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Selfridge Field is a joint United States Military Reserve and National Guard training facility in Harrison Township, Michigan . The host organization is the Michigan Air National Guard , but a variety of Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard reservists use the facility as well. The Airfield was named for Lt. Thomas Selfridge , the first military officer to die in an aviation accident, while flying with Orville Wright at Fort Myer , Virginia. on 17 September 1908 . It was an active Air Force base from the 1940s throughout the 1960s, but it always had a significant Reserve and National Guard presence, and it became a wholly reserve facility in the 1980s. The Army leased the 640 acres (2.6 km²) of land from Henry B. Joy for $190,000. On July 1 , 1917 Selfridge Field was opened. After World War II , Selfridge Field expanded to its present size of 3,600 acres (15 km²). In 1947 , Selfridge Field became Selfridge Air Force Base. On 1 July 1971 , Selfridge Air Force Base was transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard. It was the first major active Air Force base to come under control of the Air National Guard . Today Selfridge Air National Guard Base is the home of many diversified units including elements of the Air Force Reserve , Air National Guard, Army, Air Force , Navy and Marine Corps. The 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was established at Selfridge ANG Base on April 1 , 1996 , by consolidating the former 127th Fighter Wing and the 191st Airlift Group. The flying units, the 171st Airlift Squadron which flies the C-130 Hercules , and the 107th Fighter Squadron which flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon , retained their designations. The 927th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve wing, is headquartered at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. The 927 ARW comes under Fourth Air Force headquartered at March Air Force Base , California. The mission of the 927 ARW is to organize, equip and train to provide air refueling support to fighter, bomber and airlift aircraft under widely varying situations ranging from small movements in battle to large movements over long distances. The mission also encompasses the movement of cargo and support of aeromedical and special support operations. STARBASE, an acronym for Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration, engages in activity-based science and math lessons. The program uses an aviation theme to allow local children to excel, regardless of their economic situation. STARBASE traces its roots to the Air National Guard’s 127th Wing at Selfridge ANG Base, Mich., in 1991. The Department of Defense came on board in 1993. EXTERNAL LINKS
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