Dobbins Air Reserve Base facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dobbins Air Reserve Base |
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| Marietta, Georgia in the United States of America | |||||||||
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A C-130 Hercules operated by the 700th Airlift Squadron, part of the 94th Airlift Wing based at Dobbins ARB.
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 Dobbins ARB
Dobbins ARB
Dobbins ARB
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| Coordinates | 33°54′55″N 084°30′59″W / 33.91528°N 84.51639°W | ||||||||
| Type | US Air Force Base | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||||
| Operator | US Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) | ||||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1941 (as Rickenbacker Field) | ||||||||
| In use | 1941 – present | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Current commander |
Colonel Carl Magnusson | ||||||||
| Garrison | 94th Airlift Wing (Host) | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: MGE, ICAO: KMGE, FAA LID: MGE, WMO: 722270 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 325.5 metres (1,068 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Dobbins Air Reserve Base (also known as Dobbins ARB) is a special air base for the United States Air Force. It is located in Marietta, Georgia, which is a town near Atlanta. The base is named after Captain Charles M. Dobbins. He was a pilot in World War II who sadly died near Sicily in 1943.
Dobbins ARB is home to the 94th Airlift Wing. This group uses C-130 Hercules planes. It is also where the main office for the Twenty-Second Air Force is located. This is part of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).
The base also hosts units from the Georgia Army National Guard. They fly UH-60 Blackhawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopters. You can also find groups from the Marine Corps Reserve and Navy Reserve here.
Dobbins ARB has two runways. These runways are shared with the General Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center. The main runway is very long, about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The second runway is shorter, about 3,500 feet (1,067 meters).
Many planes take off and land at Dobbins ARB every year. It is a very busy place for military aircraft. This base is also close to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world.
Contents
History of Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Starting as Rickenbacker Field
The land for Dobbins ARB was first bought in 1941. It was meant to be a second airport for Atlanta. It was first called Rickenbacker Field. This name honored Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, a famous pilot from World War I.
In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to build many airfields. This was to prepare for any possible war. The government offered to build a modern airport in Cobb County if the local people provided the land. They also hoped to attract a large aircraft factory nearby.
Construction of the airfield began on July 14, 1941. In September 1941, the U.S. Navy asked to use the airport for pilot training. The airfield was officially dedicated in October 1941, even though it was not yet finished.
World War II and the Bell Aircraft Factory
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, work on the airfield sped up. In January 1942, the Bell Aircraft Company looked at the site. They wanted to build a large airplane factory there for the war effort.
The Navy first wanted to take over the airfield. But the Cobb County government asked them to change their plans. So, the airfield was given to the Army Air Forces.
On January 23, 1942, it was announced that Bell Aircraft would build a factory near Marietta. This factory would employ up to 40,000 workers. The airfield was renamed Marietta Army Airfield on February 19.
The Marietta Army Airfield officially opened on June 6, 1943. Its main job was to test and modify B-29 Superfortress bombers for the Army Air Forces. Soldiers lived in barracks that were finished in November 1943.
The Bell Aircraft factory, called "Plant #6", was finished in spring 1943. Bell Aircraft built its first B-29 on November 4, 1943. They built many B-29s, including a simpler version called the B-29B. This version could carry more bombs. The plant closed in January 1946.
After the War: Changes and Growth
After World War II, Marietta Army Airfield stayed open. It became home to Georgia Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units. In 1948, it was renamed Marietta Air Force Base when the United States Air Force was created.
In 1950, the base was renamed Dobbins Air Force Base. This was to honor Captain Charles M. Dobbins. He was a World War II pilot from Marietta.
The Bell Aircraft Plant #6 reopened in 1951. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation took over the plant. They modified B-29s for the Korean War. Lockheed also built many B-47 Stratojet planes. Over the years, Lockheed built famous planes like the C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, and C-5 Galaxy here.
In 1957, the Naval Air Station Atlanta (NAS Atlanta) moved to Dobbins AFB. The Navy built their own area on the base.
The base's name changed again in June 1992 to Dobbins Air Reserve Base (Dobbins ARB). For a while, it was called Dobbins Joint Air Reserve Base. But after NAS Atlanta closed in 2009, it went back to being Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, the "Hurricane Hunter" planes used Dobbins ARB. Many people who had to leave their homes also came to Atlanta through Dobbins ARB.
Over the years, many different types of military aircraft have been based at Dobbins. These include fighter jets like the F-4 Phantom II and transport planes like the C-130 Hercules.
Dobbins ARB Today
In 1995, Lockheed merged with another company to become Lockheed Martin. The C-130 Hercules plane is still being built here, more than 60 years after the first one. Work also continues on other advanced aircraft like the F-22 Raptor.
Dobbins ARB is also an automated weather station. It reports weather conditions almost every hour.
Like many military bases, Dobbins ARB has faced challenges. There have been talks about closing it to save money. The area around the base has grown a lot over the years. This means there are more homes nearby.
Sometimes, there have been concerns about safety because of planes flying near homes. People also sometimes complain about noise from the base. However, local leaders have worked to keep the base open. Some people have even suggested that Dobbins ARB could become a commercial airport again.
Dobbins ARB is the only major U.S. military base left in northern Georgia. It is a very important place for the Air Force Reserve and the Army National Guard. It also has a special training center for Airmen who work in transportation.
Near the main entrance of Dobbins ARB, you can see a B-29 bomber plane on display. It is named "Sweet Eloise." This plane is a reminder of the B-29s that were built at the factory during World War II. Other B-29s built in Marietta are also on display at other locations in Georgia.
Based Units
Here are some of the military units based at Dobbins Air Reserve Base:
United States Air Force
- Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
- Twenty-Second Air Force (Headquarters)
- 94th Airlift Wing (This is the main host wing)
- 700th Airlift Squadron (They fly C-130H Hercules planes)
United States Marine Corps
- Marine Forces Reserve
- 4th Marine Logistics Group (Various support units)
United States Army
- Army National Guard (ARNG)
- Georgia Army National Guard
- Units that fly UH-60 Blackhawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopters.
- Georgia Army National Guard
- US Navy Reserve
- Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Atlanta
National Guard
- Georgia National Guard
- Headquarters Georgia National Guard
