Lowry Air Force Base

Lowry Air Force Base. It was a major training and technical education center for the United States Air Force, located in Denver, Colorado. Established in the late 1930s, it became a cornerstone for military aviation instruction, particularly in bombardier and navigator training, as well as advanced technical fields like photography and missile systems. The base played a critical role throughout World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War before its closure in the 1990s.

History

The site's origins trace to 1937 when the city of Denver purchased land for a municipal airport, which was promptly leased to the United States Army Air Corps. It was formally dedicated in 1938 and named for First Lieutenant Francis B. Lowry, a Denver native and World War I aerial observation pilot killed in action in France. During World War II, the installation, then known as Lowry Field, expanded rapidly under the United States Army Air Forces to meet urgent wartime training demands. Its primary mission evolved to train thousands of bombardiers and aerial gunners for aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator, utilizing extensive bombing ranges in the nearby Great Plains. Following the creation of the independent United States Air Force in 1947, it was redesignated Lowry Air Force Base and became a key institution under Air Training Command.

Operations and units

For decades, the base served as the Air Force's premier center for technical training and specialized officer education. Its most famous schools included the Bombardier Training School and the Navigator Training School, which later consolidated into the Combat Crew Training School. Following World War II, the curriculum expanded significantly into sophisticated technical fields, housing the Air Force Photography School, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons School, and the Air Force Missile Training Center. Key tenant units included the 3380th Technical Training Wing and the 3415th Technical Training Group, which managed the vast academic programs. The base also hosted the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center and was the headquarters for the Air Reserve Personnel Center, critical for managing records for the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. Its operations supported global Cold War strategy, training personnel for systems like the Titan I ICBM and reconnaissance platforms.

Closure and redevelopment

The base was selected for closure in 1988 under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, a result of post-Cold War military downsizing and consolidation of training functions at other installations like Lackland Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base. Its final closure ceremony was held in September 1994, ending over 55 years of continuous military operation. The redevelopment of the 1,866-acre site became one of the nation's most successful and ambitious brownfield conversion projects. The Lowry Redevelopment Authority, in partnership with the city of Denver and Arapahoe County, transformed the property into the mixed-use Lowry neighborhood. This large-scale project preserved many historic Art Deco buildings, incorporated new residential and commercial spaces, and established civic institutions like the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in the original Hangar #1.

Legacy and impact

The legacy of the base is deeply woven into the fabric of Denver and the broader history of American air power. It trained over 1.1 million personnel, including notable alumni such as President George H. W. Bush (a World War II naval aviator who received supplemental training there), Senator John McCain, and astronaut Guion Bluford. The redevelopment is frequently cited as a model for sustainable urban planning and adaptive reuse of former military property. The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum now serves as a major cultural and educational center, preserving the site's aviation heritage. Furthermore, the base's former role in nuclear weapons training and its association with the Strategic Air Command underscore its significant place in the technological and geopolitical history of the Cold War.

Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force Category:History of Denver Category:1938 establishments in Colorado Category:1994 disestablishments in Colorado