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  USAF 1981 |
Location Lat 40° 0' 56N 74° 35' 30W McGuire Air Force Base is located at an elevation of 131' above sea level in Wrightstown roughly 18 miles south of Trenton in Burlington County, New Jersey in the United States of America. During World War II, known as Fort Dix Army Airfield. Since 1948 known as McGuire Air Force Base (McGuire AFB). Construction During 1937, built by the U.S. Army at Fort Dix as a single runway surfaced with dirt for military aircraft supported by a few buildings for maintenance and administration. Wartime History During World War II, known as Fort Dix Army Airfield and used by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) for anti-submarine patrols and as an assembly point for aircraft bound for Europe. During 1945, the western terminus for U.S. personnel returning from Europe. Postwar On January 13, 1948 renamed McGuire Air Force Base (McGuire AFB) in honor of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. who earned the Medal of Honor and was Killed In Action (KIA) January 7, 1945. Initially, McGuire AFB was used by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) 91st Reconnaissance Squadron and later by the 52nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (52nd FIS). In 1954, placed under the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and the 1611th Air Transport Wing was activated at McGuire with the 18th and 30th Air Transport Squadrons operating the C-118 Liftmaster. By 1961 McGuire AFB was expanded with new dormitories, quarters, mess halls, swimming pool, gymnasium and 1,750 Capehart housing units for families. During 1962, the Air Transport Squadron began operating C-135 Stratolifter and the next year C-130 Hercules. In 1966 MATS was renamed Military Airlift Command (MAC) and the 1611th Air Transport Wing was inactivated and the 438th Military Airlift Wing was activated at McGuire with the 6th, 18th, 30th Military Airlift Squadrons. During August 1967 began transitioning to the C-141A and completed by the next year. By the early 1980s, McGuire became the largest military airlift command port of aerial embarkation and debarkation on the east coast In the fall of 1981, the Major Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Memorial was dedicated outside the main gate was F-5G 44-53015 displayed on a pylon in the markings of P-38L "Pudgy V" 44-24155 assigned to Major Thomas B. McGuire. By 1981, units at McGuire include the 21st Air Force (21st AF) headquarters, 438th Military Airlift Wing, 514th Military Airlift Wing a USAF Reserve wing, New Jersey National Guard, MAC NCO Academy East, 1998th Communications Squadron Today McGuire Air Force Base (McGuire AFB) is a military airfield with two runways. The first is oriented 24/06 measures 10,001' x 200' surfaced with asphalt. The second is oriented 36/18 measures 7,140' x 150' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: FAA: WRI, ICAO: KWRI, IATA: WRI. References The McGuire Story (1981) pages 21-22 Contribute
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