Pease Air National Guard Base

Pease Air National Guard Base
Name	Pease Air National Guard Base
Location	Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Coordinates	43°02′N 70°52′W
Type	Air National Guard Base
Controlled by	New Hampshire Air National Guard
Built	1941
Used	1941–present
Garrison	157th Air Refueling Wing

Pease Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard installation located adjacent to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and within the Pease International Tradeport. Originating as a World War II airfield, the installation evolved through roles in Strategic Air Command operations, post‑Cold War realignment, and contemporary air refueling missions. It shares infrastructure with a civilian airport and a business park, hosting a mix of military, commercial, and environmental programs.

History

The site opened in 1941 as Portsmouth Army Air Field, supporting United States Army Air Forces training during World War II and later became Pease Army Airfield. In the early Cold War era the base was transferred to Strategic Air Command and renamed in honor of Laurence S. Pease, a United States Army Air Forces aviator. During the 1950s and 1960s SAC units operating strategic bombers and tankers responded to crises including the Korean War aftermath and tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The 1970s and 1980s saw continued operations under commands linked to Eighth Air Force and various bomber wings. Following the end of the Cold War and recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, major active duty units were inactivated and the property transitioned to a joint civil‑military reuse model, resulting in creation of the Pease International Tradeport and retention of an Air National Guard presence. The retained unit, part of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, adapted to missions aligned with the Air Mobility Command mission set.

Facilities and infrastructure

The installation shares runways, taxiways, and apron space with the civilian Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM). Key infrastructure includes long runways originally constructed for heavy bombers, hardened aircraft shelters from the SAC era, and modernized air traffic control towers compatible with Federal Aviation Administration standards. The adjacent tradeport contains converted hangars, former munitions storage areas, and industrial parcels leased to companies participating in aviation maintenance, logistics, and manufacturing, some associated with Boeing and Lockheed Martin supply chains. Utilities serve both military and civilian tenants, with on‑site fuel farms, ordnance storage complexes subject to Department of Defense safety regulations, and environmental monitoring stations established under cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency. Transportation links include access to Interstate 95, regional rail yards, and port facilities on the Piscataqua River.

Units and operations

The principal tenant is the 157th Air Refueling Wing of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, which provides air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and airlift support under tasking from Air Mobility Command and state authorities. Past tenants included strategic bomber wings associated with Strategic Air Command and reconnaissance units aligned to Tactical Air Command during periods of reorganization. The installation supports operational readiness activities such as aircrew training, maintenance, contingency response exercises with units from Air Force Reserve Command, coordination with U.S. Northern Command for homeland missions, and joint exercises alongside Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. Civil-military coordination involves the Portsmouth Economic Development Commission and federal agencies for disaster response planning.

Aircraft and equipment

Historically the base hosted heavy strategic aircraft including the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, and aerial refueling platforms such as the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and later Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. Transitioning to the Air National Guard era, the 157th operated aircraft optimized for air refueling and transport missions. Associated ground equipment includes mobile refueling bows, maintenance stands, avionics test sets, and specialized support vehicles compliant with Department of Defense logistics protocols. Civilian tenants operate commercial airliners and business jets, linking Pease to networks involving Delta Air Lines and regional carriers, while fixed‑base operators provide avionics and engine shop services consistent with Federal Aviation Administration certification.

Environmental remediation and reuse

Cold War operations, munitions storage, and fuel handling resulted in soil and groundwater contamination addressed by cooperative remediation programs involving the Environmental Protection Agency, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Contaminants of concern included volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, and solvents historically associated with aircraft maintenance. Cleanup actions implemented soil excavation, pump‑and‑treat systems, monitored natural attenuation, and institutional controls to protect potable wells and the Piscataqua River watershed. Reuse planning turned former military parcels into the Pease International Tradeport, attracting aerospace firms, logistics providers, and brownfield redevelopment projects with assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program and state economic development grants. Long‑term stewardship continues under federal and state oversight to ensure land use compatibility and protect regional resources such as the Great Bay Estuary.

Notable incidents and events

Notable events include Cold War airborne alert operations, emergency responses during severe weather events coordinated with Federal Emergency Management Agency, and multiple open‑house air shows drawing aircraft from United States Air Force Thunderbirds and allied demonstration teams. Accidents during the SAC era and later GA operations prompted safety investigations by the Air Force Safety Center and changes in ground handling protocols. The site's conversion to joint civil‑military use after the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions is frequently cited as a model for successful transition and economic redevelopment, with visits and studies by delegations from the Department of Defense and state governments.

Category:Installations of the United States Air National Guard Category:Airports in New Hampshire