Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field

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Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field


Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field 8 Jan 1996
IATA: none – ICAO: KGBN – FAA: GBN
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner United States Air Force
Location Gila Bend, Arizona
Built 1942
In use 1942 - present
Elevation AMSL 858 ft / 262 m
Coordinates 32°53′15″N 112°43′12″W / 32.8875, -112.72
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 8,500 2,591 Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field (ICAO: KGBN, FAA LID: GBN) is a United States Air Force auxiliary airfield used as an emergency landing facility by Luke Air Force Base aircraft and units from other nearby bases using the Barry M. Goldwater range complex.

The airfield is located three miles (5 km) south of the central business district of Gila Bend, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It has one runway designated 17/35 with a 8,500 x 150 ft (2,591 x 46 m) asphalt surface.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The facility was opened in July 1942 when it was part of the Gila Bend Gunnery Range. During World War II it was under the command of the 492d (Reduced) Army Air Force Base Unit, AAF West Coast Training Center. It served as the range headquarters for a massive bombing and gunnery range, now known as the Barry M. Goldwater Range, and for maintenance of the range and range targets. It remained an active Air Force facility until approximately 1995. It was also used as an auxuillary landing field. This activity is now supported by private contractors utilizing portions of the former facility.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Master Record for GBN (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2008-04-10
  2. ^ Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517

[edit] External links