View source for Duke Field

{{Short description|Military airport in Florida, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Duke Field
| ensign = 
| ensign_size =
| native_name = Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3
| partof = [[Eglin Air Force Base]]
| location = 
| nearest_town = [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]], [[Florida]]
| country = [[United States of America]]
| image = File:Dornier C-146A.jpg
| alt = A Dornier C-146A Wolfhound of the 919th Special Operations Wing based at Duke Field.
| caption = A [[Dornier 328|Dornier C-146A Wolfhound]] of the [[919th Special Operations Wing]] based at Duke Field.
| image2 = [[File:AFR_Shield.svg|100px]]
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = US Air Force base
| coordinates = {{Coord|30|39|01|N|086|31|22|W|type:airport_region:US-FL|display=inline,title}} 
| gridref = 
| image_map = 
| image_mapsize = 
| image_map_alt = 
| image_map_caption = Shown in United States
| pushpin_map = Florida # USA # North America # Gulf of Mexico
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Duke Field
| pushpin_relief = y
| pushpin_image = 
| pushpin_label = 
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mark = Roundel of the USAF.svg
| pushpin_marksize = 20
| ownership = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator = [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[Air Force Reserve Command]] (AFRC)
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built = {{Start date|1941}} – 1942
| used = 1942 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = Operational
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = [[919th Special Operations Wing]]
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
| website = [https://www.919sow.afrc.af.mil 919sow.afrc.af.mil]
| footnotes = '''Source:''' [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/1907/00699ad.pdf#nameddest=(EGI)|title=Airport Diagram – Duke Fld (Eglin AF Aux Nr3) (KEGI)|date=20 June 2019|website=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref>
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = EGI
| ICAO = KEGI
| FAA = EGI
| TC = 
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 722246
| elevation = {{Convert|59.4|m|0}}
| r1-number = 18/36
| r1-length = {{Convert|2446|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 180/360<br /><small>(Assault strip)</small>
| r2-length = {{Convert|1066.8|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = 2x [[VTOL]] pads and 1x Landing Helicopter Deck
<!--  end airfield information   -->
}}
'''Duke Field''' {{airport codes|EGI|KEGI|EGI}}, also known as '''Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #3''', is a military airport located three miles (5&nbsp;km) south of the [[central business district]] of [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]], in [[Okaloosa County, Florida]], United States.

== History ==
Duke Field was one of the first auxiliary fields built on the Eglin Field / Eglin AFB complex. Clearing and grading began 23 January 1941,<ref>Angell, Joseph W., "History of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command - Part One - Historical Outline 1933-1944", The Historical Branch, Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida, reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, circa 1990, page 29.</ref> with the first building foundations laid on 15 February 1942.<ref>Angell, Joseph W., "History of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command - Part One - Historical Outline 1933-1944", The Historical Branch, Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida, reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, circa 1990, page 53.</ref>  Field 3 was used as a training base by the [[Doolittle Raid]]ers in 1942. Shortly after the end of World War II, the field was one of several sites used in the production of the 1949 feature film ''[[Twelve O'Clock High]]''.

===Cold War===
In the 1950s, Duke Field became home to the [[3205th Drone Group]], which operated radio remote-controlled [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]]s and [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star|F-80]]s that were used for gunnery and missile practice over the Gulf of Mexico. They were also used in the nuclear test program by flying the unmanned aircraft through atomic detonation clouds to gather fallout information.

A large hump-backed steel hangar, the "Butler Hangar", {{convert|160|ft|m}} X 130 feet, transported from [[Trinidad]] (probably from the former [[Waller Air Force Base]], closed 28 May 1949 due to budget cuts), was erected at Auxiliary Field 3 between 1 April and ~10 July 1950, by personnel of Company 'C', 806th Aviation Engineering Battalion, under Captain Samuel M. Cable, and the men of the [[550th Guided Missiles Wing]]. Project Officer was Captain Clarence A. Ebbert of the Proving Ground Command Installations Division. An additional four feet of roof clearance was added to accommodate B-17s in the {{convert|21000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} structure. Concrete block buildings, {{convert|160|ft|m}} X 40 feet, were erected on the flanks of the hangar. Concurrently, the {{convert|8000|ft|m|adj=on}} runway was widened to {{convert|100|ft|m}} and additional parking ramps were constructed, with 117,327 cubic yards of dirt excavated. The new ramps and runway expansion consisted of asphalt over a crushed shell base.<ref>Fort Walton, Florida, "Hangar Being Built at Eglin - Metal Monster From Trinidad", ''Playground News'', Thursday 6 July 1950, Volume 5, Number 23, page 2.</ref>

