Southern California Logistics Airport: Difference between revisions

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Southern California Logistics Airport (IATA: VCV, ICAO: KVCV), also known as Victorville Airport, is a public airport located in the city of Victorville in San Bernardino County, California, USA. It is located on the former site of George Air Force Base.

The federal government is responsible for helping the Victor Valley recover from the closure of George Air Force Base in 1988. The conversion of the former George Air Force Base to Southern California Logistics Airport [SCLA] was designed to provide major corporations with logistics needs access to a global intermodal logistics gateway to the Western United States. Located near Interstate 15 in California’s Victor Valley, the 5,000 acre (20 km²) complete intermodal business complex is approximately 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles County and 40 minutes north of Ontario airport.

In July 2000 the Department of Commerce awarded the Southern California Logistics Airport the designation of Foreign Trade Zone. The designation was intended to make it much easier for the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority to convince international carriers to use the airport as a base for shipping foreign products to Southern California. During that same period, the Department of Transportation approved a $4.9 million grant for the Southern California Logistics Airport to extend its main runway from 10,050 feet to 13,050 feet to accommodate international jet transports. The airport authority required the 3,000 ft extension to ensure that cargo planes could depart fully-loaded in summer heat. The longer runway was also required efficient use of the facility as the main transportation hub for the 70,000 troops a year traveling to and from the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin.

The Fiscal Year 2002 military spending bill earmarked $1.3 million to allow the U.S. Army to continue using the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) to transport troops enroute to training exercises at Fort Irwin. The airport has proven to be one of the most efficient and safest locations for travel to and from the Army's National Training Center for the 60,000 troops who rotate through each year. Company D of the 158th Aviation Regiment is a general support aviation company that moved in under a five-year contract the Army signed with SCLA and the city of Victorville. The unit is part of the 244th Aviation Brigade of Fort Sheridan, IL.

The airport has been used for many Hollywood movies, including Face/Off and Jarhead.

Southern California Logistics Airport covers 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) and has two runways:

• Runway 17/35: 15,050 x 150 ft (4,587 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
• Runway 03/21: 9,138 x 150 ft (2,785 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete

George Air Force Base (GAFB) covered 5,339 acres (21.6 km²) which included two runways (9,116 and 10,050 feet), 6.3 million square feet (580,000 m²) of ramp space and associated facilities; 1,641 units of housing; 14 dormitory buildings with 1,400 bed capacity; a hospital with a dental clinic; and various office and industrial structures. George Air Force Base (AFB) was located in Victorville, California, in the Mojave Desert approximately 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

George AFB, originally called the Victorville Army Flying School, was constructed between 1941 and 1943 as a flight training school. It was renamed Victorville Army Air Field on 23 April 1943, and after the creation of the United States Air Force, Victorville Air Force Base on 13 January 1948. Known World War II units based at Victorville AAF were:

• 87th Air Base Squadron (November 1941 - April 1944) (Administrative Headquarters Unit)
• 3035th AAF Base Unit, (April 1944 - November 1945) (Administrative Headquarters Unit)
• 4196th AAF Base Squadron, (November 1945 - Janurary 1948) (Administrative Headquarters Unit)
• USAAC/USAAF Advanced Flight School (June 1941 - December 1944)
• USAAF Bombardier School (June 1941 - December 1944)
• Army Air Force Radar Observer School (September 1944 - October 1945)

• 516th, 517th, 518th Basic Flight Training Squadron (November 1941 - Feburary 1944)
• 520th, 521st, 522d, 524th Bombardier Training Squadron (January 1942 - April 1944)
• 983d, 984th, 985th Bombardier Training Squadron (July 1942 - April 1944)

In October 1945, the base was placed on standby status and used for surplus aircraft storage (mostly Boeing B-29s, Beechcraft AT-7s, and AT-11s) It's carekeeper host unit was renamed the 2756th Air Base Squadron in January 1948 after the establishment of the United States Air Force.

The base was reopened on 10 October 1950 and renamed George Air Force Base in honor of Brig Gen Harold Huston George (1892-1942). A World War I fighter ace, General George directed air operations in defense of the fortified islands in Manila Bay at the beginning of World War II. He died on 29 April 1942 in an aircraft accident near Darwin NT, Australia.

