View source for McChord Field

{{Short description|Military airfield of McChord Air Force Base, Washington, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
 | name                 = McChord Air Force Base
 | ensign               = 
 | ensign_size          = 
 | native_name          = 
 | partof               = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
 | location             = 
 | nearest_town         = [[Lakewood, Washington|Lakewood]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
 | country              = the United States of America
 | image                = File:McChord AFB.jpg
 | alt                  = Aerial view of McChord AFB during 2003.
 | caption              = Aerial view of McChord AFB during 2003.
 | image2               = 
 | alt2                 = 
 | caption2             = 
 | type                 = US Air Force Base
 | coordinates          = {{Coord|47|08|51|N|122|28|46|W|name=McChord AFB}}
 | gridref              = 
 | image_map            = 
 | image_mapsize        = 
 | image_map_alt        = 
 | image_map_caption    = 
 | pushpin_map          = USA Washington # USA # North America 
 | pushpin_mapsize      = 
 | pushpin_map_alt      = 
 | pushpin_map_caption  = 
 | pushpin_relief       = y
 | pushpin_image        = 
 | pushpin_label        = McChord AFB
 | 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]]
 | controlledby         = 
 | 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 and age|1927}} (as Tacoma Field)
 | used                 = 1927 – {{End date|2010}}
 | builder              = 
 | materials            = 
 | height               = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
 | length               = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
 | fate                 = Merged in 2010 to become an element of [[Joint Base Lewis–McChord]]
 | condition            = 
 | battles              = 
| events = 
 | current_commander    = 
 | past_commanders      = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
 | garrison             = 
 | occupants            = <!-- squadrons only -->
 | designations         = 
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20100126063809/https://www.mcchord.af.mil/|www.mcchord.af.mil}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
 | FAA                  = TCM
 | TC                   = 
 | LID                  = 
 | GPS                  = 
 | WMO                  = 
 | elevation            = {{convert|98.1|m|0}}
 | r1-number            = 16/34
 | r1-length            = {{convert|3080.9|m|0}}
 | r1-surface           = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
 | r2-number            = Assault Strip
 | r2-length            = {{convert|914.4|m|0}}
 | r2-surface           = Asphalt
 | h1-number            = 
 | h1-length            = <!-- {{convert||m|0}} -->
 | h1-surface           = 
 | airfield_other_label = 
 | airfield_other       = 
<!--  end airfield information   -->
 | footnotes            = '''Source:''' [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/1913/00414ad.pdf#nameddest=(TCM)|title=Airport Diagram – McChord AFB / Field (KTCM)|date=5 December 2019|website=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

'''McChord Field''' (formerly and still commonly known as '''McChord Air Force Base''') is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in the [[northwest United States]], in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. South of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], McChord AFB is the home of the [[62nd Airlift Wing]], [[Air Mobility Command]], the airbase's primary mission being worldwide strategic airlift.

The McChord AFB facility was consolidated with the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]'s [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]] on 1 February 2010 to become part of the [[Joint Base Lewis-McChord]] complex.<ref>http://www.yelmonline.com/articles/2010/01/29/first_report/doc4b621f185558c546289521.prt {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> This initiative was driven by the Base Realignment and Closure Round in 2005 and is designed to combine current infrastructure into one maximizing war fighting capability and efficiency, while saving taxpayer dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/brac/pdf/Vol_I_Part_2_DOD_BRAC.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 February 2010 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522204725/http://www.defense.gov/brac/pdf/Vol_I_Part_2_DOD_BRAC.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== 62nd Airlift Wing ==
The [[62nd Airlift Wing]] (62 AW) is the host unit at McChord AFB. It is assigned to the [[Eighteenth Air Force]] and is composed of more than 7,200 active duty military and civilian personnel. It is tasked with supporting worldwide combat and humanitarian airlift contingencies. Aircraft of the 62nd fly around the globe, conducting airdrop training; it also carries out the Antarctic resupply missions.<ref name=McChord>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcchord.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/247277/62nd-airlift-wing/|access-date=12 March 2020|title=62nd Airlift Wing|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029084844/https://www.mcchord.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/247277/62nd-airlift-wing/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Components===
The [[62nd Operations Group]] flies the [[C-17 Globemaster III]] transport from McChord Field. It consists of three airlift squadrons and an Operations Support Squadron.
* [[4th Airlift Squadron]]
* [[7th Airlift Squadron]]
* [[8th Airlift Squadron]]

Other wing components are the 62nd Maintenance Group, 62nd Operations Group, 62nd Comptroller Squadron, and 62nd Medical Squadron.

