Olmsted Air National Guard Base - May 1979

Harrisburg Air National Guard Base is a

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

base, located at Harrisburg International Airport, Pennsylvania. It is located west-southwest of Middletown, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard facility is sited on the location of the former Olmsted Air Force Base, which was closed in 1969. The 193d Special Operations Wing operates Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando Solo II aircraft. Today the airfield is split between civilian activities, Harrisburg IAP (MDT) and military activities, which now carry the Harrisburg ANGB title. After Olmsted AFB closed in 1970 major civilian air activities moved from Capital City Airport, near

Harrisburg Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

over to the former Olmsted site.

Middletown Air Depot

The installation saw its first military use by the

United States Army Signal Corps The United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) is a branch of the United States Army responsible for creating and managing Military communications, communications and information systems for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was ...

in 1898. The first known use of the field by military aircraft was when Middletown Airfield opened in 1917 as a supply depot and maintenance center for Signal Corps aircraft. The first airplanes landed in 1918 at Middletown Air Depot, when it was under the administration of the

Signal Corps A signal corps is a military branch, responsible for military communications (''signals''). Many countries maintain a signal corps, which is typically subordinate to a country's army. Military communication usually consists of radio, telephone, ...

of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. In 1939, it was still known by this name. Middletown had an abundance of engine and airframe shops and a supply distribution system that made it a significant facility, but a poor runway that, it was felt, would be too expensive to improve. It would involve claiming marsh land and portions of the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River ( ; Unami language, Lenape: ) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, crossing three lower Northeastern United States, Northeast states (New York, Pennsylvani ...

(both of which have since been accomplished) and the Air Force leadership at that time determined that more land for supply and maintenance buildings was needed. After

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and the reconstitution of the

United States Army Air Service The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial warf ...

in 1922, the facility became a logistics and maintenance support of Air Service aircraft and equipment through its host unit, the Middletown Air Depot (later Middletown Air Materiel Area under the U.S. Army Air Corps). During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, numerous

U.S. Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

transport and reconnaissance units were organized and formed at Olmsted Army Airfield. Once equipped, they were reassigned to training bases. The Middletown Air Depot-''cum''-Middletown Air Material Area was a major support installation to the U.S. Air Force and its predecessor organizations for decades.

Renaming for Robert Olmsted

The installation was renamed in honor of 1st Lieutenant Robert Sanford Olmsted, U.S. Army Air Service, on 11 March 1948. First Lieutenant Olmsted was killed in a ballooning accident over the village of Loosbroek,

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

on 23 September 1923 while competing in the Gordon Bennett Cup. Olmsted remained in the race despite threatening weather which caused some competitors to drop out. Lightning struck the S-6 over Nistelrode, the

, killing Olmsted.Maurer Maurer, "Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919–1939", United States Air Force Historical Research Center, Office of Air Force History, Washington, D.C., 1987, , page 174. Beginning on 11 August 1948, the 147th Flight Service Squadron of the

Military Air Transport Service The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) is an inactive United States Department of Defense, Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy's Naval Air Transport Service (NA ...

(MATS) began operations of the Olmsted Flight Service Center. During the 1948–1949

Berlin Airlift The Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 – 12 May 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, roa ...

, the U.S. Supply Depot at Olmsted AFB provided emergency support supplies for the airlift operations.Provan, John, and Davies, R. E. G., "Berlin Airlift: The Effort and the Aircraft", Paladwr Press, McLean, Virginia, , page 40. In 1958, Olmsted was designated as prime support depot for the T-38 Talon advanced jet trainer then under development and the L-27, later designated the U-3 Blue Canoe, support aircraft. Olmsted AFB and the Middletown Air Depot's last assignment was with

Air Force Logistics Command An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosphere ...

(AFLC), and the base and depot were closed on 30 June 1969.

Closure of Olmsted AFB

Initially turned over to Pennsylvania Air National Guard after active-duty closure, much of the former Olmsted AFB flight line area was redeveloped into the Harrisburg International Airport under the ownership of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 1998, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania transferred ownership of the airport to the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA). In addition, in 1966, much of the former Air Force property was converted into The Pennsylvania State University—The Capital College, otherwise known as the Harrisburg Campus. This campus was originally chartered as a graduate and upper division school.

