Hamilton Field, California
| Hamilton Army Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air/Aerospace Defense Command | |
| Located near Novato, California | |
Hamilton AFB, 2006 US Geological Survey photo
|
|
 Hamilton AFB
|
|
| 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 Forces United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1928 |
| In use | 1929–1974 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Aerospace Defense Command |
Hamilton Army Airfield was a United States Air Force base (Hamilton AFB) that was inactivated and transferred to the United States Army in 1973 and redesignated as a reserve Army Airfield until its closure pursuant to BRAC action in 1988. It was located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay and at the time was then south of Novato, California; it is now part of Novato.
Hamilton Airfield 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. Also, it was named after the Coast Guard founding father, Alexander Hamilton.
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 Army Air 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.
...
Wikipedia