Flight training remained the primary mission of this base throughout its history and a number of bomber, glider, single engine, twin engine, and jet fighter aircraft were flown there.

Host unit at George AFB from 10 October 1950 - 31 July 1951.

• Federalized Washington Air National Guard unit during the Korean War. Received five F-84 "Thunderjets" becoming the first Guard unit west of the Mississippi River to be equipped with the jets. On February 1, 1951, as a result of the Korean Conflict, the 116th Fighter Squadron received new F-86A Sabres.

• Assigned to Continental Air Command, 10 October 1950
  Air Defense Command, 1 January 1951
  Strategic Air Command 23 July 1951

• Wing was ordered to RAF Shepherds Grove, England, to bolster NATO forces in Europe. The move was the first time in aviation history that a full tactical fighter squadron had crossed an ocean.

Host unit at George AFB from 7 August 1951 - 1 December 1952.

• Federalized Missouri Air National Guard unit during the Korean War.

• Assigned to Tactical Air Command in November 1951. Trained with F-51's. Relieved from active duty and returned to state control on 1 December 1952.

The 479th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated at George AFB on 1 December 1952. It was redesignated as the 479th Fighter-Day Wing on 15 Feburary 1954, and the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958. Replaced the 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing at George AFB.

• Operational Squadrons were 434th, 435th, 436th and 476th Fighter-Bomber/Tactical Fighter Squadrons. Maintained tactical proficiency with F-51Ds (1952-53), later with F-86Fs (1953-55).

• Tactical components participated in numerous exercises, augmented air defenses of the West Coast, and deployed overseas to support other commands.

• Converted to F-100s beginning September 1954 and to F-104As beginning October 1958. 479th TFW was first TAC Wing equipped with the F-100. Trained F-104 pilots of foreign states, January 1962 - August 1963. Had one squadron deployed at Key West NAS, FL, (435th TFS) during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. During 1965, deployed three squadrons to Taiwan and South Vietnam to provide air defenses of northern area of the Republic of Vietnam. Transferred one F-104 (436th TFS) squadron to Southeast Asia in mid-1966 and conducted F-104 replacement training until early 1967. Transferred all F-104s in July 1967.

• Retired F-104s and gained two F-4C/D Combat Crew Training Squadrons in December 1965 (4535th, 4452d CCTS), and began F-4 replacement training in February 1966.

• 434th, 476th TFS inactivated September 1968, F-4s assigned to 4535th CCTS. 435th TFS inactivated May 1970, F-4s assigned to 4552d CCTS.

• Began training foreign personnel in F-4 operations and maintenance in March 1969, including pilots from Israel, Iran, Japan, and West Germany.

• Inactivated, and replaced by the 35th TFW, in October 1971.

The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned and reactivated at George Air Force Base, Calif., 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. It's operational squadrons (Tail Code: GA) were:

• 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron (October 1971 - October 1975) (F-4D)
  434th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (October 1975 - January 1977) (F-4E)
• 4435th Combat Crew Training Squadron (October 1971 - December 1972) F-4C, Red/White Tail stripe.
  4435th Tactical Fighter Replacement Squadron (December 1972 - January 1976) (F-4E, 1972) (F-4C, 1972 - 1976)
• 4452d Combat Crew Training Squadron (October 1971 - October 1973) (F-4D, 1972) (F-4E, 1972 - 1973)

• 20th Tactical Fighter Squadron
  (December 1972 - 1981) (F-4C) (1972 - 1975) (F-4F) (1981 - June 1992) (F-4E)
• 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (December 1972 - October 1980) (F-4C)
  21st Tactical Fighter Squadron (October 1980 - October 1989) (F-4E)
  21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (October 1989 - June 1991) (F-4E)
• 431st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (December 1972 - October 1978) (F-4D, 1972) (F-4E, January 1976 - October 1978)
• 4535th Combat Crew Training Squadron (December 1972) (F-4C)

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. By 1975, with the arrival of new F-4G aircraft, the wing was training aircrews exclusively in Wild Weasel operations for deployment to operational units in Okinawa and Germany.