In 1960 and 1961, in preparation for the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]], Duke Field was host to 'sanitized' [[Douglas C-54]]s and [[Curtiss C-46]]s used for transporting personnel, armaments and supplies between US bases such as [[Homestead AFB]] and [[Opa-locka Airport]] and CIA-run bases in Guatemala and latterly Nicaragua. A unit at the field was responsible for 'sanitizing' and adapting about 20 [[Douglas A-26|Douglas B-26]] Invaders for use by [[Cuban exile]] aircrews during the invasion. A few [[Lockheed T-33|T-33]]s and [[Lockheed C-130|C-130]]s were also prepared for use in the conflict, but not used.<ref>Leeker, Dr Joe http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/history/BayOfPigs.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309132655/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/speccoll/Leeker/history/BayOfPigs.pdf |date=2012-03-09 }}</ref>

The Development Projects Division (DPD), the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s air arm, operated as the [[1045th Operational Evaluation and Training Group]], Headquarters Command, Eglin AFB, as the Air Force designated it, but which was a DPD operation out of Duke Field from late 1960 to June/July 1961.<ref>Trest, Warren A., "Air Commando One: Heinie Aderholt And America's Secret Air Wars", Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., London, 2000, Library of Congress card number 99-053643, {{ISBN|978-1-56098-807-6}}, page 83.</ref> "There was a total of about 20 Polish airmen at Eglin at the time, all of them 'employed' by Lockheed, so there should be enough of them to form at least two crews."<ref>Leeker, Dr. Joe F., "Air America at the Bay of Pigs", Special Collections, University of Texas - Dallas, updated 4 March 2013, Footnote 84, page 12, E-mail dated 9 December 2009 kindly sent to the author by Franek Grabowski.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/Leeker/history/BayOfPigs.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908040647/http://www.utdallas.edu/library/specialcollections/hac/cataam/Leeker/history/BayOfPigs.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The DPD operated independently of "the organizational structure of the project, in which it had a vital, central role, including air drops to the underground, training Cuban pilots, operation of air bases, the immense logistical problems of transporting the Cuban volunteers from Florida to Guatemala, and the procuring and servicing of the military planes."<ref>
"Inspector General‟s Survey of the Cuban Operation", dated October 1961, that is document no. 129914 
published on the CIA‟s website at {{cite web
 |url=http://www.foia.cia.gov/search_options.asp 
 |title=䍉䄠䙏䥁⁓敡牣栠佰瑩潮 
 |access-date=2009-10-26 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108075423/http://www.foia.cia.gov/search_options.asp 
 |archive-date=2009-11-08 
}}, no. 7, pp. 38/9, that is pp. 46/7 
on the website</ref>

===Special Operations use===
Between August and October 1970, during the [[Vietnam War]], the Joint Contingency Task Group used [[AFROTC]] facilities at Duke Field to house [[Special Forces (United States Army)|US Army Special Forces]] troops involved in [[Operation Ivory Coast]], a mission to rescue [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] at [[Sơn Tây]], [[North Vietnam]]. Aircraft based at [[Eglin AFB]] and [[Hurlburt Field]] involved in the training also used Duke Field daily as an operational airstrip to maintain a low profile.

On 30 July 1971, the [[919th Tactical Airlift Group]] (919 TAG) was activated in the [[Air Force Reserve]] (AFRES) and established at Duke Field with [[C-130A Hercules]] aircraft, with the unit operationally gained by the [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC).  With this action, the 919 TAG effectively became the "host group" organization (similar to "host wing" at larger USAF installations) for Duke Field.

On 1 July 1975 the 919 TAG converted to a special operations mission and became the [[919th Special Operations Group]] (919 SOG), the only Air Force Reserve [[AC-130 Spectre]] gunship unit.  AC-130A were transferred from the Regular Air Force as the Regular Air Force transitioned to the AC-130H and nearly $6.7 million in new construction was programmed at Duke Field through Fiscal Year 1976.<ref>Fort Walton Beach, Florida, "Gunship Conversion at Duke Means More Jobs, Money", ''Playground Daily News'', Thursday 3 July 1975, Volume 30, Number 126, page 7B.</ref>  Although USAF C-130 airlift units were transferred to the [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) in 1975, AC-130 units remained under TAC.

In 1980, Duke Field was also one of the fields used in training for [[Operation Credible Sport]], an initiative to prepare for a second rescue attempt of American [[Iran hostage crisis|hostages held in Iran]] using C-130 aircraft modified with multiple rocket engines for extremely short landings and takeoffs. Most of the testing for this was done at [[Wagner Field]] (Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #1) and it was there during a 29 October 1980 demonstration of one of the highly modified [[YMC-130H]] Credible Sport aircraft that a malfunction and hard landing resulted in the destruction of this particular aircraft.  All crew aboard the aircraft survived.
[[File:919th Special Operations Wing - Lockheed MC-130E-LM Hercules 64-0559.jpg|alt=A MC-130E Combat Talon I, takes off for the final time from Duke Field, moments after it was officially retired from the 919th Special Operations Wing on 18 September 2012.|left|thumb|A [[Lockheed MC-130|MC-130E Combat Talon I]], takes off for the final time from Duke Field, moments after it was officially retired from the [[919th Special Operations Wing]] on 18 September 2012.]]

In 1983, operational claimancy for the 919 SOG shifted from TAC to MAC and the latter's newly established [[23d Air Force]] (23 AF), said action paralleling the transfer of all Regular Air Force AC-130 and MC-130 units and assets from TAC to MAC.  In 1990, 23 AF was re-designated as [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] (AFSOC), a separate Air Force major command (MAJCOM), and operational claimancy for the 919 SOG shifted to AFSOC.

In 1992, the 919 SOG was re-designated as the [[919th Special Operations Wing]] (919 SOW), the designation it currently retains today.  In 1995, the 919 SOW's AC-130A aircraft were retired and the 919 SOW converted to the [[MC-130E]] Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and made available for worldwide deployment.  Also in 1995, while the wing's [[711th Special Operations Squadron]] (711 SOS) transitioned to the MC-130E, the [[5th Special Operations Squadron]] (5 SOS) was activated within the 919 SOW at Duke Field to fly the MC-130N/P, Combat Shadow special operations aerial refueling aircraft.

On 17 February 1997, the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) ceased to be a Field Operating Agency of the Air Force and became an Air Force MAJCOM as the [[Air Force Reserve Command]] (AFRC), making the 919 SOW a subordinate command of AFRC.  However, the 919 SOW's operational relationship with AFSOC would remain unchanged.

In 2000, about 170 active duty USAF aircraft maintenance personnel from the 716th Maintenance Squadron (716 MXS) took up residence at Duke Field as an Active Associate unit to the 919 SOW.  At the time, this symbiotic relationship was unique because it was the only active associate maintenance squadron in the Air Force. The 716 MXS worked in tandem with Air Force Reserve members to provide maintenance support to MC-130E aircraft. The 716 MXS maintainers were under the mission control of the 919th Maintenance Group (919 MXG) infrastructure and 919 MXG work center supervisors scheduled the maintainers, prioritized the work, furnished tools and special equipment, and provided first line supervision. However, the 716 MXS maintainers remained under the administrative control of the active duty 16th Maintenance Group (16 MXG) at [[Hurlburt Field]] through the 716 MXS commander. The commander was responsible for military discipline matters, administrative reports (including performance reports), personnel accountability, manpower, training, individual equipment and temporary duty/travel funding.<ref>716 Maintenance Squadron, http://www.usafunithistory.com/PDF/0700/716%20MAINTENANCE%20SQ.pdf</ref>

===2008 Doolittle reunion===
Six original [[Doolittle Raid|Raiders]] were present at Duke Field, on Saturday 31 May 2008 for the culmination of their annual reunion. Three civilian [[North American B-25 Mitchell|B-25]]s in warbird markings re-enacted the training take-off sessions, with personnel from [[NAS Pensacola]] as flight deck crew representing that service's contribution to the Tokyo raid.

The 919 SOW retired its fleet of [[PZL M28|C-145A Combat Coyote]] in December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Colton |date=30 December 2022 |title=US Air Force says goodbye to C-145A Combat Coyote aircraft |url=https://defence-blog.com/us-air-force-says-goodbye-to-c-145a-combat-coyote-aircraft/ |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=Defence Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Role and operations==
Although technically part of the larger nearby [[Eglin Air Force Base]] complex, today Duke Field is essentially a small air force base in its own right.  Primarily an AFRC installation, Duke Field is hosted by the [[919th Special Operations Wing]] (919 SOW), which operated the [[MC-130E Combat Talon I]] aircraft until April 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109338/air-force-combat-talons-fly-for-last-time/#:~:text=(AFNS)%20%2D%2D%20The%20Air%20Force%27s,Force%20Base%2C%20Ariz.%2C.|title = Air Force Combat Talons fly for last time| date=18 April 2013 }}</ref>  The 919 SOW previously operated the [[AC-130A Spectre]] gunship aircraft as flown by the 711 SOS prior to transitioning to the MC-130E in 1995.

