Hamilton Army Airfield
| Hamilton Field/AFB/AAF | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air/Aerospace Defense Command | |
| Located in Novato, California | |
Hamilton Field, 2006 US Geological Survey photo
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 Hamilton AFB
Hamilton AFB
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| Coordinates | 38°3′28″N 122°30′45″W / 38.05778°N 122.51250°WCoordinates: 38°3′28″N 122°30′45″W / 38.05778°N 122.51250°W |
| Type | Air Force Base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |
United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force United States Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1932-1935 |
| In use | 1934–1974 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Aerospace Defense Command |
Hamilton Field was a United States Air Force base (Hamilton AFB) that was inactivated in 1973, decommissioned in 1974, and put into a caretaker status with the Air Force Reserves until 1976. It was transferred to the United States Army in 1983 and redesignated an Army Airfield until its closure pursuant to BRAC action in 1988. It is located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay in the southern portion of Novato, in Marin County, California.
Hamilton Field was named for First Lieutenant Lloyd Andrews Hamilton of the 17th Aero Squadron, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism in action" at Varssonacre, Belgium, in leading a low level bombing attack on a German airdrome 30 miles (50 km) behind enemy lines on August 13, 1918. Thirteen days later Hamilton died in action near Lagnicourt, France.
What would eventually become Hamilton Air Force Base has its origins in the late 1920s, when the airfield was first established. Known at first unofficially as the Marin County Air Field, as Marin Airfield, as Marin Meadows Air Field, and as the Army Air Base at Marin Meadows, it was officially termed from 1929 until 1932 the "Air Corps Station, San Rafael." Then, with formal development beginning, it was named Hamilton Field on July 12, 1932.
Construction of the airfield began about July 1, 1932, with the airfield being originally designed to accommodate four bomb squadrons and their personnel. Captain Don Hutchins of the Army Air Corps reported on duty as the first commanding officer of the new field on June 25, 1933, and Captain John M. Davies' 70th Service Squadron arrived that December as the first squadron assigned to the base.
The Hamilton Field Station Complement replaced the 70th Service Squadron on March 1, 1935. The original construction program was completed on May 12, 1935, at which time the field was ceremonially handed over to Brigadier General Henry 'Hap' Arnold, commanding the First Wing, by Governor Frank Merriam of California.
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Wikipedia