Editing Eielson Air Force Base (section)

== Role and operations ==
[[File:Eielson-afb-hursey-gate.jpg|thumb|Hursey Gate at Eielson, the primary access point to and from the base. A partial interchange was built on the [[Richardson Highway]] in conjunction with the relocation and rebuilding of the gate.|alt=]]

Eielson is home to the [[354th Fighter Wing]] which is part of the [[Eleventh Air Force]] (11 AF) of the [[Pacific Air Forces]].

Airmen who are stationed on Eielson commonly refer to themselves as "Icemen" due to the frigid Alaskan weather. Their wing motto is: "Ready to go at fifty below!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/382475/ready-to-go-at-50-below/|title=Ready to Go at 50 Below|last1=Zani|first1=Elias|website=Eielson AFB Homepage|publisher=Air Force|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref>

The [[356th Fighter Squadron]] was reactivated on 10 October 2019 at Eielson Air Force Base, assigned to the 354th Operations Group. It is to be equipped with the [[F-35A Lightning II]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1987076/eielson-afb-reactivates-356th-fighter-squadron/|title=Eielson AFB reactivates 356th Fighter Squadron|last=Guerrisky|first=Aaron Larue|date=10 October 2019|access-date=18 October 2019|publisher=354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs}}</ref>

=== Previous names ===

* Established as Mile 26 Satellite Field (of [[Ladd Air Force Base]]) about 15 December 1943
* Mile 26 Field, 1 October 1947
* Eielson Air Force Base, 13 January 1948–present

[[File:Ready to go at 50 below.jpg|thumb|Eielson's tower and base operations, along with much of Alaska, is under snow for about six months out of the year.|alt=]]

=== Major commands ===

*Army Air Forces Transport Command (June 1943 – November 1945)
*[[Eleventh Air Force]] (November–December 1945)
*[[Alaskan Air Command]] (December 1945 – August 1990)
*[[Pacific Air Forces]] (August 1990–present)

=== Base operating units ===

*Stn No. 4, Alaskan Wg (AAFTC) (September 1943 – August 1944)
* 1466th Army Air Force Base Unit (August 1944 – January 1945)
* Satellite Fld 1466-1 Army Air Force Base Unit (January–June 1945)
* HQ and Base Service Sq, 519th Air Service Group (November–December 1947)
* 97th Airdrome Group (December 1947 – April 1948)
* Eielson AFB Wing (Base Complement) (April–September 1948)
* Eielson Bomb Wing (September 1948 – June 1949)
* 5010th Composite Wing (June 1949 – January 1951)
* 5010th Air Base Group (January 1951 – February 1953)
* 5010th Composite Wing (February 1953 – October 1954)
*[[5010th Air Base Wing]] (October 1954 – January 1965)
* 5010th Combat Support Gp (January 1965 – October 1981)
* 343d Tactical Fighter Wing (October 1981 – July 1991)
* 343d Wing (July 1991 – August 1993)
* 354th Fighter Wing (August 1993–present)

=== Major units assigned ===
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* [[6th Strategic Wing]] (March 1967 – June 1992)
* [[97th Bombardment Wing]] (December 1947 – March 1948)
* [[343d Tactical Fighter Wing]] (October 1981 – August 1993)
* [[354th Fighter Wing]] (August 1993–present)
* [[4157th Strategic Wing]] (July 1960 – March 1967)
* 5010th Air Base Wing (April 1948 – October 1981)
* 168th Air Refueling Wing (Alaska ANG)
* [[57th Fighter Group]] (September 1946 – April 1953)
* 5010th Combat Support Group
* 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron
* [[18th Fighter Squadron|18th Fighter (later Aggressor) Squadron]]
* 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron
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[[File:Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of the 168th ARS refuels Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 355th FS over Alaska (USA), 29 May 2007 (070529-F-4192W-881).jpg|thumb|An [[A-10 Thunderbolt II]] is refueled mid-air by a [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] from the [[Alaska Air National Guard]]'s [[168th Air Refueling Wing]].]]
* [[40th Air Refueling Squadron]]
* 55th Weather Recon Squadron Det 1
* 58th Weather Recon Squadron
* [[65th Fighter Squadron]]
* 71st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron Det 1
* [[317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] Det 3
* [[355th Fighter Squadron]]
* [[375th Reconnaissance Squadron]]
* [[455th Fighter-Bomber Squadron]]
* [[720th Fighter-Bomber Squadron]]
* 5040th Helicopter Squadron Det 1
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=== Aircraft operated ===
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* [[A-10 Thunderbolt II]] (1981–2007)
* [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29/RB-29/WB-29]] (1949–1956)
* [[WB-47 Stratojet]] (1960–1968)
* [[WB-50 Superfortress]] (1960–1968)
* [[C-47 Skytrain|VC/SC/C-47 Skytrain]] (1949–1969)
* [[C-123 Provider]] (1965–1966, 1969–1971)
* [[F-4 Phantom II]] Det DC (1970–1982)
* [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] (1991–present)
* [[P-80 Shooting Star]] (1950–1951)
* [[F-86 Sabre]] (1954–1955)
* [[F-102 Delta Dagger]] (1960–1969)
* [[Lockheed U-2|U-2 Dragon Lady]] (1962–1964){{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[F-106 Delta Dart]] (1965–1969)
* [[HH-3E Jolly Green Giant]] (1970–1990)
* [[Piasecki H-21|Piasecki CH/SH/HH-21]] (1960–1980)
* [[KC-97 Stratofreighter]] (1959–1961)
* [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] (1967–present)
* [[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver]] (1952–1960)
* [[O-2 Skymaster]] (1971–1989)
* [[OV-10 Bronco]] (1986–1989)
* [[P-51 Mustang]] (1946–1947)
* [[Boeing RC-135]] (1962–1992)
* [[T-33 Shooting Star]] (1950–1981)
* [[P-38 Lightning]] (1946–1953)
* [[F-35 Lightning II]] (2020–Present)

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