• 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron (July 1973 - July 1980) (F-105F/G), (F-4G, Tail Code: WW July 1980 - October 1989)
• 562d Tactical Fighter Squadron (October 1974 - July 1980) (F-105F/G), (F-4G, Tail Code: WW July 1980 - October 1989)
• 563d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (July 1975 - July 1977) (F-105F/G)
  563d Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4G, Tail Code: WW July 1977 - October 1989)
• 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron
  (January 1977 - May 1984) (F-4C Tail Code: WW) (January 1976 - October 1980) (F-4E, January 1982 - May 1984)

In 1980, the wing received the new F-4G and its advanced Wild Weasel system. By July 1980, the last F-105G left George Air Force Base, leaving the 35th with F-4Gs in its inventory for Wild Weasel training.

Operations at George Air Force Base were reorganized by mission requirements March 30, 1981. The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing retained control of the 20th and 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadrons and gained the 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

With the inactivation of the 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1985, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated the 35th Tactical Training Wing. However, the wing kept its air defense augmentation responsibility. It provided operations and maintenance support for the close air support portion of Army training exercises conducted at the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., from 1981 to 1990. Also, the wing advised specific Air National Guard units on F-4 operations from 1981 to 1991.

The new 37th Tactical Fighter Wing assumed the 561st and 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadrons active Wild Weasel missions in 1981. This training ended in 1989 when the 37th TFW was reassigned to Tonopah Test Range Nevada assuming F-117A operational development.

Operations at George Air Force Base were reorganized again October 5, 1989. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 35th Tactical Training Wing consolidated all operations under the newly redesignated 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Under the reorganization the 35th regained control of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 562nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron.

In August 1990, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing mobilized in support of Operation Desert Shield. On Aug. 16, 1990, 24 F-4Gs of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron left George Air Force Base enroute to Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain. Once in the Middle East, its deployed people established operational, maintenance and living facilities for the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional). These facilities eventually housed more than 60 active duty and Air National Guard F-4s and more than 2,600 military members.

During Operation Desert Storm, which started Jan. 17, 1991, the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron flew 1,182 combat sorties for a total of 4,393.5 hours. The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) was credited with flying 3,072 combat missions for 10,318.5 hours. U.S. Central Command relied heavily on the wing's Wild Weasels to suppress enemy air defense systems. The F-4G aircrews were credited with firing 905 missiles at Iraqi targets, while the RF-4C aircrews shot more than 300,000 feet of vital reconnaissance film. During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) suffered no casualties. The wing's people began returning to George Air Force Base March 23, 1991, with its aircraft and pilots following three days later.

The 35th became the host unit for George Air Force Base when the 831st Air Division there inactivated March 31, 1991. As a result, the wing gained several support agencies, including the 35th Combat Support Group and associated squadrons. In support of the Air Force's force reduction programs, the 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron inactivated June 28, 1991. That October, as part of the Air Force's reorganization plan, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated the 35th Fighter Wing. A month later, the wing's tactical fighter squadrons were redesignated fighter squadrons.

In 1988, George AFB was scheduled in the first round of base closures passed by Congress under the Base Realignment and Closure program. In 1992, the 35th began downsizing in preparation for the closure of George Air Force Base. On June 5, 1992, the 20th Fighter Squadron moved to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and by the end of June, the 561st and 562d Fighter Squadrons were inactivated.

On December 15, 1992, the 35th Fighter Wing inactivated and George Air Force Base closed bringing an end to 21 years of continuous service and more than 34 years of total service for the 35th.

The 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.

• Tactical Air Command

This article contains information from the 35th Fighter Wing history factsheet which is an official document of the United States Government and is presumed to be in the public domain.

• Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., 1989
• Donald, David, Century Jets - USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War.
• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
• Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994
• Menard, David W., Before Centuries. USAFE Fighters 1948-1959
• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
• Rogers, Brian, United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978, 2005
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

• Southern California Logistics Airport (official site)
• Southern California Logistics Airport / George Air Force Base (GlobalSecurity.org)
• Airliners.net
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective September 5, 2024
• Resources for this airport:
  • FAA airport information for VCV
  • AirNav airport information for KVCV
  • ASN accident history for VCV
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures