Gunter Annex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gunter Annex |
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| Part of Maxwell Air Force Base | |
| Montgomery, Alabama in the United States | |
The Maxwell-Gunter Honor Guard at Gunter Annex
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 Gunter
Gunter
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| Coordinates | 32°24′39″N 86°15′07″W / 32.41083°N 86.25194°W |
| Type | US Air Force facility |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Department of Defense |
| Operator | US Air Force |
| Controlled by | Air Education and Training Command |
| Condition | Operational |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940 (as Gunter Field) |
| In use | 1940 – present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 42nd Air Base Wing |
Gunter Annex is a special place for the United States Air Force located in Montgomery, Alabama. It's named after William Adams Gunter, who used to be the mayor of Montgomery. For a long time, until 1992, it was known as Gunter Air Force Base. Since it first opened in 1940, it has been an important training base for the military.
Gunter Annex is part of Maxwell Air Force Base, which is nearby. The 42d Air Base Wing manages both locations.
Contents
What Gunter Annex Does
Gunter Annex is home to the Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Directorate. This group helps the Air Force by providing and supporting secure computer systems and networks. These systems are used for combat information and are important for the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and other government groups.
The BES Directorate is part of a larger organization called the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). This center helps manage the entire life of Air Force equipment and systems.
The 26th Network Operations Squadron works at Gunter Annex. Their job is to protect the Air Force's computer networks from attacks. Another group, the 689th Network Operations Squadron, also helps with network operations.
The main unit that runs Gunter Annex is the 42d Air Base Wing. This wing moved to Maxwell AFB and Gunter AFB in 1994.
History of Gunter Annex
Who Was William Adams Gunter?
The base is named after William Adams Gunter (1871–1940). He was the mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, for many years. Mayor Gunter was a big supporter of aviation, which means he loved airplanes and flying. He played a key role in building the first Montgomery Municipal Airport in 1929, which is where Gunter Annex is now. People in the area still often call the site 'Gunter Field' because of him.
Gunter Annex During World War II
In 1940, the US military needed more places to train pilots for World War II. They decided the Montgomery Municipal Airport was a good spot for a new flying school. In June 1940, the War Department approved leasing the land.
Construction began in August 1940. An old hospital building was used as the headquarters. The first pilots to train at Gunter Field started their lessons on November 28, 1940.
After Mayor Gunter passed away in late 1940, the flying field was officially named "Gunter Field" in early 1941 to honor him. By July 1941, most of the construction was finished. Gunter Field also used several smaller, nearby airfields for training.
In 1943, long paved runways were added to the base.
Gunter was the first base in the Southeast to focus only on Basic Flight Training. This training taught new pilots the basics of flying after they finished their first lessons. The course was 10 weeks long, and students flew for 70 hours. After this, they would move on to more advanced training.
During World War II, Gunter Field trained pilots not just for the US Army, but also for the British, French, and Canadians. By 1944, nearly 400 aircraft were at Gunter Field. The main planes used for basic training were the Vultee BT-13 and BT-15 Valiant. Later, these were replaced by the North American AT-6 Texan.
After World War II ended, flight training moved to another base. By February 1946, Gunter's remaining aircraft were moved, and the base went into "stand by" mode, meaning it was not actively used for training.
In January 1948, Gunter Field was renamed Gunter Air Force Base. In 1950, the Air University opened its Extension Course Institute there. A branch of the School of Aviation Medicine also opened that year.
Air Defense Command Era
In 1957, a special computer system called SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) was set up at Gunter AFB. SAGE was an early computer network that connected Air Force radar stations. Its job was to give early warnings and help the military respond if there was a nuclear attack. The SAGE center at Gunter was a strong building designed to protect against attacks.
The SAGE system used very large computers that took up a lot of space. These computers helped track planes and missiles.
In the 1960s, Gunter also helped with "William Tell," a flying competition for Air Defense Command pilots. This competition showed off amazing flying skills and new technologies. For example, in 1960, the SAGE system at Gunter helped guide two missiles to intercept a drone plane flying at 30,000 feet.
The SAGE facility at Gunter was eventually closed in 1969 as new technology made it less necessary.
Gunter Annex Today
In 1971, about 800 acres of Gunter were given back to the city of Montgomery. In that year, the Air Force Data Systems Design Center moved there. In 1972, the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy also came to Gunter. In 1973, Gunter was called an "Air Force Station."
In 1976, Gunter received one of the first connections to ARPANET, which was an early version of the internet we use today.
Major construction happened in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1988, Gunter was again called an "Air Force Base." The main groups there were still the Extension Course Institute, the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force Data Systems Design Center.
In March 1992, Gunter was renamed Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex. It now works closely with and is managed by Maxwell Air Force Base.
Names Gunter Annex Has Had
- Army Air Corps Basic Flying School, Municipal Airport, Montgomery, Alabama (1940)
- Gunter Field (1941)
- Gunter Air Force Base (1948)
- Gunter Air Force Station (1973)
- Gunter Air Force Base (1988)
- Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex (1992)
Main Commands Gunter Annex Has Been Part Of
- Southeast Air Corps Training Center (1940)
- Air Corps Flying Training Command (1942)
- Army Air Forces Training Command (1943)
- Army Air Forces School (1945)
- Air University (1946)
- Air Training Command (1978)
- Air Education and Training Command (1993)
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