Harrisburg Air National Guard Base

Olmsted Air Force Base
Part of Air Force Logistics Command
Located near Middletown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°11′37″N 076°45′48″W
Type	Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled by	Pennsylvania Air National Guard
Site history
Built	1917
In use	1917-1969, Afterwards by Pennsylvania Air National Guard

Olmsted AFB

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Location of Olmsted Air Force Base, Pennsylvania

For the current use of the facilty, see:Harrisburg International Airport

Olmsted Air Force Base is an inactive United States Air Force base. It's last assignment was with Air Force Logistics Command, and was inactivated on 30 June 1969. Opened in 1917, it's mission was logistics and support of Air Force aircraft and equipment through its host unit, the Middletown Air Depot (later Middletown Air Materiel Area).

History

Olmstead Air Force Base was named in honor of 1st Lieutenant Robert S. Olmstead.

1st Lts. Robert S. Olmsted and John W. Shoptaw entered U.S. Army balloon S-6 in international balloon race from Brussels on September 23, 1923, despite threatening weather which causes some competitors to drop out. Lightning struck the S-6 over Nistelrode, Holland, killing Olmsted outright, and Shoptaw in the fall. Middletown Air Depot was later renamed for Olmsted.

Major Commands to which assigned

• Army Signal Corps, Aviation Section, 16 Jun 1917
• Bureau of Aircraft Production, 20 May 1918
• Army Air Service, 4 Jun 1920
• Air Corps Materiel Division, 15 Oct 1926
• Air Corps Maintenance Command, 29 Apr 1941
• Air Service Command, 17 Oct 1941
• Army Air Forces Materiel and Services on July 14, 1944

Redesignated: Army Air Forces Technical Service Command on August 31, 1944

Redesignated: Air Technical Service Command on July 1, 1945

Redesignated: Air Materiel Command on March 9, 1946

Redesignated: Air Force Logistics Command on April 1, 1961

Inactivated on 30 June 1969

Known Units assigned

Known base operating units were:

• 4149th Air Base Unit
• 2843d Air Base Wing
• 4112th Air Force Base Unit

• 113th Aero Squadron, 15 Sep 1917-31 Mar 1919

Assigned to: Pennsylvania National Guard

• 2d Transport Squadron, 28 Jun 1935-21 May 1942

Assigned to: Middletown Air Depot, 28 Jun 1935

Assigned to: 10th Transport Group (Wright Field, Ohio), 27 May 1937-21 May 1942

• 6th Transport Squadron, 14 Oct 1939-23 Mar 1942

Assigned to: 10th Transport Group (Wright Field, Ohio), 14 Oct 1939

Assigned to: 60th Transport Group, 1 Dec 1940

Assigned to: 61st Transport Group, 19 May 1941-23 Mar 1942

• 60th Transport Group, 1 Dec 1940-21 May 1941

10th Transport Squadron, 1 Dec 1940-21 May 1941

12th Transport Squadron, 1 Dec 1940-20 May 1941

• 61st Transport Group, 1 Dec 1940-9 Jul 1941

• 40th Observation Squadron, 27 Feb 1941-23 Dec 1941

Assigned to: II Army Corps, 27 Feb 1941

59th Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941

Attached to : 26th Observation Group, 1-23 Dec 1941

• 10th Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941-7 Nov 1941

• 315th Transport Group, 14 Feb 1942-18 Jun 1942

33d Transport Squadron, 14 Feb 1942-17 Jun 1942

34th Transport Squadron, 14 Feb 1942-18 Jun 1942

35th Transport Squadron, 14 Feb 1942-18 Jun 1942

43d Transport Squadron, 15 Jun 1942-17 Jun 1942

• 26th Observation Group, 11 Sep 1942-11 Nov 1943

39th Observation Squadron, 11 Sep 1942-1 Jun 1943

• 6th Fighter Wing, 7 Jun-4 Aug 1942

• 47th Bombardment Wing, 7 Jun-Oct 1942

• Eleventh Air Force (Air Defense Command), 13 Jun 1946-1 Jul 1948

Not equipped or manned

• 419th Troop Carrier Group (Air Force Reserve), 5 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949

64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 5 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949

Operations

Established as Middletown Air Depot in 1917 as supply depot and maintenance center for Signal Corps aircraft.

The first airplanes landed in 1918 at Middletown Air Depot, when it was under the administration of the Signal Corps of the United States Army. In 1939, it was still known by this name.

Olmsted AFB had an abundance of engine and airframe shops and a supply distribution system that made it a significant facility, but a poor runway that, it was felt, would be too expensive to improve. It would involve claiming marsh land and portions of the Susquehanna River (both of which have since been accomplished) and the Air Force leadership at that time determined that more land for supply and maintenance buildings was needed.

During World War II, numerous transport and reconnaissance units were organized and formed at Olmsted Army Airfield. Once equipped, they were reassigned to training bases.

Beginning on 11 Aug 1948, the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) 147tth Flight Service Squadron began operations of the Olmstead Flight Service Center,

In 1958, Olmsted was designated as prime support depot for T-38 and L-27 aircraft.

Designated Middletown Air Material Area after World War II. Remained a major source of supply for Air Force weapons systems, until budget reductions forced closure of the facility in 1969.

Turned over to Pennsylvania Air National Guard after active-duty closure. Currently home of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, an Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) organization currently operating the EC-130 Commando Solo psychological operations (PSYOP) aircraft.

In 1998, the Commonwealth transferred ownership to the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA). In addition, in 1966, much of the property was converted into The Pennsylvania State University -- The Capital College, otherwise known as the Harrisburg Campus. This campus was originally chartered as a graduate and upper division school.

The flightline area was redeveloped into the Harrisburg International Airport, under the ownership of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

See also

• Pennsylvania World War II Army Airfields

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975