== Tenant units ==
Other major units stationed at McChord Field are:
* [[446th Airlift Wing]] (Air Force Reserve Command)
* [[Western Air Defense Sector]]
* [[22nd Special Tactics Squadron]]
* [[262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron]]
* [[361st Recruiting Squadron]]
* [[373d Training Squadron]]

===McChord Air Museum===
The [[McChord Air Museum]], operated by the McChord Air Museum Foundation, exhibits 17 aircraft as well as artifacts related to the history of the airbase.

==History==

=== Origins ===
[[File:Tacoma Narrows Bridge opening program June 30, 1940.jpg|thumb|right|Program for the opening of McChord Field, 3 July 1940]]
In 1917, the citizens of [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for {{US$|2000000|1917|long=on}} to buy {{convert|70000|acre|km2|2}} of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named Tacoma Field, officially opened 14 March 1930.<ref name="mchist">{{cite web | title=OUR HISTORY - MAINPAGE | website=McCHORD AIR MUSEUM HOMEPAGE | url=http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20TITLES%20OUR%20HISTORY4.htm | access-date=2021-09-16}}</ref>

On 28 February 1938 the airfield was officially transferred to the federal government. Three years after the transfer, on 3 July 1940, the airfield was renamed McChord Field,<ref name=mchadedto>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b-FXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4747%2C672285 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=M'Chord airport dedicated today |date=3 July 1940 |page=2}}</ref><ref name=hcsacded>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MihWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6872%2C819631 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press photo |title=Huge crowd sees 2000-acre $18,000,000 air field dedicated |date=4 July 1940 |page=2 }}</ref> in honor of [[Colonel]] William Caldwell McChord,<ref>[https://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/o/d/o/Patrick-R-Odonnell/PHOTO/0015photo.html William Caldwell McChord]</ref> who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia]] on 18 August 1937. Col. McChord, (1881–1937), rated as a junior military aviator in 1918, died while trying to force-land his [[Northrop A-17]] near [[Maidens, Virginia]]. At the time of his death, he was Chief of the Training and Operations Division in HQ Army Air Corps. Tacoma Field was renamed McChord Field, 17 December 1937.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Robert, "Air Force Bases Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982", United States Air Force Historical Research Center, Office of Air Force History, Washington, D.C., 1989, {{ISBN|0-912799-53-6}}, page 391.</ref> Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly {{convert|3000|acre|km2|abbr=on}}, encompassing the northern tip of the {{convert|70000|acre|km2|abbr=on}} Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]] and was subsequently named McChord AFB.<ref name="mchist"/>

===World War II===
In 1940, McChord Field became the headquarters of the [[GHQ Air Force]] [[Northwest Air District]], with a mission for the defense of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Great Plains regions of the United States. The [[17th Bombardment Group]] was moved to the new airfield from [[March Field]], California and was equipped with the Douglas [[B-18 Bolo]] medium bomber.<ref name="mchist"/>

Following the Japanese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] on 6 December 1941, the 17th Bombardment Group flew anti-submarine patrols off the [[West Coast of the United States]] with the new [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] medium bomber. As the first unit to operate the B-25, the 17th achieved another ''first'' on 24 December 1941 when one of its Mitchells dropped four {{convert|300|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bombs on a Japanese submarine near the mouth of the [[Columbia River]]. The 17th Bomb Group was reassigned in February 1942 to [[Columbia Army Air Base]] in South Carolina, where crews from the group were selected to carry out the [[Doolittle Raid]] on Japan in April.<ref name="mchist"/>

With the departure of the 17th Bomb Group, the mission of McChord Field became supporting the [[Army Air Forces Training Command]]'s mission of training of units, crews, and individuals for bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations. Northwest Air Force was re-designated as the [[Second Air Force]], and became the training organization of [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] heavy bombardment groups.<ref name="mchist"/>

