Andersen Air Force Base, is a base of the United States Air Force located on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, on the north end of the island approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the capital, Agana. Headquarters for the Thirteenth Air Force are located there. In May 2005, Thirteenth Air Force was moved from Andersen Air Force Base to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aviation branch of the United States armed forces. ... Hagåtña (formerly Agana) is the capital of Guam. ... Like the Fifth Air Force, the Thirteenth Air Force has never been stationed in the United States; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces. ... Hickam Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base located in the city and county of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. ... State nickname: The Aloha State Official languages Hawaiian and English Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle (R) Senators Daniel Inouye (D) Daniel Akaka (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 43rd 28,337 km² 41. ...

History

Andersen Air Force Base traces its roots back to the early days of World War II when a forest area at the northern end of Guam was turned into what was then known as North Field. By June 1945 North Field aircraft had begun bombing missions over Japan. World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1945: // Events January January 1 - the Luftwaffe begins targeting Allied airfields in Europe as Operation Bodenplatte February February 13-15 - Allied bombers attack Dresden with incendiary weapons, destroying most of the city and killing some 50,000 people. ...

The field was redesignated North Guam Air Force Base in 1947. Two years later, the base was renamed in honor of Brig. Gen. Roy Andersen. Andersen had been chief of staff at Harmon Field, Guam. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947: Events March March 14 - Saudi Arabian Airlines begins regular services. ...

During the Korean War, Guam became a focal point for aircraft and material flying west. In 1951, bomber deployments from stateside bases also flew out of Guam. First with B-29 Superfortress units, and eventually hosting Convair B-36, B-47 Stratojet and, in 1964, B-52 Stratofortress units. The Korean War, from June 25, 1950 to cease-fire on July 27, 1953 (technically speaking, the war has not yet ended), was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1951: Events February February 21 - an English Electric Canberra becomes the first jet to make an unrefuelled crossing of the Atlantic, taking 4 hours 37 minutes March March 6 - the Martin aircraft company gains production rights to the English Electric Canberra... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... A Convair B-36D in flight The Convair (Consolidated Vultee) B-36 was a strategic bomber operated solely by the United States Air Force. ... Boeing B-47E Stratojet The Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber was a medium range and size bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the Soviet Union. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1964: // Events February February 7 - The Canadian Golden Hawks aerobatic team is disbanded. ... A B-52 in flight The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force since 1952, replacing the Convair B-36 and the Boeing B-47. ...

During the Vietnam War, B-52 bombers were launched from its runway Operation Arc Light, bombing missions over Vietnam to strike Viet Cong base operations and enemy troop concentrations and supply lines. Arc Light missions continued from 1965 to 1973. The Vietnam War or Second Indochina War was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN, or North Vietnam), allied with the National Liberation Front (NLF, or Viet Cong) against the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, or South Vietnam), and its allies — notably the United States military in support of... Operation Arc Light was the 1965 deployment of B-52 heavy bombers to bases in Guam. ... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1965: Events January January 2 - Denis Healey, the UKs Secretary of Defence cancels the nations fighter and military transport programmes and orders the purchase of the US-built F-4 Phantom and C-130 Hercules in their place. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1973: Events Icelandair established. ...

In 1972 more than 15,000 people and more than 150 B-52s carried out Operation Linebacker II. in December 1972, bombers stationed at Andersen flew 729 sorties in 11 days. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1972: Events January January 5 - US President Richard Nixon announces $US 5. ... Operation Linebacker II, (sometimes referred to as the Christmas Day Bombings) in late December, 1972, were the heaviest bomber strikes of the Vietnam War, ordered by US President Nixon against North Vietnamese Army forces in North Vietnam and Laos. ...

Andersen forces also played a key role in Operation New Life, the evacuation of thousands after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam and, as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn), was the capital of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1976. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

In 1989, Andersen transitioned from Strategic Air Command to Pacific Air Forces. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1989: // Events January January 4 - US Navy F-14 Tomcats shoot down two Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23s January 8 - a British Midland Boeing 737-400 crashes on the M1 motorway near Kegworth, killing 32 people. ... Information regarding the film Strategic Air Command may be found under a separate article The Strategic Air Command or SAC was the branch of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ...

Andersen played a vital role in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1989. Mount Pinatubo is an active volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, at the intersection of the borders of the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1991: Events January January 16 - American and Continental. ...

Today, Andersen is an important forward-based logistics-support center for exercise and contingency forces deploying throughout the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean area. It is home to the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing and since 2004 a rotational Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. ...

Units

• 634th Air Mobility Support Sqaudron
• 33rd Rescue Squadron
• 40th Exp Maintenance Sq

External links

Andersen Air Force Base

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