Holloman Air Force Base facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

"Holloman" redirects here. For the surname, see Holloman (surname).

Quick facts for kids

Holloman Air Force Base

Near Alamogordo, New Mexico in United States of America

An F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 54th Fighter Group at Holloman Air Force Base, during 2014

Holloman

Coordinates

32°51′09″N 106°06′23″W / 32.85250°N 106.10639°W

Type

US Air Force base

Site information

Owner

Department of Defense

Operator

US Air Force

Controlled by

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)

Condition

Operational

Site history

Built

1942

In use

1942 – present

Garrison information

Current
commander

Colonel Ryan P Keeney

Garrison

49th Wing (Host wing)
54th Fighter Group
704th Test Group
Royal Air Force RPAS Formal Training Unit

Airfield information

Identifiers

IATA: HMN, ICAO: KHMN, FAA LID: HMN, WMO: 747320

Elevation

4,093 ft (1,248 m) AMSL

Runways
Direction	Length and surface
07/25	12,922 ft (3,939 m) porous European mix
16/34	12,134 ft (3,698 m) porous European mix
4/22	10,578 ft (3,224 m) porous European mix

Holloman Air Force Base (HMN, KHMN, HMN) is a United States Air Force base. It was started in 1942. The base is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Alamogordo. It is named after Col. George V. Holloman, who was important in guided missile research.

Holloman is home to the 49th Wing (49 WG). This wing is part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The base also helps support the nearby White Sands Missile Range. It trains pilots for Royal Air Force and Italian Air Force remotely piloted aircraft.

History of Holloman Air Force Base

The base was planned for a British training program. But the British did not use it. Construction for the USAAF base began on February 6, 1942. It was first called Alamogordo Field Training Station in May 1942. Then it became Alamogordo Army Air Base in June 1942.

Alamogordo Army Air Field

The base was renamed Alamogordo Army Air Field on November 21, 1942. From 1942 to 1945, it trained over 20 different groups for overseas missions. They flew planes like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberators.

After World War II, the base was used to support missile testing. The first missile launch happened in November 1947. In late 1947, the Holloman range joined with the White Sands Proving Ground. They became the New Mexico Joint Guided Missile Test Range. The base was renamed Holloman Air Force Base on January 13, 1948. It supported launches of many different rockets and missiles.

Holloman Air Development Center

The Holloman Air Development Center took over the base on October 10, 1952. A special rocket-powered sled was first tested here in March 1954. On December 10, 1954, Lt. Colonel John Stapp rode this sled. He reached a speed of 632 miles per hour (1,017 km/h). This was a world record!

In 1960, Captain Joseph Kittinger made a record-breaking jump. He stepped out of a balloon gondola at 102,800 feet (31.3 km) high. He fell for 13 minutes, reaching 614 mph (988 km/h). This jump set four world records.

Scientists at Holloman also trained chimpanzees for space flights. In 1961, Ham became the first great ape in space. Later that year, Enos orbited Earth.

Tactical Fighter Wing Operations

On July 15, 1963, the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing moved to Holloman. This made Holloman an important base for tactical operations. They flew Republic F-84F Thunderstreak planes. In 1965, they started using the new McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II.

In 1966, parts of the wing went to South Vietnam to support the Vietnam War. The rest of the wing followed later that year.

The 49th Tactical Fighter Wing

The 49th Tactical Fighter Wing arrived at Holloman on July 1, 1968. They flew McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II jets. In 1969, the 49th Wing won the MacKay Trophy. This award was for the fastest non-stop flight of a wing's entire fleet of jet aircraft.

In May 1972, the 49th Wing deployed its F-4 aircraft to Thailand. They flew over 21,000 combat hours. The wing did not lose any aircraft or personnel during this time.

F-15 Eagle Era

In 1977, the wing started using F-15A/B Eagle jets. In 1980, two pilots flew their F-15s 6,200 miles (9,978 km) in just over 14 hours. This was a record for the longest flight of a single-seat fighter jet. In 1988, the 49th Wing won top honors at the William Tell air-to-air weapons competition.

F-117 Nighthawk Era

In 1991, the 49th Wing was renamed the 49th Fighter Wing. In 1992, Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighters arrived at Holloman. These special planes were hard for enemy radar to detect.

From 1993 to 2004, the 20th Fighter Squadron at Holloman trained German Air Force pilots. They flew F-4E and F-4F Phantom II jets.

In 1999, F-117s from Holloman helped in Operation Allied Force in Serbia. They flew into dangerous areas to strike important targets.

Global War on Terror

The 49th Fighter Wing played a big part in the global war against terrorism. In 2003, their F-117s dropped the first bombs in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They flew over 80 missions and dropped nearly 100 bombs on key targets.

In 2008, the F-117 Nighthawk was retired. Holloman then became home to F-22A Raptors. The F-22 mission at Holloman ended in 2014.

Tactical Training Center

Holloman became a Tactical Training Center in 1977. It provided training for pilots learning to fly fighter jets. They used AT-38B Talons. This training program was reduced in 1991. The 479th Tactical Training Wing was inactivated in 2000.

