March Air Force Base

March Air Force Base
Name	March Air Force Base
Location	Riverside County, California
Coordinates	33°52′N 117°15′W
Built	1918
Used	1918–1996 (active), 1996–present (reserve/air national guard)
Controlledby	United States Air Force
Garrison	March Air Reserve Base (current)

March Air Force Base was a major United States military airfield in Riverside County, California, established in 1918 during World War I and developed through World War II, the Cold War, and the post–Vietnam era into one of the Air Force's principal strategic and airlift installations. The installation hosted bomber, refueling, reconnaissance, and airlift units, interacting with major commands and federal agencies across the 20th century and transitioning to a reserve and Air National Guard center after 1996. Its long runway complex, historic aircraft presence, and proximity to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Greater Los Angeles Area made it strategically significant for operations, logistics, and homeland response.

History

March began as March Field in 1918, named for aviator aviator Richard C. March (note: for illustration; do not link base name). Early interwar growth paralleled developments at Kelly Field and Mather Field, with training operations linked to Air Service, United States Army programs and later the Army Air Corps. During World War II the field expanded rapidly under United States Army Air Forces control, supporting units such as the Fourth Air Force and serving as a staging base for Pacific Theater deployments. Postwar, March became central to Strategic Air Command missions, hosting bomber wings equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Convair B-36 Peacemaker, and later Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft during Cold War deterrence.

In the 1950s and 1960s March hosted tanker operations with the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, providing aerial refueling for deployments to Vietnam War theaters and Pacific contingencies. The base supported reconnaissance units using platforms such as the Boeing RB-47 Stratojet and later hosted airlift wings operating Lockheed C-141 Starlifter and Lockheed C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Organizational changes reflected broader USAF restructuring, involving commands like Military Airlift Command and Tactical Air Command. The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission actions and post–Cold War drawdown culminated in 1996 realignment to a reserve and Air National Guard status, while parts of the facility converted to civilian uses including March Joint Powers Authority developments and regional March Air Reserve Base operations.

Units and Operations

Throughout its history March hosted numbered wings such as the 22d Bombardment Group and the 452d Air Mobility Wing (reserve). The base was home to the March Air Reserve Base flying components, including elements of the Fourth Air Force (Air Force Reserve) and associated Air Mobility Command mission sets after active-duty drawdown. Units stationed at March supported strategic deterrence, aerial refueling, strategic reconnaissance, and tactical airlift, interacting operationally with commands including Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command, Military Airlift Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air Force Reserve Command.

The base supported deployments to Korean War and Vietnam War operations, and later provided airlift and aeromedical evacuation for crises such as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Civil support missions included coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency elements, regional disaster relief for events like Northridge earthquake responses, and interagency exercises with Department of Homeland Security components and the California National Guard.

Facilities and Infrastructure

March featured long runways capable of handling heavy strategic bombers and transport aircraft, extensive ramp and hangar space, a control tower, and specialized maintenance depots. Historic hangars housed aircraft from Boeing, Lockheed, and Douglas Aircraft Company lines. The installation included ammunition storage areas, fuel farms for JP-4/JP-8, munitions handling facilities, and avionics and propulsion shops servicing engines such as the Pratt & Whitney JT9D and General Electric TF39.

Support infrastructure encompassed family housing, base exchange facilities aligned with United States Air Force Services Agency standards, medical clinics linked to Travis Air Force Base referral networks, and training ranges for aerial gunnery and instrument approaches. The base also hosted a museum preserving legacy aircraft and artifacts tied to organizations like the March Field Air Museum, which exhibits examples of North American P-51 Mustang, B-52 Stratofortress components, and Cold War-era systems.

Environmental Issues and Land Use

Decades of aviation operations, fuel storage, and maintenance produced environmental challenges common to legacy military installations, prompting remediation activities under programs such as the Defense Environmental Restoration Program and coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency. Contaminants of concern included solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and emerging concerns like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) associated with firefighting foams used on airfields. Cleanup efforts involved soil vapor extraction, groundwater remediation, and long-term monitoring in cooperation with California Environmental Protection Agency entities and county regulators.

Post-closure and realignment land use shifts led to mixed military, civilian, and commercial redevelopment, including aviation business parks, industrial leases, and community reuse planning through local authorities such as the March Joint Powers Authority and county boards. Redevelopment initiatives interfaced with transportation projects such as regional highway corridors connecting to Interstate 215 (California) and State Route 60 (California), and land-use planning required balancing conservation with economic development.

Incidents and Accidents

March's operational tempo over decades produced several notable accidents and incidents involving aircraft from manufacturers like Boeing, Lockheed, and Douglas Aircraft Company. Historical mishaps included training accidents during World War II pilot instruction, Cold War-era mishaps involving strategic bombers and tankers, and, in some cases, non-fatal ground incidents tied to maintenance operations. Investigations were conducted by organizations such as the Air Force Safety Center and sometimes by the National Transportation Safety Board when civilian contractors or off-base impacts occurred. Lessons from these events contributed to flight safety improvements, maintenance protocols, and emergency response coordination with regional emergency services.

Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in California