Selfridge Field

Selfridge Field
Tech. Sgt. Robert Hanet · Public domain · source
Name	Selfridge Field
Type	Air National Guard base
Operator	United States Air Force Air National Guard Michigan Air National Guard
Location	Harrison Township, Michigan / near Mount Clemens, Michigan
Used	1917–present
Controlledby	Air National Guard / Michigan National Guard
Occupants	127th Wing (United States); formerly MiG Alley training?

Selfridge Field is a long-standing aviation installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan near Mount Clemens, Michigan on the shore of Lake St. Clair. Established during World War I, the installation has hosted units and missions spanning World War II, the Cold War, and contemporary operations, serving as a hub for United States Air Force and Air National Guard activities. The site has been associated with aviation pioneers, air combat training, and joint-service collaborations involving the United States Army, United States Navy, and state National Guard components.

History

Originally established in 1917 as an aviation training field during World War I, the installation was part of the rapid expansion of United States Army Air Service facilities supporting pilot training and aircraft testing. Between the wars, the field hosted demonstration flights and supported early civil aviation efforts tied to figures from Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and the nascent Air Mail Service (United States). During World War II, the facility expanded with multiple runways and technical areas to support fighter, bomber, and anti-submarine operations coordinated with Strategic Air Command and Air Training Command. In the postwar era, the site transitioned to Air National Guard control while continuing federal activation during crises such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Throughout the Cold War, the base hosted interceptor and air defense units aligned with North American Aerospace Defense Command missions and integrated with continental air defense networks. In recent decades, the installation has supported homeland security, aeromedical evacuation, and joint exercises with the Michigan Army National Guard and United States Coast Guard elements.

Facilities and Operations

The airfield complex comprises multiple runways, ramp space, maintenance hangars, and aviation support facilities compatible with fighter, airlift, and remotely piloted aircraft operations. On-base infrastructure has included runway lighting systems, air traffic control towers integrated with Federal Aviation Administration procedures, and aerospace ground equipment maintenance shops. Support functions have encompassed logistics, fuel storage, munitions handling cleared under Department of Defense safety standards, and medical and emergency response units trained in coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency frameworks. The installation has hosted joint training ranges and integrated air defense exercises involving aircraft types from the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and allied participants during coalition readiness events.

Units and Assignments

The installation has been home to the 127th Wing (United States) of the Michigan Air National Guard, which has operated missions including fighter, air refueling, and airlift detachments assigned under Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command taskings. Over time, it supported active-duty assignments from numbered air forces and temporary deployments by units from Tactical Air Command, Air Defense Command, and Air Training Command. The site has also accommodated tenant organizations such as the Michigan Army National Guard, United States Coast Guard Air Station Detroit detachments, and reserve components from the United States Navy Reserve and United States Marine Corps Reserve. Visiting and transient units from expeditionary wings and international partners have used the field for exercises tied to Northern Command and cooperative air sovereignty patrols.

Accidents and Incidents

Throughout its operational history, the installation has experienced aviation accidents and ground incidents typical of large airfields, including aircraft mishaps during training sorties, maintenance-related mishaps, and weather-related runway excursions associated with Lake St. Clair microclimates. Investigations have involved Air Force Safety Center protocols and interagency reviews, with outcomes informing changes to flight safety procedures and runway management coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration. High-profile incidents prompted reviews by congressional committees and influenced base-level risk mitigation measures, emergency response drills with Macomb County, Michigan civil authorities, and improvements to pilot retraining and airfield rescue and firefighting capabilities.

Environmental and Community Impact

The installation’s proximity to Lake St. Clair and surrounding residential communities has driven ongoing environmental monitoring and remediation efforts addressing soil, groundwater, and stormwater contaminants historically associated with aviation fuel and solvents. Coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental agencies has guided cleanup programs, community right-to-know initiatives, and periodic public hearings involving elected officials from Macomb County, Michigan and state legislators. The base has been an economic contributor through civilian employment, contracting, and community partnerships with local educational institutions and veterans’ organizations, while also participating in noise abatement programs and land-use planning with township authorities to balance operational needs and quality of life for nearby residents.

Category:Airfields in Michigan