users and flights are sometimes limited by prior commitments and aircraft availability. As can be expected this can and does result in political squabbling over who should have priority.[2]
At one time, "SAM FOX", was used as a prefix to an aircraft tail number, during radio transmissions to identify Air Force aircraft that were transporting high-ranking VIPs, typically on foreign flights. The call sign prefix was constructed from the acronym SAM (Special Air Mission) and the initial F (Foreign), which at the time was represented by the phonetic word "Fox." This tasking is now provided by the tenant unit, 89th Airlift Wing which falls under the Air Mobility Command MAJCOM.
[edit] 89th Airlift Wing Aircraft
- VC-25A "Air Force One" (Boeing 747) [2 ea.][3]
- C-32A "Air Force Two" (Boeing 757) [4 ea.] [4]
- C-40B (Boeing 737) [2 ea.][5]
- C-20B (Gulfstream III) [5 ea.][6]
- C-37A (Gulfstream V) [4 ea.] [7]
[edit] 113th Wing Air National Guard (DCANG)
Andrews has been the home of the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard units since 1946. Wing members were called to active duty in the Korean War, the and the 1961 Berlin crisis and several other times. Over the years, the 113th has flown nine different fighter aircraft, including the F-100 Super Sabre deployment to Europe in 1964 and combat deployment to Vietnam in 1968. The most recent deployment was for Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
The wing flew the F-105 Thunderchief for 10 years before converting to the F-4D Phantom II fighter in 1981. The 113th now flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon and only recently the C-21 Learjet and C-22 Boeing 727, as a result of the DCANG unit reorganization when the 201st Airlift Squadron became part of the wing in October 1995.
Formerly Detachment 1, Headquarters DCANG, the 201st AS performs operational airlift missions for the National Guard Bureau, the Air Force and the Department of Defense as requested.
Training of air combat and operational airlift crews for national defense is the 113th's primary mission. The 113th also provides a ready response force of fighters for the defense of the District of Columbia area 24/7. Members of the 113th also assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking in the District of Columbia on a case by case basis.
[edit] 744th and 89th Communications Squadrons
Andrews is also the home of the 744th Communications Squadron and the 89th Communications Squadron, units that provide communications to military installations all over the world. The 744th Communications Squadron technical control facility is one of the largest in the world, and hosts a myriad of sophisticated telecommunications equipment. The 89th Communications Squadron's CNCS remotely operates 15 HF Global radio stations from around the Globe.
[edit] 459th Airlift Wing (AFRC)
The 459th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Andrews since 1954. The 459th recently celebrated its 55th anniversary. The wing is equipped with nine C-141B Starlifter aircraft. The wing, over the years, is a five-time recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. A full-time civilian and Air Reserve Technician staff of about 230 people provide day-to-day administration and management of the 459th.
In 1992, wing personnel flew supplies to the victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida; medical equipment and supplies to Minsk, Belarus, as part of Operation PROVIDE HOPE; and food, medicine, supplies and medical personnel into Somalia in support of Operation RESTORE HOPE.
In 1993, the 459th continued to support Operation SUPPORT HOPE. The wing provided humanitarian airlift relief in Rwanda and in support of the Cuban refugees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In addition, 459th personnel supported Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti as well as various other significant missions around the globe.
[edit] Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC)
The Air National Guard Readiness Center performs operational and technical functions to ensure combat readiness of ANG units and is a channel of communication between the NGB and the states on ANG operational activities.
The commander, ANGRC, is responsible for four detachments and 23 operating locations with an authorized strength of 734 military and civilian personnel. Its mission is to provide service and support to the ANG and help accomplish its total Air Force mission.
On June 1, 1979 ANGRC was constituted as a direct reporting unit and assigned to the United States Air Force. The ANG Support Center was redesignated as a field operating agency of the National Guard Bureau in 1989. In late 1990, the NGB at Andrews was redesignated as the Air National Guard Readiness Center.
[edit] 121st Weather Flight (DCANG)
The 121st Weather Flight, organized in 1953., is an Air Combat Command Air National Guard unit which provides operationally ready weather observers, forecasters and officers for contingency support to First United States Army Headquarters, Fort Gillem, Ga. And Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, N.C. as needed.