Nearly all new heavy bomb groups organized after Pearl Harbor were organized and trained at Second Air Force Bases, by [[II Bomber Command]] operational training units (OTU) then were deployed to combat commands around the world. McChord trained numerous bombardment squadrons during the war, receiving graduates of AAF Training Command's flight and technical schools and forming them into operational squadrons which were then sent on to second and third phase training prior to being deployed to the overseas combat air forces.<ref name="mchist"/>

Starting in mid-1943 the training of B-17 and B-24 replacement crews began to be phased out, as the Second Air Force began ramping up training of [[B-29 Superfortress]] Very Heavy bomb groups, destined for [[Twentieth Air Force]]. Under the newly organized [[XX Bomber Command]], B-29 aircraft were received from Boeing's manufacturing plants at Seattle and Wichita, Kansas and new combat groups were organized and trained, primarily in Kansas and Nebraska.<ref name="mchist"/>

McChord also had large maintenance facilities for Air Technical Service Command during the war, serving as a [[P-39 Airacobra]] modification center April 1944 – May 1945 for lend-lease aircraft being sent to Russia via the Alaska Territory.<ref name="mchist"/>

Following the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific as part of Air Transport Command in anticipation of [[Operation Downfall|invading the Japanese home islands]] scheduled for November 1. The [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] in August 1945 forced the [[surrender of Japan]], cancelling the planned operation altogether.<ref name="mchist"/>

===Cold War===
In 1945 McChord was designated as a permanent station by the Army Air Forces. It was assigned to [[Continental Air Forces]] in April 1945, becoming headquarters of the [[1st Bombardment Wing (World War II)|1st]] and [[2d Bombardment Wing (World War II)|2d Bomb Wing]]s after their return from combat in Europe. In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.<ref name="mchist"/>

====Air Defense Command====
: ''see also: [[25th Air Division]]''
[[File:319th FAWS North American F-82F Twin Mustang 46-494.jpg|thumb|319th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) North American F-82F Twin Mustang 46–494 at McChord AFB, Washington, October 1949]]
On 1 August 1946, McChord was assigned to the new [[Air Defense Command]], with a mission of air defense of the United States. During the [[Cold War]], numerous fighter-interceptor squadrons were stationed at the base, as well as Radar and Command and Control organizations, the [[25th Air Division]] being headquartered at McChord from 1951 until 1990.

The [[325th Fighter Group|325th Fighter Group (All-Weather)]] operated two squadrons of [[F-82|F-82F Twin Mustang]]s from McChord between 1948 and 1950, the first postwar fighter optimized for the air defense interceptor mission. Designed for very-long range bomber escort missions in the Pacific during World War II, the design became operational too late to see service and was adapted for the air defense mission.<ref name="mchist"/>

Other interceptor squadrons stationed at McChord were:
* [[64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]
* [[317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]]
* [[318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]
* [[465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]
* [[498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]]

The base was the location of the first of twenty-eight stations built by ADC as part of the permanent air defense radar network, and was the top-priority site for ADC radars.<ref name="ReferenceA">A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado</ref><ref name="Winkler, David F. 1997">Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.</ref> The 505th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, the first postwar general surveillance radar organization was activated at McChord on 21 May 1947. Defensive warning radars became operational at McChord on 1 June 1950 with [[World War II]]-era [[AN/CPS-4]] and [[AN/CPS-5]] radars being operated by the [[635th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron]]. ADC completed installation of two [[AN/CPS-6]]B medium-range search and height-finder radars in February 1951. Performance of these new radars was deemed inferior to the World War II vintage models and the calibration process delayed operational readiness at this and other sites. An [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radar was installed in the mid-1950s.<ref name="mchist"/>

In 1958, a [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) Data Center (DC-12), and Combat Center (CC-3) was established at McChord. It became operational in 1960. The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for Air Defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack. It was initially under the command of the [[Seattle Air Defense Sector]] (SeADS), activated on 8 January 1958.<ref name="mchist"/>

