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| Selfridge Air Force Base | |
|---|---|
| Name | Selfridge Air Force Base |
| Type | Air Force Base |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Harrison Township, Macomb County, Michigan |
| Owner | United States Department of the Air Force |
| Controlledby | Michigan Air National Guard |
| Used | 1917–present |
| Garrison | 127th Wing |
Selfridge Air Force Base is a long‑established military airfield and installation located near Detroit, in Harrison Township, Michigan, Macomb County, Michigan. Originally activated during World War I and expanded through World War II, the installation has hosted active duty, reserve, and National Guard organizations including aviation, air defense, and support units. The facility has been central to regional air operations, aviation testing, and joint training with federal and state entities.
Established in 1917 as a training field during World War I, the installation was named for Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge after his death in 1908 during an aviation accident involving Orville Wright. During the interwar years it served as a center for Army Air Service activities and later hosted Air Corps Tactical School‑era units. In World War II, the field expanded with training programs tied to the United States Army Air Forces and supported antisubmarine warfare and continental defense operations. After 1947 the site transitioned to United States Air Force control, aligning with Cold War air defense missions including assignments under Air Defense Command and continental interceptor wings. The post‑Cold War period saw growth in reserve and National Guard presence, notably the Michigan Air National Guard and associated wings, while the base adapted to changing force structure from operations in Operation Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The installation hosts a mix of aviation and support facilities including active flightlines, hangars, maintenance shops, and flight control towers used by wing and tenant organizations. The primary host wing is the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, which operates companion units such as the 107th Fighter Squadron and support groups; other tenants have included the Aero Rescue units, the U.S. Army Reserve, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and elements of the Civil Air Patrol. Federal agencies and commands with a presence have included the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, and historically units aligned to Tactical Air Command and Air Mobility Command. Airfield infrastructure supports operations by legacy and modern platforms historically including F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and tanker and transport aircraft from Boeing and Lockheed Martin families.
The base functions as a joint use airfield enabling training, air defense alert, search and rescue training, and logistics support. Its role in homeland defense has linked it to regional air sovereignty missions under North American Aerospace Defense Command and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace integration. The installation provides mobilization and deployment support for operations worldwide, processing personnel and equipment for contingency operations such as Operation Desert Shield and humanitarian missions coordinated with United States Northern Command. Cooperative exercises have occurred with NATO partners and state agencies including the Michigan State Police and local emergency management organizations.
Long operational history has resulted in legacy environmental concerns, including fuel and solvent contamination in subsurface soils and groundwater tied to historic Department of Defense fueling and maintenance activities. Remediation efforts have involved the Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and Air Force environmental restoration programs addressing polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum hydrocarbons. Safety programs at the base coordinate occupational safety standards from Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines and Air Force safety directives while interfacing with state public health agencies to monitor potential impacts on nearby communities such as Mount Clemens and Clinton Township, Michigan.
The field's long history includes high‑profile aviation milestones and incidents. Early flight testing and demonstration events involved pioneers associated with Wright brothers heritage and later airshows attracted performers from organizations such as the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels. The site experienced aircraft accidents tied to both training and operational sorties, prompting investigations by Air Force Safety Center and coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board when civil aviation was involved. Notable deployments processed through the installation include units mobilized for Vietnam War era rotations and later Global War on Terror operations.
Infrastructure on site comprises runways meeting Federal Aviation Administration specifications, aircraft aprons, aviation maintenance complexes, and munitions storage areas compliant with Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board criteria. Family housing, dormitories, and transient lodging have been provided to support service members and dependents, with housing development and privatization efforts interacting with programs such as the Residential Communities Initiative and regional real estate stakeholders. Transportation links connect the installation to Interstate 94 and regional ports and rail lines, facilitating logistics with nearby industrial centers including Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Windsor, Ontario across the international border.
Future planning addresses facility modernization, runway and airfield upgrades, and continued environmental remediation under Air Force and state remediation strategies. Force structure planning considers evolving missions including unmanned aircraft systems and joint training with allied forces under frameworks such as U.S. Northern Command and National Guard Bureau initiatives. Infrastructure investments may leverage federal funding mechanisms and partnerships with local governments including Macomb County for economic development and community integration.
Category:Installations of the United States Air Force Category:Military installations in Michigan