George Air Force Base was named in honor of Brigadier General Harold Huston George (1892–1942) on June 2, 1950. A World War I fighter ace, General George directed air operations on Bataan at the beginning of World War II. He died on April 29, 1942 in an aircraft accident near Darwin NT, Australia.
I was attached to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing as a Jet Engine Mechanic April - September 1974. I was Honorably Discharged from USAF active duty on September 21, 1974 at the rank of E-4 Sgt. Sixteen years later I would enlist in the Alaska Air National Guard with the same rank on February 21, 1990. October 1, 2008 I would retire from the Alaska Air National Guard/USAF with the rank of E-7 MSgt.
The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing reactivated at George Air Force Base, California, on October 1, 1971, where it replaced the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing. The wing's mission at George was to take over the mission of training F-4 flight crews. Its operational squadrons (Tail Code: GA) were:
4535th Combat Crew Training Squadron (December 1972) (F-4C)
George Air Force Base was officially decommissioned in December 1992. In 1993, President Bill Clinton announced a "Five Part Plan" to speed economic recovery in communities where military bases were to be closed. One part of this plan called for improving public participation in the base's environmental cleanup program. George AFB was among a number of installations where environmental cleanup was placed on a "fast track" so base property could be quickly transferred to the community for reuse. Many of the old base housing homes and buildings are currently used by the Army and Marine Corps for urban warfare training.
McDonnell F-4D-28-MC Phantom II AF Serial No. 65-0672, 4452nd Combat Crew Training Squadron June 10, 1972. Retired to AMARC as FP0308 on September 20, 1989.
Republic F-105F-1-RE Thunderchief, AF Serial No. 63-8320 of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, George Air Force Base, California, November 1973. Converted to F-105G in 1972. This aircraft scored 3 MiG kills in Vietnam with the 388th TFW and is currently on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
With the arrival of F-105F/G aircraft from the 388th TFW at Korat RTAFB, Thailand in July 1973, the wing began training aircrews for radar detection and suppression or "Wild Weasel" missions in addition to other F-4 training.
561st Tactical Fighter Squadron (July 1973 – July 1980) (F-105F/G)
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