The ADC radar site (P-1) was deactivated 1 April 1960 and repositioned to [[Fort Lawton AFS]] (RP-1) where the Air Force consolidated its anti-aircraft radars with the [[United States Army]] [[Seattle Defense Area]] Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) S-90DC for [[Nike missile]] operations.<ref name="mchist"/>

SeADS was inactivated on 1 April 1966 and the SAGE headquarters combat center came under the 25th Air Division. The Command Center (CC-3) was active until 30 June 1966 when it was inactivated as part of an ADC reorganization. The Data Center (DC-12), with its [[AN/FSQ-7]] computer remained active until 4 August 1983 under the 25th AD when technology advances made the SAGE system obsolete.<ref name="mchist"/>

Today, the successor organization to the 25th AD, the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS), is a major tenant organization at McChord, being one of two air defense sectors responsible for the security and integrity of continental United States air space. WADS is staffed by members of the Washington [[Air National Guard]] (WANG) and the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF). Operationally, WADS reports to the [[North American Aerospace Defense Command]] (NORAD) headquartered at [[Peterson Air Force Base]], [[Colorado]].<ref name="mchist"/>

====Military Airlift Command====
[[File:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mount Rainier]] is in the background.]]

In 1947 [[Tactical Air Command]] moved the [[62nd Operations Group|62nd Troop Carrier Group]] to McChord Field from [[Bergstrom Air Force Base|Bergstrom Field]], Texas. Headquarters Army Air Forces directed each Army Air Force have a tactical group assigned to establish a Wing headquarters. Thus, the 62nd Troop Carrier Wing (TCW), constituted on 28 July 1947, was activated at McChord Field on 15 August. The new Wing was assigned to [[Twelfth Air Force]], with the 62nd Troop Carrier Group becoming one of the Wing's subordinate units; its flying arm, being equipped with [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]]s. In 1948, 62nd TCW assets were tapped to support the now famous Berlin Airlift. More than 100 men, primarily mechanics, aerial engineers, and truck drivers were identified for a 90-day temporary tour of duty in Europe, to bolster airlift resources.<ref name="mchist"/>

On 6 October 1949, the 62nd received its first four-engine [[Douglas C-54 Skymaster]] transport. By Thanksgiving of that same year, the Wing was equipped entirely with C-54s, and its designation was changed from 62nd Troop Carrier Wing (Medium), to (Heavy). On 1 June 1950, the Wing was inactivated due to budget reductions. However, as a result of the Korean War, on 17 September 1951, the Wing was once again activated at McChord AFB. Shortly thereafter, the Group and its three flying squadrons, the 4th, 7th, and 8th, again assigned to the Wing, returned to McChord. Not two years had passed, however, before the Wing was once again on the move. Now flying the [[Douglas C-124 Globemaster II]].<ref name="mchist"/>

During 1952 and 1953, the 62nd airlifted troops, blood plasma, aircraft parts, ammunition, medical supplies, and much more, to the Far East, in support of the war in Korea. In April 1954, the 62nd transported a replacement French garrison to Dien Bien Phu, French Indochina. Operation Bali Hai saw the Globemasters fly around the world in a period of 8 to 10 days. By 1955 the Cold War was well under way, and the [[North American Aerospace Defense Command|North American Air Defense Command]] (NORAD) set out to build a chain of radar stations on the northernmost reaches of the continent. This chain of radars, known as the [[Distant Early Warning Line|Distant Early Warning]] (DEW) Line, was to detect incoming Soviet missiles and bombers, and give the U.S. forces enough warning to launch a counterattack, and get the National Command Authorities to safety. Between 1955 and 1957, the 62nd began to fly missions to the Alaskan arctic regions, carrying 13 million pounds of supplies and equipment to build the DEW Line. The resupply of the DEW Line stations kept the Wing occupied until 1969.<ref name="mchist"/>

The 62nd Troop Carrier Wing (Heavy) was reassigned to the [[Military Air Transport Service]] Continental Division on 1 July 1957 as TAC realigned its transport units. Meanwhile, the Air Force reorganized the structure of its wings, and the 62nd Troop Carrier Group, was inactivated 8 January 1960 when squadrons were assigned directly to the wing as part of the Air Force tri-deputate reorganization.<ref name="mchist"/>

