March Field

March Field
Name	March Field
Native name	March Air Reserve Base (historic)
Type	Air Reserve Base (historic active duty)
Operator	United States Air Force Reserve Command, California Air National Guard
Location	Riverside County, California; near Riverside, California and Moreno Valley, California
Built	1918
Used	1918–present
Controlledby	United States Department of Defense → United States Air Force
Occupants	various wings and squadrons

March Field is a long‑established United States air installation in Riverside County, California with origins in the late World War I period. Over its history the base has hosted units from the United States Army Air Service, United States Army Air Corps, United States Army Air Forces, and United States Air Force, and has been associated with major events such as World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. The installation has influenced regional development in Southern California and has maintained continuing ties to reserve, active duty, and National Guard organizations.

History

Established in 1918 as an airfield for the United States Army Air Service near Riverside, California, the installation expanded rapidly during the Interwar period as aviation training and logistics demands increased. During World War II it served as a major training and maintenance hub, hosting units linked to campaigns in the Pacific Theater and supporting efforts by the United States Army Air Forces. Postwar reorganization placed the site under the newly independent United States Air Force in 1947, and the base took part in strategic and tactical roles during the Korean War and the early Cold War era. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the field accommodated heavy bombers, air refueling assets, and transport aircraft tied to commands such as Strategic Air Command and Military Air Transport Service.

In the 1970s and 1980s changing force structures and defense policies led to revisions in mission sets, including increased emphasis on reserve components like the Air Force Reserve Command and the California Air National Guard. The installation underwent name and mission transitions paralleling the Base Realignment and Closure processes and broader Department of Defense consolidation efforts. In the post‑9/11 era the base supported operations associated with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom through mobility, training, and logistics contributions derived from both active and reserve units.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The installation features multiple runways, extensive ramp space, hangars adapted for tactical airlift and air refueling platforms, and maintenance complexes used by depot‑level and organizational maintenance units. Support infrastructure includes family housing areas, administrative centers tied to commands such as Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command, and mission support facilities for units aligned with the California Air National Guard.

Specialized facilities include avionics shops, munitions storage areas compliant with Department of Defense regulations, and logistics warehouses servicing aircraft models previously and currently based at the site, such as heavy transports and refuelers associated with C‑5 Galaxy and KC‑135 Stratotanker type operations. The field also hosts airfield control towers, navigation aids, and emergency response stations coordinated with regional civilian agencies like Riverside County Fire Department and Cal Fire for airfield and wildland fire contingencies.

Units and Operations

Over time the installation hosted an array of flying and non‑flying units from organizations such as Air Mobility Command, Air Force Materiel Command detachments, and reserve wings under Air Force Reserve Command. Historically, units assigned to the field have been involved in strategic bombardment, tactical airlift, air refueling, reconnaissance, and training missions, interfacing with national tasks exemplified by deployments to Vietnam War era theaters and later operations supporting NATO commitments and coalition logistics.

Reserve and Guard units based at the installation have provided personnel and aircraft for expeditionary taskings, humanitarian relief missions coordinated with United States Agency for International Development partners, and domestic support during natural disasters in coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency. The installation has also hosted joint exercises with units from United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aviation elements, and has been a node for interservice logistics coordination with organizations such as Defense Logistics Agency.

Role in Civilian and Community Affairs

The base has long served as an economic and social anchor in Riverside County, California and adjacent municipalities like Moreno Valley, California and Perris, California. Community outreach initiatives have included air shows, public tours (subject to security policies tied to Homeland Security directives), and partnerships with educational institutions including University of California, Riverside and local community colleges for workforce pipelines into aerospace maintenance and logistics. The installation’s labor force and contracting relationships have involved civilian employers and small businesses registered with Small Business Administration programs.

Local transportation infrastructure projects, land use planning by Riverside County Board of Supervisors, and real estate development in nearby areas have been influenced by the base’s presence. The installation has participated in cooperative agreements with municipal emergency services and regional planning bodies to coordinate responses to earthquakes, wildfires, and mass casualty incidents.

Environmental and Safety Issues

Environmental management at the site addresses legacy contaminants and ongoing compliance with regulatory programs administered by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency. Historic activities led to investigations and remediation efforts involving substances like fuels and solvents managed under regulatory mechanisms similar to Superfund‑style cleanup processes and state hazardous materials statutes. Wildlife management on the airfield engages with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines to mitigate bird strike risks and habitat concerns.

Safety programs integrate Occupational Safety and Health standards from Occupational Safety and Health Administration and aviation safety directives from Federal Aviation Administration where civilian operations intersect with military airspace. Community communication about environmental restoration, noise abatement, and emergency preparedness has been coordinated through regional bodies including Riverside County Air Quality Management District and local elected officials.

Category:Airfields in California