The Kingsley Field Story

1942-1955

Kingsley Field began as a U.S. Naval Air Station in 1942 to provide combat training for fleet squadrons in the Pacific. In January 1946 (after World War II had ended), the United States Navy deactivated the Klamath Falls Naval Air Station at which time the City of Klamath Falls and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation divided the on-base real property. The city used the property and buildings as a municipal airport. The Bureau of Reclamation used certain buildings for offices and storage for the extensive Klamath reclamation and irrigation project. Between 1947 and 1949, the Bureau of Reclamation advertised nationwide for homesteaders to claim the Tulelake Basin homesteads made available through reclamation of the land and all families processed through the Bureau's on-base offices.

In 1954, the USAF selected Klamath Falls as an ideal site for the establishment of an all-weather fighter-interceptor squadron and an aircraft control and warning squadron. The squadrons filled the gap in the air defense system between Portland and San Francisco. Construction of the base began in May 1955 after the City of Klamath Falls and the United States Corps of Engineers consummated a lease for approximately 300 acres of Exclusive Use airport property and approximately 720 acres of Joint Use airport property to the USAF. The lease, updated continually with the same conditions, extends through 30 June 2045 at a cost of $1 to the United States Government.

1956-1978

The 408th Fighter Group (FG) became activated at Kingsley Field in 1956, followed by a move of the 322 Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) from Larson AFB, Washington. This created a fully operational Air Defense Command airbase with heavy Air Defense Alert commitments. An official dedication of the facilities on 3 July 1957 changed the name of the base to Kingsley Field, in honor of Second Lieutenant David R. Kingsley. Redesignation of the 322 FIS in 1968 changed the unit to the 59 FIS and in 1969 the 460 FIS moved to Kingsley Field from Oxnard AFB, California. An extensive reorganization in 1970 caused a redesignation of the host unit from 408 FG to the 4788th Air Base Group (AD) (ADC).

Prior to 1971, the assigned military strength totaled as many as 2,000. With the movement of the 460 FIS from Kingsley Field in 1971, personnel strength decreased to about 500 organizational personnel. During that period, the designation of the parent unit on base changed to the 827th Air Defense Group. At the same time, a small alert detachment, 318 FIS, Detachment 1, moved to the airport to maintain an Air Defense 5-minute Identification Alert capability with the F-106A aircraft.

The Oregon ANG presence at Kingsley began with the 104th Tactical Control Squadron, which received federal recognition 19 June 1971. Their primary mission involved providing ground radar control for fighter aircraft. In June 1981, the unit relocated from Klamath Falls to the Oregon coast, first at North Bend and later at Coos Bay, finally deactivating as a unit on 30 September 1996. Approximately two-thirds of its personnel returned to positions at Kingsley Field after the unit's deactivation and the build-up of the 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron (ATCS).

Aircraft flown at Kingsley by the Air Force includes the F-86L Sabre Jet (1956-1959), the F-101B VooDoo (1959-1969), and the F-106 Delta Dart (1969-1978).

Kingsley Field became a candidate for Department of Defense (DOD) closure in 1978, but, in an attempt to retain an open facility, the Klamath Falls Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee formed and sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. Several things worked to Kingsley Field's benefit, including: its position as the only significant DOD installation in Oregon; its being the only USAF base in the Northwest with better than a 3,000-foot ceiling and two miles visibility 95 percent of the time; the strategic location midway between San Francisco; and its current facilities being capable of handling the alert mission. Support from both the military and local officials assured Kingsley Field's viability as an economically sound city airport.

1979-1989

In March 1979, a major Air Force realignment reduced Kingsley Field to an alert detachment site for air defense fighter aircraft. The City of Klamath Falls retained responsibility for runway and taxiway maintenance; snow removal and maintenance of roads and grounds; crash, fire, and rescue support; operation of the central heating plant; and facilities maintenance. The USAF authorized the hiring of 61 support personnel to perform other maintenance activities.

The Oregon ANG assumed the alert mission in 1981 as a Detachment when the 142d Fighter Interceptor Group (FIG) arrived from Portland. In 1982, the USAF announced a proposal to establish an air defense "schoolhouse" for F-4 Phantoms under the ANG. With that announcement, Major "Wild Bill" Morris became the squadron commander for the 8123d Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron (FITS) and Captain Billy Cox came down from Portland as a full-time instructor pilot to help "Wild Bill" begin building up the new F-4 schoolhouse.

