Alexandria in Rapides Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

England Air Force Base History

Photographed By Karen Key, July 19, 2008

1. England Air Force Base History Marker

Inscription.

England Air Force Base History. . England Air Force Base, which officially closed on December 15, 1992, began as the Alexandria Army Air Base on October 16, 1942 and was formally activated on February 12, 1943, was comprised of 2,604 acres and had two runways -- one north-south 7,000 feet long, and one northwest-southeast 9,350 feet long. Its capital assets were valued at more than $600 million. , , Until 1945, the facility was used as a B-17 bomber combat crew training school. After cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, the base was used to train B-29 bomber flight crews for duty in the Pacific Theater. , , As the war with Japan came to an end, so did the training mission. Early in 1946, the base was placed on standby status, eventually being turned over to the City of Alexandria for use as a municipal airport. In 1950, when hostilities in Korea broke out, the base was reactivated as Alexandria Air Force Base. Later that year it was assigned to the Tactical Air Command. , , In June 1955, the base was officially named England Air Force Base in honor of Lt. Col. John England, who had been commander of the tenant 389th Fighter Squadron. The last flying unit was the famous 23rd "Flying Tigers" which performed "from Burma to Baghdad," a combat legacy from world war two to Operation Desert Storm. , , After reopening in 1950, England Air Force Base was home to many units. The divisions and wings assigned here, and their principal aircraft are listed below. , , Unit . Principal Aircraft . Dates , 169th Combat Training School . B17, B29 . Feb 43-Sep 46 , 137th Fighter Bomber Wing . F-84 . Nov 50-Jun 52 , 132nd Fighter Bomber Wing . F-51, T-33 . Jun 52-Jan 53 , 366th Fighter Bomber Wing . F-86, F-100 . Jan 53-Sep 57 , 101st Tactical Fighter Wing . F-84, F-66, F-100 . Feb 54-Jan 64 , 420th Air Refueling Squadron . KB-29 . Mar 54-Sep 55 , 622nd Air Refueling Squadron . KB-29, KB-50 . Jul 55-Aug 57 , 834th Air Division . . Sep 57-Apr 59 , 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing . F100 . Jan 64-Nov 65 , 334th Air Division . . Jul 64-Jan 66 , 1st Air Commando Wing (Later 1st Special Operations Wing . C/AC/EC/HC-47, O-1, U-3, U-6, A/RA-26, T/AT-28, L-28 (Later U-10), A-37, C/AC-119, C-123, C-130 . Jan 66-Jul 69 , 4410th Combat Crew Training Wing , (Later, 4410th Special Operations Training Group) . AC-47, AC-119, C-123, A-37B . Jul 69-Jul 73 , 4403rd Tactical Fighter Wing . F-100 . Sep 70 - Jul 72 , 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Flying Tigers) . A-7D, T-33, A-37B, A-10A . Jul 72 - Jun 92 , 623 Wing . . Jun 92-Dec 92 , . This memorial is in Alexandria in Rapides Parish Louisiana

England Air Force Base, which officially closed on December 15, 1992, began as the Alexandria Army Air Base on October 16, 1942 and was formally activated on February 12, 1943, was comprised of 2,604 acres and had two runways -- one north-south 7,000 feet long, and one northwest-southeast 9,350 feet long. Its capital assets were valued at more than $600 million.

Until 1945, the facility was used as a B-17 bomber combat crew training school. After cessation of hostilities in Europe in 1945, the base was used to train B-29 bomber flight crews for duty in the Pacific Theater.

As the war with Japan came to an end, so did the training mission. Early in 1946, the base was placed on standby status, eventually being turned over to the City of Alexandria for use as a municipal airport. In 1950, when hostilities in Korea broke out, the base was reactivated as Alexandria Air Force Base. Later that year it was assigned to the Tactical Air Command.

In June 1955, the base was officially named England Air Force Base in honor of Lt. Col. John England, who had been commander of the tenant 389th Fighter Squadron. The last flying

Photographed By Karen Key, July 19, 2008

2. England Air Force Base History Marker

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unit was the famous 23rd "Flying Tigers" which performed "from Burma to Baghdad," a combat legacy from WWII to Operation Desert Storm.

After reopening in 1950, England Air Force Base was home to many units. The divisions and wings assigned here, and their principal aircraft are listed below.

Unit • Principal Aircraft • Dates
169th Combat Training School • B17, B29 • Feb 43-Sep 46
137th Fighter Bomber Wing • F-84 • Nov 50-Jun 52
132nd Fighter Bomber Wing • F-51, T-33 • Jun 52-Jan 53
366th Fighter Bomber Wing • F-86, F-100 • Jan 53-Sep 57
101st Tactical Fighter Wing • F-84, F-66, F-100 • Feb 54-Jan 64
420th Air Refueling Squadron • KB-29 • Mar 54-Sep 55
622nd Air Refueling Squadron • KB-29, KB-50 • Jul 55-Aug 57
834th Air Division • • Sep 57-Apr 59
3rd Tactical Fighter Wing • F100 • Jan 64-Nov 65
334th Air Division • • Jul 64-Jan 66
1st Air Commando Wing (Later 1st Special Operations Wing • C/AC/EC/HC-47, O-1, U-3, U-6, A/RA-26, T/AT-28, L-28 (Later U-10), A-37, C/AC-119, C-123, C-130 • Jan 66-Jul 69
4410th Combat Crew Training Wing
(Later, 4410th Special Operations Training Group) • AC-47, AC-119, C-123, A-37B • Jul 69-Jul 73
4403rd Tactical Fighter Wing • F-100 • Sep 70 - Jul 72
23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Flying Tigers) • A-7D, T-33, A-37B, A-10A • Jul 72 - Jun

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92
623 Wing • • Jun 92-Dec 92

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World II.

Location. 31° 19.55′ N, 92° 31.8′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Louisiana, in Rapides Parish. Memorial is on England Drive, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria LA 71303, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. North American F-86 Sabre (within shouting distance of this marker); England AFB Heritage Park (within shouting distance of this marker); LTV Aerospace Vought A-7D Corsair II (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (about 300 feet away); Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (about 300 feet away); Republic F-105 Thunderchief (about 400 feet away); Melady House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Kent Plantation House (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Also see . . .
1. England Air Force Base - Gone but Not Forgotten. Historical photos of the base. (Submitted on August 9, 2008, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California.)

2. England Air Force Base (EAFB) and its Legacy in Alexandria, Louisiana. (Submitted on August 9, 2008, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California.)

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Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2008, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 5,979 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on November 15, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 9, 2008, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.