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March Air Reserve Base

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March Air Reserve Base (IATA: RIV, ICAO: KRIV, FAA LID: RIV) is a base of the U.S. Air Force Reserve in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. In 1996, it was redesignated from an Air Force base. The population was 370 at the 2000 census. Owing to its long history as a B-52 base, the runway is very long (13,300 feet) and very wide (300 feet), with 1000 foot overruns at both ends. March is the largest Air Reserve base in area in the United States.[citation needed] Immediately off the grounds of the base is the March Field Air Museum, which houses in its collection examples of aircraft that have operated (or currently do operate) from the base.

History

One of the oldest airfields operated by the United States military, March ARB began life as Alessandro Flying Training Field in February 1918, being renamed March Field the following month (for Peyton C. March, Jr., the recently deceased son of then-Army Chief of Staff Peyton C. March). It quickly established itself as a major primary training center for American aviators. After the conclusion of World War I, operations wound down, and the base was closed between 1923 and 1927. However, in 1926, Congress created the Army Air Corps, and funds became available to reopen March Field the following year. It soon became one of the centers of development of aerial bombardment. Renamed March Air Force Base during World War II, it served as the home base for bomber units that fought in the Pacific theater of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. March also hosted fighter, aerial refueling, and transport units. On a lighter note, entertainer Bob Hope's first USO show was held at March on May 6, 1941. Hope had been asked to do this show on location by his radio producer Albert Capstaff, whose brother was stationed there.

In 1993, as part of The Pentagon's post-Cold War base closing/realignment plan, March AFB's unit complement was reshuffled, and in 1996 it was given over to the United States Air Force Reserve and renamed March Air Reserve Base. The 452nd retired the venerable C-141 Starlifter in 2005.[1]

Present day

Today, March has many uses. The 452d Air Mobility Wing operates out of March and serves as host unit. March is now home to 8 C-17 Globemaster III's, the first to belong strictly to the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as 10 KC-135 R Stratotanker air refueling aircraft (these tankers were the first in the Air Force Reserve to convert to the Block 40 Pacer CRAG modernization upgrade). The base is also used by the California Air National Guard's 163d Air Reconnaissance Wing, Montana Air National Guard 120th Fighter Wing, U.S. Customs Air Unit. The California Department of Forestry uses the base at times as well.

While the host unit is the 452nd AMW, tenant organisations include the Fourth Air Force under Maj Gen Robert E. Duignan, the 4th Combat Camera Squadron, the 163d Reconnaissance Wing, the American Forces Radio and Television Service, the 701st Combat Operations Squadron, the 362d Recruiting Squadron, the U.S. Customs, an Aero Club, the March Field Museum, the Air Force Audit Agency, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the 653d Area Support Group of the U.S. Army, a Navy and Marine Center, the Base Exchange, and the Defense Commissary Agency.

The land no longer needed as a result of the downsizing was given to the March Joint Powers Authority, a commission that represents the county and the base's adjoining cities. This land, now called March GlobalPort, is being developed as an air cargo center. In 2004, it was announced that air freight giant DHL/ ABX Air was considering the base for its new Southern California hub; however, competition from nearby San Bernardino International Airport (formerly Norton AFB) and Ontario International Airport, as well as opposition from residents of fast-growing Riverside and Moreno Valley, reduced the viability of its bid. Despite this, on December 10, 2004, DHL / ABX Air announced that it had chosen March as its preferred site. The following Wednesday, DHL signed a 16-year joint-use agreement with the Joint Powers Authority. The company's operation is expected to employ about 250 workers and make 16 flights a day.

Geography

March ARB is located at 33°53′56″N 117°16′35″W / 33.89889°N 117.27639°W / 33.89889; -117.27639 (33.898848, -117.276285)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 16.2 km² (6.2 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 370 people, 115 households, and 93 families residing in the base. The population density was 22.9/km² (59.4/mi²). There were 152 housing units at an average density of 9.4/km² (24.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the base was 64.59% White, 17.84% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 4.59% Asian, 1.89% Pacific Islander, 2.97% from other races, and 7.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.89% of the population.

There were 115 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the base the population was spread out with 37.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.8 males.

The median income for a household in the base was $31,364, and the median income for a family was $30,455. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $17,321 for females. The per capita income for the base was $13,765. About 10.8% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

See also

References

  1. ^ 452nd Air Mobility Wing Fact Sheet.
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