| Clinton County Air Force Base | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| USGS aerial image as of 22 March 1994 | |||
| IATA: ILN – ICAO: KILN – FAA LID: ILN | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Owner | United States Air Force | ||
| Location | Union Township, Clinton County, near Wilmington, Ohio | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,077 ft / 328 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 4L/22R | 10,701 | 3,262 | Concrete |
| 13/31 | 5,984 | 1,824 | Concrete |
| Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||
Clinton County Air Force Base (IATA: ILN, ICAO: KILN, FAA LID: ILN) was a United States Air Force base located two nautical miles (3.7 km) southeast of the central business district of Wilmington, a city in Clinton County, Ohio, United States.
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The airport opened in 1929 and a small hangar was built in 1930. The landing strip was approved by the Civil Works Administration in 1933. In 1940, the Civil Aeronautics Authority took control of Wilmington Airport for use as an emergency landing field. In 1942, the Army Air Corps took over the airport, renaming it Clinton County Army Air Field. The Air Material Command the airfield for glider research, training and development until the end of World War II.[2]
The airfield was closed after World War II, but reopened during the Korean War. By 1958, the Clinton County Air Force Base was home to the newly created 249th Air Reserve Training Wing. The runway was extended from 6,000 to 9,000 feet in 1960. The air force base was closed in 1971 and its operations were transferred to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus.[2]
The base was decommissioned in 1972 and the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) began developing the area as the Wilmington Industrial Air Park (WIAP). It also became home to the Great Oaks Joint Vocational School District. In 1977, the Southern State Community College opened, using old barracks buildings as classrooms. In 1980, Midwest Air Charter was acquired by Airborne Freight Corporation, resulting in Airborne Express, which became the largest tenant at WIAP and resulted in the airfield being named Airborne Airpark.[2]