During the [[International Geophysical Year]] 1957–1958, and subsequently through 1962 the 62nd TCW supported scientific stations in the Arctic Ocean by airlanding and airdropping supplies on the drifting ice. It helped transport United Nations troops and supplies to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]] in 1960. In 1963 the wing assumed responsibility for worldwide airlift of [[nuclear weapon]]s and associated equipment, continuing this mission through early 1971.<ref name="mchist"/>

In 1968, McChord AFB was relieved of its assignment to the subsequently renamed [[Aerospace Defense Command]] and was reassigned to [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) as one of three MAC bases in the western United States operating the [[Lockheed C-141 Starlifter]]. ADC, and later [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) continued to maintain a fighter alert detachment at McChord with [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]] and later [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]] aircraft.<ref name="mchist"/>

On 18 September 1969 a [[United States Air Force]] twin engine [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] crashed just after takeoff from McChord. It came down in the wooded area just south of the runway. Five men died and seven other men were injured.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accident description|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/25423134/|date=19 September 1969|access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref>

In 1975, TAC divested itself of its [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] tactical airlift fleet, transferring all tactical airlift wings, groups and squadrons to MAC. For the 62 AW, this resulted in a significant increase in the wing's total mission capabilities beyond strictly strategic airlift with the arrival of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft and personnel from [[Langley Air Force Base]], Virginia.<ref name="mchist"/>

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]], a 36 TAS C-130 crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St. Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.<ref name="mchist"/>

In 1991, [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, with the disestablishment of Military Airlift Command, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord C-141 Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.<ref name="mchist"/>

=== From the 1990s ===
As the [[C-141]] was phased out at McChord during the 1990s, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB and the 62nd Airlift Wing was the second AMC base to receive this aircraft for active duty, the first having been the [[437th Airlift Wing]] (437 AW) at [[Charleston AFB]], South Carolina.<ref name="mchist"/>

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

On 1 February 2010 it again joined with [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]] to become [[Joint Base Lewis-McChord]], per the [[2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historylink.org/File/9900|access-date=12 March 2020|title=Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base merge to create Joint Base Lewis}}</ref>

Like most US military installations, McChord is closed to the general public, other than during their annual Open House.

The [[McChord Field Historic District]] was listed on the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]] on 12 December 2008.<ref name="mchist"/>

===Major commands to which assigned===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* Northwest Air District, c. 25 March 1940
* GHQAF, United States Army Air Corps, 7 June 1940
* [[Second Air Force]], 15 January 1941
* [[Fourth Air Force]], 26 January 1942
* [[Continental Air Forces]], 16 April 1945
: Redesignated: [[Strategic Air Command]], 21 March 1946
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 April 1946
* [[Air Defense Command]], 1 August 1946
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 July 1947
* [[Continental Air Command]], 1 December 1948
* Air Defense Command, 1 January 1951
: [[Western Air Defense Force]]
: Redesignated: [[Aerospace Defense Command]], 15 January 1968
* [[Military Airlift Command]], 1 July 1968
* [[Air Mobility Command]], 1 June 1992 – present<ref name="Mueller"/>
{{col-end}}

===Major units assigned===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* 19th Air Base Group, 5 June 1940 – 4 June 1941
* [[17th Air Division|17th Bombardment Group]], 24 June 1940 – 29 June 1941
* [[5th Air Division|5th Bombardment Wing]], 19 October 1940 – 9 January 1941
* Northwest Air District, 18 December 1940 – 6 January 1941
* [[12th Flying Training Wing|12th Bombardment Group]], 15 January 1941 – 18 February 1942
* [[47th Flying Training Wing|47th Bombardment Group]], 15 January –  14 August 1941
* 44th Air Base Group, 15 January 1941 – 15 December 1942
* [[42d Air Base Wing|42d Bombardment Group]], 20 January 1942 – 16 March 1943
* [[55th Wing|55th Fighter Group]], 22 June 1942 – 23 August 1943
* 20th Altitude Training Unit, 10 April 1943 – 31 March 1944
* 464th AAF Base Unit, 1 April 1944 – 9 April 1946
* [[491st Bombardment Group]], 17 July –  8 September 1945
* 1st Bombardment Wing, 6 September –  7 November 1945
* 2d Bombardment Wing, 6 September –  7 November 1945
* 314th AAF Base Unit, 28 March 1946 – 16 August 1947
* 732d AAF Base Unit, 21 October 1946 – 3 June 1948
* [[454th Bombardment Wing|454th Bombardment Group]], 27 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
* [[456th Bomb Group|456th Bombardment Group]], 12 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
* [[305th Air Mobility Wing|305th Bombardment Wing]], 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
* [[445th Airlift Wing|445th Bombardment Group]], 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
* [[62nd Airlift Wing|62nd Troop Carrier Wing]], 15 August 1947 – 20 April 1952
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 May 1947 – 26 September 1949
* 531st AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 June 1948 – 5 July 1949
* [[318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]], 28 November 1948 – 9 June 1953
* [[302d Airlift Wing|302d Troop Carrier Wing]], 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951
* [[317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]], 23 April 1950 – 15 August 1957
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[325th Fighter Wing|325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]], 20 April 1950 – 6 February 1952
* 1705th Air Transport Wing, 24 August 1950 – 1 October 1951
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 25 June 1951 – 6 February 1952
* [[25th Air Division]], 14 September 1951 – 30 September 1990
* 1705th Air Transport Group, 24 January 1952 – 18 June 1960
* [[567th Air Defense Group]], 16 February 1953
: Redesignated: [[325th Fighter Group]] (Air Defense), 18 August 1955 – 25 March 1960
* [[4704th Defense Wing]], 1 February 1952 – 8 October 1954
* [[318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]], 18 August 1955 – 30 September 1989
* 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 18 October 1956 – 1 July 1968
* [[64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], 18 August 1957 – 15 March 1960
* [[Seattle Air Defense Sector]], 18 January 1958 – 1 April 1966
* [[62nd Airlift Wing|62nd Troop Carrier (later Airlift) Wing]], 13 June 1960 – present
* [[498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], 1 July 1963 – 15 June 1966
* 941st Military Airlift Group, 9 November 1965 – 25 July 1989
* [[939th Air Refueling Wing|939th Military Airlift Group]], 25 July 1968 – 1 July 1973
* 4628th Air Defense Group, 1 July 1972 – 1 January 1975
* [[446th Airlift Wing|446th Military Airlift (later Airlift) Wing]], 1 July 1973 – present
* [[Northwest Air Defense Sector]], 1 July 1987 – 31 December 1994
* [[Western Air Defense Sector]], 1 January 1995 – present<ref name="Mueller"/><ref name="Winkler, David F. 1997"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/>
{{Col-end}}

==Geography==
[[File:McChord Field aerial.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of McChord Field from the east, with the rest of [[Joint Base Lewis–McChord]] in the left background, and the city of Lakewood in the right background]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of {{convert|15.0|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

It is located adjacent to [[Lakewood, Washington|Lakewood]], about {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] and {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Seattle]]. It was named in honor of [[Colonel]] William Caldwell McChord, former Chief of the Training and Operations Division in HQ Army Air Corps. Much of the base is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP), which had a population of 4,096 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 4538
|2000= 4096
|estimate= 4351
|estyear= 2007
}}
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=31 January 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The population density was {{convert|272.7|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of {{convert|67.2|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup was 76.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.7% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.3% from two or more races. 8.1% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households, out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out, with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males had a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The per capita income for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==See also==
* [[Joint Base Lewis-McChord]]
* [[McChord Field Historic District]]
* [[United States general surveillance radar stations]]
* [[Washington World War II Army Airfields]]

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Refend}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|McChord Air Force Base}}
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20100126063809/https://www.mcchord.af.mil/|name=Official website (archived January 2010)}}
* [http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/ McChord Air Museum]
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{{Air Mobility Command}}
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{{Aerospace Defense Command}}
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{{USAAF 4th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McChord Field}}
[[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Airfields of the General Headquarters Air Force]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places in Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Corps]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command in North America]]
[[Category:Initial United States Air Force installations]]
[[Category:Semi-Automatic Ground Environment sites]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1930]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1930]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Military Superfund sites]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Joint Base Lewis–McChord]]