Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB) (IATA: FFO, ICAO: KFFO, FAA LID: FFO) is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Dayton; Wright Field is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Dayton. Wright-Patterson AFB is the largest base of the United States Air Force.

The host unit at Wright-Patterson AFB is the 88th Air Base Wing (88 ABW), assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Aeronautical Systems Center. The 88 ABW operates the airfield, maintains all infrastructure and provides security, communications, medical, legal, personnel, contracting, finance, transportation, air traffic control, weather forecasting, public affairs, recreation and chaplain services for more than 60 associate units.

The base's origins begin with the establishment of Wilbur Wright Field on 22 May and McCook Field in November 1917, both established by the Army Air Service as World War I installations. McCook was used as a testing field and for aviation experiments. Wright was used as a flying field (renamed Patterson Field in 1931); Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot; armorers’ school, and a temporary storage depot. McCook's functions were transferred to Wright Field when it was closed in October 1927.

Wright-Patterson AFB was established in 1948 as a merger of Patterson and Wright Fields. The 88th Air Base Wing is commanded by Col. Cassie B. Barlow Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant John M. Mazza.

The Base had a total of 27,406 military, civilian and contract employees that work for the base in 2010.