The 919 SOW currently operates the [[MQ-9 Reaper]], [[Pilatus PC-12|U-28A Draco]] and [[Dornier 328|C-146A Wolfhound]] aircraft.  As an AFRC unit, the 919 SOW is operationally gained by AFSOC, headquartered at nearby [[Hurlburt Field]].   The wing contains 13 squadrons, 2 of which are stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

== Based units ==
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Duke Field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.919sow.afrc.af.mil/Units/|title=Units|website=919th Special Operations Wing|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2018|title=Aircraft and Squadrons of the US Air Force|journal=United States Air Force Air Power Review 2018|publisher=Key Publishing|pages=85}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1647875/air-force-home-of-c-130-testing-becomes-detachment/|title=Air Force "home" of C-130 testing becomes detachment|last=Porterfield|first=Jasmine|date=1 October 2018|website=Eglin Air Force Base|publisher=US Air Force|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2033690/afgsc-establishes-new-detachment-for-mh-139-testing/|title=AFGSC establishes new detachment for MH-139 testing|last=Frost|first=Linda|date=6 December 2019|website=Air Force Global Strike Command Air Forces Strategic-Air|publisher=US Air Force|language=en-US|access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Duke, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

=== United States Air Force ===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
'''[[Air Force Reserve Command]]''' '''(AFRC)'''
* [[Tenth Air Force]] 
** [[919th Special Operations Wing]] (Host)
*** 919th Special Operations Group
**** 311th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron
**** [[711th Special Operations Squadron]]
**** 859th Special Operations Squadron – Non-Standard Aviation (NSAV) mission 
**** 919th Special Operations Support Squadron 
*** 919th Special Operations Maintenance Group 
**** 919th Special Operations Maintenance Squadron
**** 919th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**** 919th Maintenance Operations Flight 
*** 919th Special Operations Medical Squadron
*** 919th Special Operations Mission Support Group
**** 919th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron
**** 919th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron
**** 919th Special Operations Communications Squadron
**** 919th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron
**** 919th Special Operations Force Support Squadron
{{Col-break}}
'''[[Air Force Special Operations Command]] (AFSOC)'''

* [[492d Special Operations Wing]]
** [[6th Special Operations Squadron]] (GSU)
** [[524th Special Operations Squadron]] (GSU) – [[Dornier 328|C-146A Wolfhound]]

'''[[Air Force Materiel Command]] (AFMC)'''

* [[Air Force Test Center]] 
** [[96th Test Wing]]
*** 96th Operations Group
**** 413th Flight Test Squadron (GSU) – [[CV-22 Osprey]], [[Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk|HH-60W Pave Hawk]], [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1N Iroquois]] 
**** Detachment 1 (GSU) – [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130J Ghostrider]], [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130 Hercules]], [[Lockheed HC-130J Combat King II|HC-130J Combat King II]], [[Lockheed MC-130|MC-130J Commando II]]

'''[[Air Force Global Strike Command]] (AFGSC)'''
* Detachment 7 – [[AgustaWestland AW139|MH-139A Grey Wolf]]
{{Col-end}}

== Infrastructure and facilities ==
[[File:Release authority 160226-F-oc707-301.jpg|alt=A parachuted bundle soars out of the back of a C-145 Skytruck during an air-drop mission over the Eglin Air Force Base range.|thumb|A parachuted bundle soars out of the back of a [[PZL M28 Skytruck|C-145 Skytruck]] during an air-drop mission over the [[Eglin Air Force Base|Eglin Air Force Base range]].]]
The installation is named for 1st Lt Robert L. Duke, who died in the crash of a [[Curtiss A-25A-20-CS Shrike]], AAF Ser. No. ''42-79823'', near [[Spencer, Tennessee]]  on 29 December 1943. He was assigned as Assistant A-3<ref>Angell, Joseph W., "History of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command - Part One - Historical Outline 1933-1944", The Historical Branch, Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida, reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, circa 1990, page 111.</ref> to the Proving Ground of the [[AAF Proving Ground Command]] at [[Eglin Field]], Florida, now [[Eglin Air Force Base]].

The Duke Field installation is about {{convert|12|mi|km}} north of the Eglin AFB East Gate on [[Florida State Road 85|State Road 85]].

Duke Field has two [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] paved [[runway]]s: Runway 18/36, measuring 8,025 x 150&nbsp;ft (2,446 x 46 m) and Assault Runway 180/360, measuring 3,500 x 60&nbsp;ft (1,067 x 18 m).

Although technically an auxiliary field to [[Eglin AFB]], Duke Field is essentially a self-contained installation.  The airfield has its own air traffic control tower, security forces building, Air Force Fire Protection facilities (Fire Station #8), [[instrument landing system]] (ILS), [[TACAN]] and support infrastructure such as a large flight line/ramp area, hangars, shoppette, self service gas station, hotel service, fitness track, recreational areas, maintenance facilities and other operational and administrative support buildings.

==See also==

* [[Florida World War II Army Airfields]]

==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/duke.htm Duke Field] at GlobalSecurity.org
* {{FAA-diagram|00699}}
* {{FAA-procedures|EGI}}
* {{US-airport-minor|EGI|EGI}}

{{USAF Air Force Reserve Command}}
{{Florida airports}}

[[Category:Fields of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Florida]]
[[Category:Airports in Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Florida]]