Peterson Air Force Base (Peterson AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in El Paso County, Colorado near Colorado Springs. Peterson AFB is home to the 21st Space Wing. An Air Force Base (AFB) is a term used to designate a military base of a number of air forces, including the United States Air Force (USAF) and the South African Air Force (SAAF). ... Seal of the Air Force. ... El Paso County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. ... This is the article on the state. ... Colorado Springs is a middle-sized city, located just east of the geographic center of the state of Colorado in the United States. ...

History

Peterson AFB was established on May 6, 1942 at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport. It was renamed on December 13, 1942 from Colorado Springs Army Air Base to Peterson Field in honor of a fallen airman that lost his life in an aircraft crash on the base. May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... In general context, airman can refer to any enlisted personnel in the U.S. Air Force or Other Ranks in the Royal Air Force (in which airwoman is also seen). ...

The base began heavy bomber combat crew training in 1943 utilizing the B-24 Liberator. . In June 1944 the mission at the base once again changed, this time to fighter pilot training employing P–40 Warhawks. 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... Royal Canadian Air Force B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft, and was used by most of the Allied air forces in World War II. Designed as a heavy bomber, it served with distinction not only in that... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Curtiss P-40 was an American fighter aircraft which first flew in 1938 and played a vital role in the crucial middle stages of World War II. Developed from the pre-war radial-engined P-36 Hawk, the P-40 became known as the Tomahawk, the Kittyhawk, and finally...

On 31 December 1945, the Army inactivated the base, turning the property over to the City of Colorado Springs. During the next six years the base was deactivated and reactivated several times, until it finally reactivated for good in 1951. On 1 March 1976, Peterson Field was renamed Peterson Air Force Base. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Strategic Air Command assumed control of the base on 1 October 1979. Then, on 1 September 1982, the Air Force Space Command was activated at Peterson. The 21st Space Wing was created from two other wings on 15 May 1992. 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 support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the bombers and, until 1957... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British Prime... The United States Air Force Space Command (USAFSPC or AFSPC) is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Peterson AFB Home Page (http://www.peterson.af.mil) - official site (source of History)
• GlobalSecurity.org: Peterson AFB (http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/facility/peterson.htm)