March Air Force Base

March Air Force Base
Name	March Air Force Base
Caption	March Field in 1918, with Curtiss JN-4 Jenny trainers.
Location	Near Riverside, California
Type	Joint-use civil-military airfield
Coordinates	33, 52, 50, N...
Pushpin label	KGRV
Ownership	United States Air Force
Operator	Air Force Reserve Command
Controlledby	Fourth Air Force
Built	1918
Used	1918–present
Current commander	Colonel Matthew J. Mahl
Garrison	452nd Air Mobility Wing
Occupants	March Air Reserve Base
Elevation m	468
Elevation ft	1,535
R1-number	12/30
R1-length-m	3,658
R1-length-ft	12,000
R1-surface	Asphalt/Concrete

Contents

History
Facilities
Based units
Role and operations
Accidents and incidents
See also

March Air Force Base. Located near Riverside, California, this installation is a cornerstone of American military aviation history and modern Air Force Reserve Command operations. Originally established as a World War I training field, it evolved into a major strategic hub during the Cold War for units like the Strategic Air Command. Today, operating as March Air Reserve Base, it hosts the 452nd Air Mobility Wing and serves as a critical joint-use facility supporting global air mobility and aerial refueling missions.

History

The base was established in 1918 as March Field, named for Second Lieutenant Peyton C. March Jr., a pilot killed in a training accident. It initially served as a primary flight training school for the United States Army Air Service, utilizing aircraft like the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. During World War II, it expanded dramatically as a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator crews under the Western Flying Training Command. The post-war era saw its most significant transformation when it was assigned to the Strategic Air Command in 1949, hosting heavy bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during the tense decades of the Cold War. Following major realignments, active-duty operations ended in 1996, and the facility was transferred to Air Force Reserve Command, becoming a key Air Reserve Base.

Facilities

The installation encompasses over 2,000 acres and features a single primary runway capable of handling the largest military aircraft. Its infrastructure includes extensive aircraft parking ramps, maintenance hangars for C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker fleets, and numerous support facilities. The March Field Air Museum, located on the grounds, preserves a vast collection of historic aircraft and artifacts. The base also operates as a joint-use civil airport, known as March Air Reserve Base, sharing its airfield with civilian cargo and general aviation traffic under an agreement with local authorities.

Based units

The host unit is the 452nd Air Mobility Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command, under the oversight of Fourth Air Force. This wing operates the C-17 Globemaster III for global airlift and the KC-135 Stratotanker for aerial refueling missions. Other notable tenant organizations include the 163rd Attack Wing of the California Air National Guard, which flies the MQ-9 Reaper, and the 701st Combat Operations Squadron. Additional support is provided by units of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve, making it a truly joint facility.

Role and operations

As a premier Air Reserve base, its primary mission is to provide combat-ready air mobility and aerial refueling forces for the United States Air Force and United States Transportation Command. The 452nd Air Mobility Wing regularly supports operations worldwide, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and humanitarian relief efforts. The base's strategic location on the West Coast of the United States makes it a vital staging point for missions across the Pacific Ocean and into the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. It also plays a key role in supporting Southern California's disaster response and serves as an emergency divert airfield.

Accidents and incidents

The base's long operational history includes several notable aviation accidents. In 1942, a mid-air collision between a B-17 Flying Fortress and a Lockheed P-38 Lightning over the base resulted in multiple fatalities. A significant tragedy occurred in 1953 when a B-29 Superfortress crashed shortly after takeoff, killing the crew. During the Cold War, a KC-135 Stratotanker experienced a fatal crash in 1961 during a training mission. More recently, in 2009, a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the base made a successful emergency landing with a malfunctioning nose gear, causing no injuries but significant damage to the aircraft.