Hurlburt Field
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Hurlburt Field is a base of the United States Air Force located in Okaloosa County, Florida on the Eglin Air Force Base reservation immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is home of the Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters, the USAF Special Operations School and the 1st Special Operations Wing. The installation is nearly 6,700 acres, and employs nearly 2,100 military personnel.
[edit] History
Hurlburt began as a small training field for the much bigger Eglin Air Force Range. It was designated Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9 before being administratively separated from the rest of Eglin, a legacy that is still apparent with all building numbers on the base starting with "9". Named by Eglin base commander Brigadier General Grandison Gardner for First Lieutenant Donald Wilson Hurlburt, killed in an aircraft crash at the main base in 1943.
The field fell into disrepair following World War II, but was reactivated in 1955. Training of airborne warfare specialists began there in 1961. These specialists flew missions in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America and other places throughout the world. The Air Force continues to fly Special Operations missions from this field.
The USAF Special Operations School (USAFSOS) trains Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and US government civilian personnel in a variety of courses. Among the most popular courses are The Dynamics of International Terrorism, and the Middle East Orientation Course. JSOU's lecturers include specialists from the US military, State Department, Central Intelligence Agency, civilian universities, and nongovernmental organizations. To promote frank discussion, JSOU follows a policy of non-attribution of comments by faculty, staff and students.
Operation Northwoods plans called for decoy aircraft to land at this base.