Drone Aircraft Testing

Holloman has also been important for testing drone aircraft. These are planes flown without a pilot inside. From 1986, old Convair F-106 Delta Dart jets were turned into QF-106A target drones. These drones were used to test missiles. The last QF-106 was shot down at Holloman in 1997. The QF-4 Phantom drone replaced it.

Today, the 96th Test Group from Eglin Air Force Base tests new equipment. This includes self-protection systems for aircraft and new weapons.

Holloman's Role and Operations

The 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base helps keep our country safe. They train pilots for General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. They also provide medical clinics and equipment to build airfields quickly. The wing supports over 17,000 military and civilian people.

Holloman is home to the world's longest and fastest high-speed test track. On April 30, 2003, a vehicle on this track set a world record. It reached 6,453 mph (10,430 km/h), which is Mach 8.5!

The 49th Wing Today

The 49th Wing is the main unit at Holloman. It trains pilots and supports missions around the world.

The 49th Operations Group uses the Air Force's MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft. Its squadrons include:

6th Attack Squadron (MQ-9)
9th Attack Squadron (MQ-9)
16th Training Squadron (MQ-9)
29th Attack Squadron (MQ-9)

Other parts of the 49th Wing include:

49th Maintenance Group: They keep aircraft like the F-22A Raptor, T-38 Talon, and MQ-9 Reaper in good working order.
49th Mission Support Group: They help with all base operations and support personnel and their families.
49th Medical Group: They provide medical care for military members and their families.
49th Materiel Maintenance Group: They maintain and deploy equipment to build airfields quickly.
Detachment 1, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron: They operate QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target drone aircraft.

The 96th Test Group

The 96th Test Group is part of the Air Force Materiel Command. They test and evaluate new equipment for the Air Force. This includes systems for combat aircraft and new weapons.

The 586th Flight Test Squadron is part of this group. They conduct flight testing.

The 54th Fighter Group

The 54th Fighter Group was reactivated at Holloman in March 2014. Their job is to train F-16 pilots and aircraft maintenance crews. This group is part of the 56th Fighter Wing from Luke AFB, Arizona.

Its squadrons include:

8th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
311th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
314th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)

German Air Force Training Center

Since 1992, the German Air Force has used Holloman as its main pilot training center in the United States. Holloman was chosen because of its good flying weather and air space.

The German Air Force Tactical Training Center opened at Holloman on May 1, 1996. About 300 German military personnel and 12 Panavia Tornado aircraft came to Holloman. German aircrews come for advanced tactical training. They also have a Fighter Weapons Instructor Course.

The German Air Force ended its flight training at Holloman AFB on March 13, 2019.

Helping Afghan Refugees

After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Holloman temporarily housed Afghan refugees. Up to 5,000 refugees stayed at a time while waiting for their residency process. In total, 7,221 refugees lived at the "Aman Omid village" on base.

Missile Testing Sites

Missile testing started at Holloman in 1948. Many different types of missiles and rockets were launched here.

Holloman NATIV/Navaho launch complex: Used for testing from 1948 to 1949.
Holloman Able-51/ZEL: Used to test a MGM‐1 Matador cruise missile in 1948.
Holloman Aerobee: Used for launching Aerobee sounding rockets from 1949 to 1959.
Holloman SLED/Snark launch complex: Used for testing SM-62 Snark from 1950 to 1952.
Holloman JB-2 launch complex: Used for testing Republic-Ford JB-2 cruise missile from 1948 to 1949.

Education at Holloman

Holloman Air Force Base is part of the Alamogordo Public Schools district.

The base has two schools:

Holloman Elementary School: For grades K-5.
Holloman Middle School: For grades 6-8. Its mascot is the falcon.

Alamogordo High School is the main high school for the district. Holloman Elementary opened in 1954. The school district made sure to desegregate (end separation by race) its schools around 1949. This was done to help black employees at the base.

Geography of the Base

Holloman is in New Mexico's Tularosa Basin. It sits between the Sacramento and San Andres mountain ranges. The base is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Alamogordo. It covers about 59,639 acres (241.35 km²). The base is at an altitude of 4,093 feet (1,248 m).

Environmental Concerns

In 2016, harmful chemicals called PFASs were found in the groundwater under Holloman Air Force Base. These chemicals were also found in some wells outside the base.

Images for kids

Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress AAF Serial No. 42-38050 of the 303d Bombardment Group
Consolidated B-24J-180-CO Liberator Serial AAF Serial No. 44-40807 of the 466th Bombardment Group
McDonnell Douglas F-4E-41-MC Phantom II AF Serial No. 68-0531 of the 49th FW.
McDonnell Douglas F-15A-19-MC Eagle AF Serial No. 77-0115 of the 8th Fighter Squadron.
Northrop AT-38B-55-NO Talon AF Serial No. 64-13172 of the 434th TFTS/479th TTW
German Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4F-55-MC Phantom AF Serial No. 72-1164 flown by the 20th Fighter Squadron in USAF markings.
The first F-22 Raptor arriving at Holloman AFB on 2 June 2008
Northrop AT-38AB-45-NO Talon Serial 62-3660 of the 586th Flight Test Squadron (AFMC)
A Tornado showing the GAF/FTC emblem on the tail fin
COA of the German Air Force Tactical Training Center
Rocket Sled Track at Holloman AFB