Joint Base Andrews

Joint Base Andrews. It is a premier United States Department of Defense installation located in Prince George's County, Maryland, serving as the home base for Air Force One and providing critical support to National Capital Region operations. The base hosts major commands including the United States Air Force's 316th Wing and the United States Navy's Naval Air Facility Washington. Established during World War II, it has evolved into a vital joint-service hub for global mobility, presidential airlift, and homeland defense missions.

History

The installation was originally established in 1942 as Camp Springs Army Air Field, activated in 1943 to support the Army Air Forces during World War II. It was renamed Andrews Field in 1945 in honor of Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews, a pioneer in United States Army Air Corps doctrine. Throughout the Cold War, it served as headquarters for the Air Defense Command and later the Military Airlift Command, playing a key role during the Berlin Airlift and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Base Realignment and Closure process led to its merger with Naval Air Facility Washington in 2009, forming the present joint base under the 2005 BRAC Commission recommendations.

Facilities and units

The base encompasses over 5,000 acres and features two primary runways capable of handling the largest military aircraft, including the Boeing VC-25 and Boeing C-32. Key facilities include the 89th Airlift Wing's specialized hangars for presidential support, the Air National Guard's 113th Wing complex, and the Naval Air Facility Washington's operational areas. Other significant infrastructure supports the Air Force District of Washington, the Air Force Reserve Command's 459th Air Refueling Wing, and the Defense Intelligence Agency's National Air and Space Intelligence Center detachments. The Malcolm Grow Medical Center provides comprehensive care for service members and their families.

Role and operations

Its primary mission is to provide global Special Air Mission airlift, logistics, and communications for the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and other senior United States government leaders through the 89th Airlift Wing. The base also serves as a critical homedrome for Air Mobility Command aircraft conducting worldwide aerial refueling and transport, and it supports North American Aerospace Defense Command alert missions. Furthermore, it acts as a central hub for United States Northern Command homeland security operations and joint-service exercises in the National Capital Region.

Based organizations

Major tenant commands include the United States Air Force's 316th Wing, which oversees base operations, and the 89th Airlift Wing, responsible for Air Force One. The 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon for air defense. The United States Navy presence is led by Naval Air Facility Washington, supporting Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron units and Pentagon transport. Other key organizations are the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Information Systems Agency, and elements of the United States Marine Corps and United States Army.

Accidents and incidents

Notable incidents include the 1962 crash of a Boeing C-135 Stratolifter shortly after takeoff, which resulted in multiple fatalities. In 1979, a United States Navy Grumman C-1 Trader experienced a landing gear failure. A significant accident occurred in 1992 when a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter from the 436th Airlift Wing crashed during an emergency return, claiming several lives. More recently, in 2015, a Boeing 737 operated by the Texas Air National Guard made an emergency landing with landing gear issues. These events have informed stringent safety protocols across Air Mobility Command and Naval Air Systems Command.

Category:United States Air Force bases Category:Joint bases of the United States Category:Buildings and structures in Maryland