Langley Air Force Base is one of the oldest continuously active air bases in the World. In 1916, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, predecessor to NASA, established the need for a joint airfield and proving ground for Army, Navy and NACA aircraft. In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission report, Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis combined their administrative functions and became Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE). Both bases rich in history read more about Langley Air Force Base below.
Location
Langley is located in Hampton, Virginia, part of the Hampton Roads historic region. Hampton is located 62 miles south of Richmond, our state capital and 40 miles north of Virginia Beach, our largest city. It is separated from Norfolk by the body of water known as Hampton Roads. Historic sites, extraordinary museums, and countless miles of scenic waterways and hiking trails are here for your exploration, with the mountains only a few hours’ drive to the west. Although they are a joint base, they are not contiguous. Being on a peninsula with 17 miles of interstate highway between us, one’s drive can be 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on weather and traffic.
History
Virginia’s Back River became the forefront of airpower on an early August day in 1917 when it became known as Langley Field. Langley, named in honor of American aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley, has been a staple in the Hampton Roads lifestyle for more than 75 years. Since August 7, 1917, Langley Field has been a pioneer in aviation just like its namesake. For more information, please visit Langley’s
Mission
Langley personnel have often led the way in global action and have flown lighter-than-air aircraft, Spads, Jennys, F-86 Sabre Jets, F-4 Phantom IIs, F-15 Eagle, and our newest arrival – the F-22A Raptor. We are also home to the Air Combat Command, the largest major command in the USAF.
The 633rd Air Base Wing History
Originally designated the 633rd Combat Support Group, it was established and activated March 14, 1966, and organized April 8, 1966.
It was originally assigned to the 13th Air Force as part of the Pacific Air Forces at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, and later at Andersen AFB, Guam.
During the Vietnam War, Airmen of the 633 ABW participated in numerous campaigns, air offensives and Operations Arc Light, Bullet Shot and Linebacker.
On Oct. 1, 1989, the Wing aligned under the 13th Air Force, activated on Andersen AFB, Guam, and became the host unit, providing services for various tenant units. This marked the transfer of Andersen AFB control from Strategic Air Command to PACAF.
In August 1990, 633 ABW personnel began shipping more than 37,000 tons of munitions to forces in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm – more than 30,000 tons went by sealift, and more than 2,200 troops and 2,200 tons of cargo processed aboard 200 aircraft.
Operation Fiery Vigil spun into action June 1991, when 633 ABW personnel cared for more than 20,000 American evacuees and 1,100 pets following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines.
On Oct. 1, 1994, the 633 ABW was inactivated and the 36th ABW was activated in keeping with the policy of the Air Force Chief of Staff to maintain the most highly decorated and longest-serving Air Force units on active-duty. The 36th ABW was inactivated at Bitburg AB, Germany, that same day.
On Jan. 7, 2010, the 9th AF reactivated the 633 ABW and declared it to be the host unit for Langley AFB, Va.
On Jan. 29, 2010, the 633 ABW became the link in the joint basing initiative between Langley AFB and U.S. Army Fort Eustis, which we call today Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
633rd Air Base Wing Mission
The 633rd Air Base Wing is comprised of three groups that provide installation support to more than 9,000 military and civilian personnel including Headquarters Air Combat Command and three operational wings. The Wing provides mission-ready expeditionary Airmen to combatant commanders in support of joint and combined operations worldwide. The activation of the 633 ABW as the new host unit for Langley Air Force Base, Va., Jan. 7, 2010, was the first step toward Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
1st Fighter Wing
The 1st Fighter Wing is composed of the 1st Operations Group and the 1st Maintenance Group, which work together to maintain Joint Base Langley-Eustis’ F-22 Raptors.
192D Fighter Wing
The 192D Fighter Wing mission is to fly and maintain the F-22 Raptor at Joint Base Langley-Eustis through the 149th Fighter Squadron, and support the ongoing intelligence mission through the 192D Intelligence Squadron.
480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing
The 480 ISR Wing operates and maintains the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System, or DCGS, also known as the “Sentinel” weapon system, conducting imagery, cryptologic, and measurement and signatures intelligence activities.
1ST AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SQUADRON
The 1 AMXS is the focal point for the 1st Fighter Wing’s combat sortie generation operations. The 1 AMXS directs the efforts of 814 aircraft maintenance and support personnel; manages a $23-million equipment inventory to sustain more than 25 F-22Aaircraft valued at $2.3 billion; and ensures mission-capable aircraft are available to support the wing’s yearly flying-hour program, deploy for combat training exercises and meet contingency operations.