Mather Air Force Base

Mather Air Force Base
Name	Mather Air Force Base
Location	Sacramento County, California
Coordinates	38°35′N 121°18′W
Type	Former United States Air Force base
Built	1919 (as Sacramento Municipal Airport), 1939 (military use)
Used	1939–1993
Controlledby	United States Air Force

Mather Air Force Base was a United States Air Force installation located near Sacramento, California in Sacramento County, California. Originally developed from Sacramento Municipal Airport and expanded during the World War II mobilization, the base became a major center for aircrew training, navigator training, and air refueling operations during the Cold War. The facility hosted units from the Air Training Command, Strategic Air Command, and Military Airlift Command, and its closure followed the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure process in the early 1990s.

History

Mather traces roots to regional aviation developments around Sacramento Municipal Airport and early United States Army Air Corps expansions before World War II, reflecting broader trends exemplified by Kelly Field, Scott Field, and Langley Field. During World War II the installation supported Air Transport Command operations and training similar to programs at Randolph Field and Keesler Field. In the postwar era the base integrated into the Air Training Command network alongside Mather Field-era navigator schools analogous to those at James Connally Air Force Base and Frederick C. Blesse-era training sites. During the Cold War the station hosted Strategic Air Command-related refueling and support missions paralleling activities at March Air Force Base and Beale Air Force Base. The base’s role shifted through the Vietnam War period and into the late 20th century as Military Airlift Command priorities evolved before closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and the subsequent Base Realignment and Closure rounds.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The installation comprised runways and ramps comparable to McClellan Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base, maintenance hangars akin to those at Mather Field-era complexes, and administrative buildings reflecting standards used at Fort Ord and Tinker Air Force Base. On-site navigation aids and radar installations paralleled equipment found at Lowry Air Force Base and Mather-era training ranges, while housing and family support facilities mirrored provisions at Beale Air Force Base and Nellis Air Force Base. The base’s airfield infrastructure accommodated aircraft types similar to the KC-135 Stratotanker, C-141 Starlifter, and earlier B-25 Mitchell trainers, and its biomedical and logistics facilities supported operations akin to those at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Military Units and Operations

Mather hosted units from the Air Training Command, including navigator and aircrew schools comparable to programs at Lackland Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base. It supported Strategic Air Command tanker operations resembling missions run from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Altus Air Force Base and transient aircraft missions like those at Travis Air Force Base. The base roster included wings, groups, and squadrons with administrative alignments similar to units stationed at March Air Reserve Base and Vandenberg Air Force Base. Contingency and support operations at the installation coordinated with regional commands such as Twelfth Air Force and logistics chains connected to Military Airlift Command hubs.

Training and Missions

Primary missions emphasized navigator training, aircrew instruction, and operational support, paralleling curricula at Randolph Air Force Base and Kelly Field Annex. Training syllabi incorporated navigation, celestial flight techniques, and electronic systems training like programs at Keesler Air Force Base and Goodfellow Air Force Base. The base also provided search-and-rescue support and contingency airlift staging similar to missions conducted from Moffett Field and Travis Air Force Base. Exercises and readiness activities aligned with NORAD-adjacent preparations and joint training events involving Air National Guard units and Department of Defense components.

Environmental Impact and Cleanup

Industrial operations, fuels handling, and maintenance led to contamination issues analogous to those documented at McClellan Air Force Base and Castle Air Force Base, including soil and groundwater impacts requiring remediation consistent with Environmental Protection Agency oversight and Department of Defense cleanup programs. Remediation efforts involved assessment and corrective actions parallel to projects at Kelly Air Force Base and Wurtsmith Air Force Base, engaging contractors, state agencies such as the California Environmental Protection Agency, and federal regulators. Long-term monitoring, vapor intrusion mitigation, and groundwater treatment programs were implemented in coordination with Sacramento County and regional water agencies.

Closure and Redevelopment

Following recommendations by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the installation ceased active Air Force operations around 1993 and underwent conversion processes similar to redevelopment at McClellan Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Alameda. Redevelopment initiatives involved local government entities like Sacramento County and economic development agencies, repurposing runways, facilities, and housing into commercial, residential, and light industrial uses akin to projects at Crocker Village-style mixed-use plans and Presidio of San Francisco transformations. Ongoing land-use planning engaged stakeholders including the Sacramento City Council, state transportation agencies such as the California Department of Transportation, and community organizations working to preserve historic structures and integrate the site into the regional transportation and economic landscape.

Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in California