Major commands to which assigned

* Army Signal Corps, Aviation Section, 16 June 1917 * Bureau of Aircraft Production, 20 May 1918 * Army Air Service, 4 June 1920 * Air Corps Materiel Division, 15 October 1926 * Air Corps Maintenance Command, 29 April 1941 *

Air Service Command An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosphere ...

, 17 October 1941 * Army Air Forces Materiel and Services on July 14, 1944 : Redesignated: Army Air Forces Technical Service Command on August 31, 1944 : Redesignated: Air Technical Service Command on July 1, 1945 : Redesignated: Air Materiel Command on March 9, 1946 : Redesignated:

on April 1, 1961 : Inactivated on 30 June 1969

Known units assigned

Known base operating units were: * 4149th Air Base Unit * 2843d Air Base Wing * 4112th Air Force Base Unit Known major service units: * Middletown Air Service Command, later Middletown Air Materiel Area Known operational units assigned were: * Eleventh Air Force (

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...

), 13 June 1946 – 1 July 1948 * 60th Transport Group, 1 December 1940 – 21 May 1941 * 61st Transport Group, 1 December 1940 – 9 July 1941 * 315th Transport Group, 14 February 1942 – 18 June 1942 * 168th Air Transport Group, 16 February 1964 - 8 January 1966 * 168th Military Airlift Group, 8 January 1966 - 1 Jun 1967 * 168th Tactical Electronic Warfare Group, 8 January 1966 - 6 October 1980 (PA ANG unit that remained post-closure; current 193rd Special Operations Wing) * 6th Transport Squadron, 14 October 1939 – 23 March 1942 * 10th Transport Squadron, 1 December 1940 – 21 May 1941 * 12th Transport Squadron, 1 December 1940 – 20 May 1941 * 2d Transport Squadron, 28 June 1935 – 21 May 1942 * 33d Transport Squadron, 14 February 1942 – 17 June 1942 * 43d Transport Squadron, 15 June 1942 – 17 June 1942 * 34th Transport Squadron, 14 February 1942 – 18 June 1942 * 35th Transport Squadron, 14 February 1942 – 18 June 1942 * 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 5 April 1947 – 27 June 1949 * 113th Aero Squadron, 15 September 1917 – 31 March 1919 : Assigned to:

Pennsylvania National Guard The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the oldest and largest National Guards in the United States Department of Defense. It traces its roots to 1747 when Benjamin Franklin established the Associators in Philadelphia. With more than 18,000 per ...

Role and operations

The PA ANG's 193d Special Operations Wing consists of: * 193d Special Operations Squadron flies the Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II, a multirole aircraft. The squadron previously flew the EC-130J Commando Solo, a specially-modified four-engine Hercules transport. The 193d Special Operations Squadron conducted information operations, psychological operations and civil affairs broadcasts. Other components of the Wing are located at State College and at Muir Army Airfield at

Fort Indiantown Gap Fort Indiantown Gap, also referred to as "The Gap" or "FIG", is a census-designated place and National Guard Training Center primarily located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. A portion of the installation is located in eastern ...

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Harrisburg Field Air National Guard Base.

United States Air Force

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...

* Pennsylvania Air National Guard ** 193rd Special Operations Wing *** Headquarters 193rd Special Operations Wing *** 193rd Special Operations Group **** 193rd Special Operations Squadron – MC-130J Commando II **** 193rd Special Operations Support Squadron *** 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Group **** 193rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron **** 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Operations Flight **** 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron *** 193rd Special Operations Mission Support Group **** 193rd Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron **** 193rd Special Operations Communications Squadron **** 193rd Special Operations Force Support Squadron **** 193rd Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron **** 193rd Special Operations Security Forces Squadron *** 193rd Special Operations Medical Group **** Detachment 1 *** 193rd Air Operations Group **** 93rd Air Intelligence Squadron **** 193rd Air Communications Squadron **** 193rd Combat Operations Squadron

Notes

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . * {{cite book, editor=Maurer, Maurer, title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, orig-year=1969, url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf , archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf , url-status= dead , archive-date= December 20, 2016 , edition= reprint, year=1982, publisher=Office of Air Force History, location=Washington, DC, isbn=0-405-12194-6, oclc=72556, lccn=70605402 Military installations in Pennsylvania 1917 establishments in Pennsylvania History of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Buildings and structures in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Superfund sites in Pennsylvania Airports established in 1917