The primary peacetime mission is to train personnel, providing weather support through observations of current weather conditions, forecasts, weather watches/warnings, staff and aviation briefings, climatology and astronomical data. The flight uses automated data retrieval systems such as the Automated Weather Distribution System, Next Generation (Doppler) Radar, laser beam ceilometer (cloud base measuring device), fixed satellite receivers, internet connective data bases and Air Force and Navy meteorological dial-in data retrieval systems.
[edit] 231st Combat Communications Squadron (DCANG)
The 231st Combat Communications Squadron is an Air Combat Command gained unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. The unit has federal and state missions.
The federal mission is to deploy, install, operate, and maintain Communications and Electronic facilities in support of USAF worldwide operations.
The unit supports many DOD agencies and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1994-95 and 1995-96.
[edit] 317th Recruiting Squadron Education and Training Command (AETC)
The 317th Recruiting Squadron, headquartered at Andrews AFB, is an Air Education and Training Command tenant unit and is responsible for recruiting highly qualified Air Force personnel from throughout a four-state area and the District of Columbia. The squadron recruits non-prior service, prior service, officer training school candidates, and all health professions personnel as well as potential candidates for reserve officer training courses, nurse and health professions scholarships. Fifty-five recruiters maintain operations from offices in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and North Carolina. Squadron members also process applications at two Military Entrance Processing Stations (Baltimore and Richmond).
[edit] Air Force Office of Special Investigations HQ (AFOSI)
AFOSI provides investigative and counterintelligence information to commanders at Air Force installations worldwide.
The agency attempts to identify and stop espionage, subversion, terrorism, sabotage, economic crime and other criminal activities that threaten Air Force resources.
[edit] Detachment 302 (AFOSI)
AFOSI Detachment 302, 3rd Field Investigations Region provides force protection and criminal investigative services to the Andrews community. The detachment also provides specialized investigative support for AFOSI detachments servicing more than 30 bases in the Eastern U.S. These services involve computer crime, polygraph, technical services, forensic science, counterintelligence and operational planning.
[edit] OSI Academy
The USAF Special Investigations Academy is located at Andrews. The Academy instructs AFOSI agent trainees, as well as U.S. federal and allied country investigators in basic investigating skills used in fraud investigations, and counterintelligence services. Advanced training is also offered in such areas as fraud, environmental crime, criminal technical services, protective service operations, counterintelligence and counterespionage. The Academy's instructional staff is composed of education specialists, Special Agent officers and senior NCOs who have experience across the full AFOSI missions spectrum, and Combat Arms Training and Maintenance NCOs.
[edit] Civil Air Patrol (CAP)-USAF
The regional headquarters of the Air Force Liaison to the Civil Air Patrol is located on Andrews AFB. The Middle East Liaison Region is one of eight regions nationwide. Here, Air Force and civilian personnel provide advice, assistance, liaison and oversight to the Civil Air Patrol in emergency services (search and rescue, disaster relief), cadet programs and aerospace education. The states (Civil Air Patrol wings) within the Middle East Region include Delaware, Maryland, the National Capital Area, Virginia, West Virginia, and North and South Carolina. Each year, the region sponsors a variety of programs in support of the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.
[edit] Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The Federal Aviation Administration has 32 air traffic controllers and 25 airway facilities technicians assigned to Andrews. The FAA provides services for approximately 160,000 aircraft operations each year at Andrews, including movements of the president (Air Force One), vice president (Air Force Two), foreign heads of state and all types of aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard and their reserve forces, as well as civil aircraft and commercial airliners.
[edit] Naval Air Facility (NAF), Washington, D.C.
Naval Air Facility, Washington, D.C., is a Naval Air Reserve training facility. NAF's mission is to train assigned Naval Air Reserve units for mobilization assignments and provide administrative coordination and logistics support for these units.
NAF's Andrew's contingent has 451 active duty members and 155 civilian employees plus more than 800 personnel assigned to NAF's 10 tenant commands. Their group is complemented every month by more than 2,000 reservists who drill at Andrews.
[edit] Marine Aircraft Group 49, Det. A
The Marine Corps has two combat-ready reserve units at Andrews AFB. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 321, a Marine Corps Reserve squadron, flies the F/A-18 Hornet. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49, Detachment A, provides maintenance and supply functions necessary to maintain force readiness.
Additionally, the Marine Aircraft Support Detachment flies the C-12 and C-20 providing support for the commandant of the Marine Corps and other VIPs in the Washington, D.C., area.
[edit] External links
- Air Force District of Washington Official Website AFDW
- Official website
- GlobalSecurity.org
- MapQuest's map of Andrews AFB
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
