Hickam AFB

From dKosopedia

Category: U.S. Military in Hawaii

Hickam Air Force Base, is located adjacent to Pearl Harbor and the Honolulu International Airport. Hickam AFB consists of 2,850 acres of land and facilities valued at more than $444 million. Sharing its runways with adjacent Honolulu International Airport (HIA), Hickam and the HIA constitute a single airport complex operated under a joint-use agreement. [1]

Hickam AFB is named in honor of Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickam, a distinguished aviation pioneer who was killed in an aircraft accident on Nov. 5, 1934, at Fort Crockett in Galveston, Texas. [2]

Hickam is home of the 15th Airlift Wing, Pacific Air Forces Headquarters (PACAF) and the Hawaii Air National Guard and other associated units.

During WW II, the base played a major role in pilot training and aircraft assembly work, in addition to seeing as a supply center for both air arid ground troops. Hickam served as the hub of the Pacific aerial network, supporting transient aircraft ferrying troops and supplies to. and evacuating wounded from. the forward areas, not only during World War II but also during the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. [3]

Hickam AFB is a National Historic Landmark, designated for its importance during World War II. A bronze plaque commemorating its landmark status is among other memorials surrounding the Hickam AFB flagpole. The tattered American flag that flew over the base that morning on December 7, 1941 is encased and on display in the lobby of the Pacific Air Forces Headquarters building, where bullet-scarred walls have been carefully preserved. [4]

Eight C-17 Globemaster III's will be stationed at Hickam Air Force Base. Air Force officials say these massive airlifters will meet the growing air mobility requirements needed to move large and oversize cargo for wartime, peacekeeping or humanitarians missions. [5]

The Hickam C-17 unit, composed of members of the Air Force's 535th Airlift Squadron and the Air Guards' 204th Airlift Squadron, is part of the Pentagon's massive transformation program that places more mobile firepower in the Pacific. The program includes converting a Schofield Barracks' brigade into a Stryker brigade, designed around the Army's latest combat vehicles. The C-17s will be used to transport the Strykers to any hot spot in the world in 96 hours. [6]

Related Links

• C-17 Globemaster III

External Links

• Hickam AFB (United States Air Force)
• PACAF (United States Air Force)
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Kona runway planned for new cargo jets -- A site at Kona Airport will be used to train C-17 pilots in short takeoffs and landings By Gregg K. Kakesako Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3-13-05.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Globemaster -- The Air Force's newest cargo carrier prepares for its first presence in Hawaii Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3-23-05.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Hickam to get new war HQ -- The Air Force is establishing a new war-fighting position Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 3-23-05.
• Associated Press. New MIA hunt chief emphasizes families Honolulu Advertiser, 6-6-05.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. C-17 simulator amazes pilots -- The state-of-the-art training module can mimic every possible runway and air fluke Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-25-05.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Head of isle Air Guard promoted -- Darryll Wong will be the first two-star general to exclusively command the outfit Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 10-8-05.
• McAvoy, Audrey. C-17 cargo jet facility opens at Hickam Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11-23-05.
• McAvoy, Audrey. C-17 planes herald new era at Hickam -- The transport jets due here next year support humanitarian and tactical airlift missions Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11-28-05.
• History headed toward Hickam Honolulu Advertiser, 2-7-06.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. The arrival of the $200M ride -- State leaders take Hickam's new cargo jet for a test run Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 2-9-06.
• Advertiser staff. Third of eight Globemasters due at Hickam Honolulu Advertiser, March 13, 2006.
• Air Force will get new structures for maintaining its fleet of C-17s Pacific Business News, June 5, 2006.
• Cole, William. Hickam's final C-17 touches down Honolulu Advertiser, July 19, 2006.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Raptors rest at Hickam Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 9, 2007.
• Chandler nominated to lead Hickam Honolulu Advertiser, April 28, 2007.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. Heavy airlifting -- C-17 Globemasters in Hawaii are versatile behemoths that carry aid and military support around the world Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 9, 2007.
• Kakesako, Gregg K. New jets clear environmental hurdle -- The Air Force plans to deploy F-22A Raptors at Hickam by 2011 Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 14, 2008.