The 8123 FITS became activated on 1 January 1983, and the first F-4 pilot training class began on 1 February 1983. The school's initial course offered "Operational Training Course and Air Defense" to four students, taught by three instructors using two F-4C aircraft. A total of nine students graduated the first year.

On 1 February 1984, a redesignation changed the 8123 FITS to the 114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (TFTS). A later change simplified the designation to 114th Fighter Squadron (FS). Kingsley Field received Federal recognition on 8 February 1984 as an Air National Guard base and then the base build-up of support agencies and transfer of aircraft maintenance functions from Portland to Kingsley Field began. Colonel Steve "Slick" Harper assumed command of the unit on 13 July 1984.

The last F-4 class graduated in November of 1988 and the first Air Defense Fighter modified F-16 aircraft arrived on 1 March 1989, followed by the first F-16 student class on 13 July 1989.

1990-1999

The 114 FS added a new medical training program to its curriculum in January 1990, with the F-16 Flight Surgeon Training Course (also known as "Top Knife") being the first of its kind in the nation. "Top Eye" for optometrists joined the program in January 1994, followed by "Top Drill" for dentists in April 1994. The courses help orient military doctors to the rigors of high performance flight. Governor John A. Kitzhaber, a surgeon and former peacetime Commander-in-Chief of the Oregon National Guard, flew three sorties (flights) with the 173 FW in a modified Top Knife course on 21-22 March 1995.

During the build-up of the 114 FS schoolhouse, the ANG's Air Defense Alert mission continued as a separate detachment; however, the alert mission paralleled the 114 FS aircraft--first with the Portland detachment flying the F-4 and with a Fargo, North Dakota, detachment later flying the F-16. In mid-1994, the full-time alert mission became deactivated, and the facilities then served as a "warm" or "flex" site without a commander or permanent employees.

In September 1995, the ANG assumed the airport tower control from the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) as part of the on-going establishment of the 270 ATCS. Activation ceremonies on 7 March 1998 celebrated Federal Recognition of the new 49-member 270 ATCS unit, although the actual recognition as a unit didn't come until 1 October 1997. On 10 December 1999, dedication ceremonies officially opened the new Klamath Falls Airport Air Traffic Control Tower. In addition to operating the tower and training air traffic controllers, the new squadron provides a radar approach control at the base.

Present

Official activation of the 173d Fighter Wing (173 FW) came on 27 June 1996. The 114 FS, retained as the flying component, falls under the Wing's Operations Group. (There is no previous history for the 173 FW as a unit designation.)

The 173 FW vision and mission have remained constant during its relatively short history:

• 173FW Vision: Citizen Soldiers building a World Class Training Center to serve our community, the state of Oregon, and the nation.
• 173FW Mission: To train the best air-to-air combat pilots, train flight doctors, and serve our state and nation in times of peace and war.

The future looks bright for the Oregon Air National Guard at Kingsley Field. The 1998 change from the F-16 to the F-15 aircraft helped assure a more secure future for the base in a time of many military installation closures. With the build-up of the new Air Traffic Control Squadron and additional positions added to the Wing, numerous traditional guard positions became available to local area residents. The base currently employs approximately 400 full-time and 325 part-time members and contributes approximately $47 million per year to the local economy.

The updating of the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar began an extensive facelift of the base in 1986. Other buildings include Base Operations and Fuel Cell Maintenance Shop in 1987, Flight Simulator Facility in 1989, Base Supply in 1994, Fire Station in 1995, Command and Fuel Management Facility in 1997, Hazardous Materials Storage and Vehicle Washrack in 1998, and Refueler Maintenance/Paint Bay and Air Traffic Control Tower in 1999. Other renovations or replacements include the Fuel Tank with a steel dome top and an F-4 aircraft static display in 1994, an F-16 aircraft static display in 1998, Base Gymnasium in 1999, Billeting in 2000, and an F-15 aircraft static display in 2005. The latest upgrade occurred in 2005 with the acquisition of four new F-15 flight simulators. These simulators are housed in a newly constructed facility fully equipped for briefing, executing and debriefing complex air-to-air missions. The facility is the largest of its kind on the West Coast.