Editing Galena, Alaska (section)

===Military air base===
In 1941 and 1942, during World War II,<ref name="dec" /> a military air field was built adjacent to the civilian airport, and the two facilities shared the runway and flight line facilities. This air field was designated Galena Air Force Station shortly after the split of the [[United States Air Force]] from the [[United States Army]], which occurred as a result of the [[National Security Act of 1947]]. During the 1950s, the construction of additional military facilities at Galena and the nearby [[Campion Air Force Station]], in support of Galena's mission as a [[forward operating base]] under the auspices of the 5072nd Air Base Group, headquartered at [[Elmendorf Air Force Base]], near [[Anchorage]], provided improvements to the airport and the local infrastructure, causing economic growth for the area.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}

Following the end of the [[Cold War]], in 1993, operation of Galena Air Force Station was turned over to a contractor, and all military personnel were withdrawn with only small groups of active personnel visiting the base on an as-needed basis.<ref name="dec" /> The former military facility remains in use effectively as a [[forward operating site]] that is used{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}<!-- is it still used, in 2013?  no source indicates that it is. --> occasionally by the military. This use came under scrutiny by the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] Committee in the late 2000s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050702-brac-galena.htm|title=BRAC panel questions Galena status}}</ref> and was officially closed October 1, 2010. The Air Force retains responsibility for toxin cleanup in the area and engineers from [[Eielson Air Force Base]] in Fairbanks still visit the site on occasion.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} The base is now totally controlled by the City of Galena, the Galena School District and the Alaska Department of Transportation. The Alaska Wing of the [[Civil Air Patrol]] (CAP) was pursuing{{when|date=October 2013}} retaining one of the F-16 fighter hangars as a CAP facility for the CAP Wing in Galena, the "Yukon Squadron".{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}