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Hamilton Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Base located along the northern shore of San Francisco Bay California . Hamilton AFB was named for First Lieutenant Lloyd Andrew Hamilton of the 17th Aero Squadron, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Varssonaore , Belgium , in leading a low level bombing attack on a German airdrome 30 miles behind enemy lines on August 13 , 1918 . Thirteen days later Hamilton died in action near Lagnecourt , France . ORIGINS Construction of Hamiltion Field began about July 1 , 1932 , with the airfield being originally designed to accommodate four bomb squadrons and their personnel. Captain Don Hutchins of the Army Air Corps reported on duty as the first commanding officer of the new field on June 25 , 1933 , and Captain John M. Davies' 70th Service Squadron arrived that December as the first squadron assigned to the base. On December 4 , 1934 , the 7th Bombardment Group arrived to take station, having been transferred up from March Field . The new base was designated that year as General Headquarters of the '''1st Pursuit Wing'''. The Hamilton Field Station Complement replaced the 70th Service Squadron on March 1 , 1935 . The original construction program was completed on May 12 , 1935 , at which time the field was ceremonially handed over to Brigadier General Henry 'Hap' Arnold , commanding the First Wing, by Governor Merriam of California . PRE-WORLD WAR II USE Hamilton was originally designed as a bomber installation. In 1933 , the first planes assigned to Hamilton were B-10 and B-12 bombers, followed by the amphibious reconnaissance aircraft of the 88th Observation Squadron . The B-12 bombers housed at Hamilton Field were phased out in 1937 and were replaced with Douglas B-18 "Bolos" . The B-18, a standard two engine short range bomber, was capable of airlifting combat equipped troops en masse, an important advance in combat techniques at the time. The next step forward in bomber technology was the development of the Boeing B-17 , a four engine airplane that was bigger, faster, and heavier than any previous bomber and required a longer and stronger runway to operate. Because the runway at Hamilton Field was not adequate for the B-17, the larger planes had to go elsewhere. Hamilton then became a fighter base and the new home of the 10th Pursuit Wing , which transferred from Moffett Field. The arrival of the 10th Wing with P-36 and P-40 pursuit aircraft and their crews caused crowding at the base and initiated the first of many housing problems. Rows of frame barracks began to spring up on the base as Hamilton expanded to meet its new role as an important West Coast air training facility. WORLD WAR II On March 31 , 1941 , the base was reassigned to the Fourth Air Force , and it was later that year that a flight of twelve B-17s left Hamilton Field for Hickam Field in Hawaii, which lay next to the naval base known as Pearl Harbor . Flying all through the night, the bombers arrived over Oahu on the morning of December 7 , 1941 , and faced an unusual welcome. The B-17s had arrived over Oahu during the Japanese air attack which triggered American entry into World War II . Back in California, Hamilton Field was rapidly expanded to a wartime status, with construction of additional barracks, mess halls, administration buildings, warehouses, Link trainer buildings, schools, hospital and other structures. Hamiliton AAF was used as an initial training base for newly-formed fighter groups. The following units trained at Hamilton:
POSTWAR USE In the postwar era, Hamilton Air Force Base was modified to accommodate jet aircraft. In 1959 the runways were upgraded to accommodate F-101 and F-104 operations. The base went through a series of command redesignations during this period. It was assigned to the Continental Air Forces in 1945 , to the Air Defense Command in 1951 , to the Aerospace Defense Command in 1968 , and as its usefulness waned, to the Air Force Reserve in 1973 . CLOSURE Hamilton Air Force Base was decommissioned in 1974 . The airfield was transferred to the Army as Hamilton Army Airfield, the housing to the Navy & a 411-acre parcel to the General Services Administration (GSA) for public sale. The Pacific Strike Team of the Coast Guard occupied two of the historic hangars. The GSA public sale occurred in 1985 , and the 1988 Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) closed the facility. HAMILTON TODAY Extensive aviation facilities remain, including a wide 8,000 ft long runway, a smaller crosswind runway, numerous dispersal parking pads, extensive ramp areas, and nine large hangars. Controversy over future civilian use had developed between those supporting its adaptation into a major civilian airport, those bitterly opposed to its continued use as an airfield at all, and those holding varying intermediate degrees of opinion. Today, many of the old buildings are intact, including a large number of decrepit looking wooden barracks apparently left over from the World War II era. Many structures have been removed and replaced with a housing subdivision known as Hamilton Landing. The historic old main hangars are somewhat intact. Some are now offices, using the shell of the original hangar but completely rebuilt inside, and others are empty shells. Several other old AAF/AFB buildings are intact, and either awaiting destruction, or renovation. EXTERNAL LINKS
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