Smoky Hill AAF

Schilling Air Force Base
Salina, Kansas in United States
2006 USGS Orthophoto
Shield of the Strategic Air Command
Schilling Air Force Base Location in Kansas
Coordinates	38°47′40″N 97°38′45″W / 38.79444°N 97.64583°W / 38.79444; -97.64583Coordinates: 38°47′40″N 97°38′45″W / 38.79444°N 97.64583°W / 38.79444; -97.64583
Type	Air Force Base
Site information
Owner	United States Air Force
Controlled by	Strategic Air Command
Site history
Built	1942
In use	1942-1965

Schilling Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Base located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Salina, Kansas, United States. It was also known as Smoky Hill Air Force Base. During World War II, "Smoky Hill Army Air Field" (AAF) was in the first group United States Army Air Forces bases for training on the B-29 Superfortress aircraft in the summer of 1943. Along with Walker Army Airfield near Victoria, Pratt Army Airfield and Great Bend Army Airfield the initial cadre of the 58th Bombardment Wing was formed. The 58th Bomb Wing was the first B-29 combat wing of World War II and engaged in the first long-range strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands beginning in March 1944 from bases in India.

In 1946, the base was one of the first airfields transferred to the Strategic Air Command, and in 1947 of the newly established United States Air Force. During the Cold War era, it hosted two B-47 Stratojet Bombardment Wings, and the headquarters of an Air Division and an ICBM squadron. It closed in 1965, and reopened as Salina Municipal Airport. In the mid 90's it became known that underground plumes of pollution, primarily the degreaser trichloroethylene, are in the soil and groundwater moving toward city water wells.