Altus Air Force Base Information

History of Altus Air Force Base

Activated as a multi-engine flight training school in 1943, Altus AFB has been the cornerstone of southwestern Oklahoma for nearly 60 years. With an average of over 300 days of weather conducive to flying each year, a generally flat landscape and few obstructions, the base was then, and is still, ideally situated for young airmen to hone their airmanship. Over the next five decades, the base evolved to become the premier air mobility training location in the United States Air Force (USAF).

Pictures by Paul Metzgar The first aircraft to operate from the base were the Cessna AT-17 and the Curtiss AT-9. After the students perfected their skills with these aircraft, they transferred to units that would prepare them to fly the actual type of aircraft they would use in combat over the European and Pacific theaters during WWII. At the end of hostilities in Europe, Altus Army Airfield was inactivated as a training location and placed on temporary inactive status.

After reactivation on August 1, 1953, Altus Air Force Base served briefly as a Tactical Air Command base before switching to an operation Strategic Air Command wing. Initially the durable c-47 Skytrain and the feisty C-45 Expediter were the main aircraft assigned but through the 1950s and into the 1960s the base would also experience many changes to adapt to the new and maturing Air Force. These changes included the regular use of in-flight refueling with the KC-97 Stratofreighter, introduction of the first all jet-engine powered bomber, the B-47 Stratojet, followed by the B-52 Flying Fortress and the ageless KC-135 Stratotanker. Also, during the early 1960s the base hosted a ring of Atlas missile silos around the local area. As the Air Force expanded during the Cold War and the war in Southeast Asia, the base would also see a new mission.

By the start of the 1970s, Altus AFB had three aircraft assigned, the KC-135, the C-141, and the C-5. Through the 1980s and the 1990s, these three aircraft became a common sight in the skies above southwestern Oklahoma.

The end of the twentieth century and beginning of the twenty-first century would mark the beginning and end for tow airframes.

In 1996, the latest addition to Altus AFB, the agile C-17 Globemaster III, arrived. This aircraft, with a unique winglet, an expansive cargo area and powerful engines, is the newest cargo aircraft in the Air Force. Even before its arrival, the base began training pilots and loadmasters to operate and fly the aircraft designed for use as an intermediate short-airfield cargo aircraft.

Pictures by Paul Metzgar In 2001, the base witnessed the retirement of an old friend. After 32 years at Altus AFB, the C-141 piloted by the men and women of the 57^th airlift Squadron, was released from active duty and transferred to the capable hands of the USAF Reserves.

Altus AFB missions grew in 2002 when the Air Force moved the basic loadmaster course from similar training programs to reduce the number of moves required by trainees while cutting overall costs.

The 97 AMW reorganized in August, 2002, as a “combat wing.” The Logistics Group inactivated and the 97^th Maintenance Directorate was activated as a totally civilian operation. The 97^th Support Group became the Mission Support Group. The 97^th Transportation Squadron was inactivated and combined with a small contingent from wing logistics then renamed the 97^th Logistics Readiness Squadron under the Mission Support Group.

As the base moves into the twenty first century, it continues to perform the basic mission it started in 1943, providing a safe, comfortable location to train military personnel and prepared them for action worldwide.

In 2005, the wing completed the expansion of the Sooner Drop Zone. This allows for the students delivery capability of the C-17 Loadmaster III. The feature doubles the amount of equipment, personnel, and supplies that the C-17 aircrews can bring directly into the combat theater of operations. Also, the wing began training the C-17 aircrews on the use of ninth vision goggles. This provides the crews with increased survivability during low-light operations.