History of McConnell Air Force Base
History of McConnell Air Force Base
The McConnell Air Force Base, though not known by such name at the time, was established in October 1924. The McConnell Air Force Base saw the assignment of its first military unit in August 1941; the unit’s equipment was limited to a BC-1A, a C-47, and a 4L-1 aircraft. At the time of its establishment, the McConnell Air Force Base was located 6 miles from the city of Wichita and occupied a total of 1337 acres.
In 1921 the McConnell Air Force had 5 runways of which all 5 were 150 feet in width, 2 were 7,500 feet, 1 was 7,100 feet, 1 was 6,00 feet, and one was 4,500 feet in length. All 5 runways were capable of sustaining a wheel load of 60,000 pounds. In addition to the runways a parking apron which had a dimension of 8,373 by 931 feet along with seven taxi strips, were also present at the Base.
The lease of the bases then came to an end between the federal government and the city of Wichita in March 1942. Shortly after the AAF Center, Midwestern Procurement District (Materiel Command) was established at the Wichita Army Airfield. The headquarters of the Midwestern Procurement District was then established in the administration building of the McConnell Air Force Base which was then called the municipal airport.
The year of 1942 saw the Midwestern Procurement District occupying a large proportion of the building, except for a few offices which were occupied by the CAA and airline companies. The Air Materiel Command’s mission at the airport was: “to accept, service, and coordinate the transfer of newly produced Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers to other installation.” The Wichita Airport was eventually returned to civilian jurisdiction and remained in the ownership of the civilian jurisdiction until 1951.
In the 1950s the Boeing B-47 Stratojet was conceptualized then brought to inception as the first swept-winged jet bomber built in quality for any air force. The Boeing plant at Wichita operations came to an end shortly after War II. The Boeing was reopened shortly after its closure in the year of 1948 as a direct result of a production order being placed for the B-47 on September 3, 1948.
Boeing’s first production of the B-47 was ready in the summer of 1950; this encouraged the United States, Air Force, to seek to make Wichita Airport a permanent military installation. The US Air Force took the title of the Wichita Municipal Airport on May 31, 1951, and in June of that same year, the Air Training Command 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing was activated at the facility.
However, in the first year of the 1950s, the Air Force was not the sole occupants of the Municipal Airport. The Air Force, Combat Crew Training Wing shared the Municipal Airport Terminal Building with four commercial airlines, namely Braniff, Cental, TWA, Continental and a private service. By 1952 the Air Force decided that making the Municipal Airport their permanent base was the ideal move, so the government took the property by federal court action during the first half of 1952; efficiently becoming the owner and ended all leases. More information about the history of aircraft in Wichita
The McConnell Air Force Base, though not known by such name at the time, was established in October 1924. The McConnell Air Force Base saw the assignment of its first military unit in August 1941; the unit’s equipment was limited to a BC-1A, a C-47, and a 4L-1 aircraft. At the time of its establishment, the McConnell Air Force Base was located 6 miles from the city of Wichita and occupied a total of 1337 acres.
In 1921 the McConnell Air Force had 5 runways of which all 5 were 150 feet in width, 2 were 7,500 feet, 1 was 7,100 feet, 1 was 6,00 feet, and one was 4,500 feet in length. All 5 runways were capable of sustaining a wheel load of 60,000 pounds. In addition to the runways a parking apron which had a dimension of 8,373 by 931 feet along with seven taxi strips, were also present at the Base.
The lease of the bases then came to an end between the federal government and the city of Wichita in March 1942. Shortly after the AAF Center, Midwestern Procurement District (Materiel Command) was established at the Wichita Army Airfield. The headquarters of the Midwestern Procurement District was then established in the administration building of the McConnell Air Force Base which was then called the municipal airport.
The year of 1942 saw the Midwestern Procurement District occupying a large proportion of the building, except for a few offices which were occupied by the CAA and airline companies. The Air Materiel Command’s mission at the airport was: “to accept, service, and coordinate the transfer of newly produced Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers to other installation.” The Wichita Airport was eventually returned to civilian jurisdiction and remained in the ownership of the civilian jurisdiction until 1951.
In the 1950s the Boeing B-47 Stratojet was conceptualized then brought to inception as the first swept-winged jet bomber built in quality for any air force. The Boeing plant at Wichita operations came to an end shortly after War II. The Boeing was reopened shortly after its closure in the year of 1948 as a direct result of a production order being placed for the B-47 on September 3, 1948.
Boeing’s first production of the B-47 was ready in the summer of 1950; this encouraged the United States, Air Force, to seek to make Wichita Airport a permanent military installation. The US Air Force took the title of the Wichita Municipal Airport on May 31, 1951, and in June of that same year, the Air Training Command 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing was activated at the facility.
However, in the first year of the 1950s, the Air Force was not the sole occupants of the Municipal Airport. The Air Force, Combat Crew Training Wing shared the Municipal Airport Terminal Building with four commercial airlines, namely Braniff, Cental, TWA, Continental and a private service. By 1952 the Air Force decided that making the Municipal Airport their permanent base was the ideal move, so the government took the property by federal court action during the first half of 1952; efficiently becoming the owner and ended all leases. More information about the history of aircraft in Wichita