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Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base (IATA: SZL, ICAO: KSZL, FAA LID: SZL) is a United States Air Force base located just south of Knob Noster, Missouri, United States. It is operated by the Air Force Global Strike Command, as the base for all 19 operational B-2 Spirit nuclear-capable stealth bombers, as well as for A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft and others. There is also a sizable Missouri Air National Guard presence on base as well.
The base is approximately 60 miles (100 km) east-southeast of Kansas City in rural Johnson County. Originally established as the Sedalia Glider Base, it was later renamed after 2nd Lt George Whiteman, a native Missourian who was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The facility covers 5,566 acres (8.7 sq mi; 22.5 km2) and is maintained by the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron. During the Cold War, Whiteman played a significant role in the American nuclear triad, with a total of 150 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) built in the vicinity of the base, later dismantled as part of arms reductions.
Following the end of the Cold War era, the base became home to the B-2 bomber force beginning in the 1990s and continues to play a crucial role in the US nuclear deterrent. B-2 bombers have flown non-stop flights from Whiteman for bombing campaigns in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Iran.
In 1942, the United States Army Air Corps selected the site of the present-day base to be the home of Sedalia Glider Base, a training base for WACO glider pilots. In May 1942, construction workers began building a railroad spur for the new air base in an area known to locals as the "Blue Flats" because of the color of the soil. The new railroad line was built by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The base was officially opened on August 6, 1942. On November 12, 1942, the name was changed to Sedalia Army Air Field.
After the end of World War II, operations at the airfield declined, and many of the buildings were abandoned. In December 1947, the base was put on inactive status.
In August 1951, the base was renamed again, to Sedalia Air Force Base, as it was now part of the United States' newest military service branch, the United States Air Force.
In October 1952, the base was turned over to the 340th Bombardment Wing. Improvements were made to the 1942 runway, as well as other base facilities, and Strategic Air Command (SAC) scheduled the base to receive squadrons flying the B-47 Stratojet and the KC-97 Stratofreighter. The first B-47 landed at the base in March 1954.
On December 3, 1955, the base was renamed Whiteman Air Force Base in honor of 2nd Lieutenant George A. Whiteman, an Army Air Corps pilot who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while attempting to take off from Bellows Field. Whiteman was born in Longwood, Missouri, and graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, less than 20 miles from the base that would bear his name.
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Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base (IATA: SZL, ICAO: KSZL, FAA LID: SZL) is a United States Air Force base located just south of Knob Noster, Missouri, United States. It is operated by the Air Force Global Strike Command, as the base for all 19 operational B-2 Spirit nuclear-capable stealth bombers, as well as for A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft and others. There is also a sizable Missouri Air National Guard presence on base as well.
The base is approximately 60 miles (100 km) east-southeast of Kansas City in rural Johnson County. Originally established as the Sedalia Glider Base, it was later renamed after 2nd Lt George Whiteman, a native Missourian who was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The facility covers 5,566 acres (8.7 sq mi; 22.5 km2) and is maintained by the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron. During the Cold War, Whiteman played a significant role in the American nuclear triad, with a total of 150 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) built in the vicinity of the base, later dismantled as part of arms reductions.
Following the end of the Cold War era, the base became home to the B-2 bomber force beginning in the 1990s and continues to play a crucial role in the US nuclear deterrent. B-2 bombers have flown non-stop flights from Whiteman for bombing campaigns in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Iran.
In 1942, the United States Army Air Corps selected the site of the present-day base to be the home of Sedalia Glider Base, a training base for WACO glider pilots. In May 1942, construction workers began building a railroad spur for the new air base in an area known to locals as the "Blue Flats" because of the color of the soil. The new railroad line was built by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The base was officially opened on August 6, 1942. On November 12, 1942, the name was changed to Sedalia Army Air Field.
After the end of World War II, operations at the airfield declined, and many of the buildings were abandoned. In December 1947, the base was put on inactive status.
In August 1951, the base was renamed again, to Sedalia Air Force Base, as it was now part of the United States' newest military service branch, the United States Air Force.
In October 1952, the base was turned over to the 340th Bombardment Wing. Improvements were made to the 1942 runway, as well as other base facilities, and Strategic Air Command (SAC) scheduled the base to receive squadrons flying the B-47 Stratojet and the KC-97 Stratofreighter. The first B-47 landed at the base in March 1954.
On December 3, 1955, the base was renamed Whiteman Air Force Base in honor of 2nd Lieutenant George A. Whiteman, an Army Air Corps pilot who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while attempting to take off from Bellows Field. Whiteman was born in Longwood, Missouri, and graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, less than 20 miles from the base that would bear his name.