March was once one of the centers of development of aerial
bombardment. It served as the home base for bomber units that
fought in the Pacific theater of World War II, the Korean War, and
the Vietnam War.
In 1982 the bombers left March AFB. The 22d Bombardment Wing, so
long a key ingredient in March's long history, would become an air
refueling wing with the new KC-10 tanker. The large water tower to
the west prominently displayed this new mission--Tanker Town. In
1993, March Air Force Base was selected for realignment. In August
1993, the 445th Airlift Wing transferred to March from Norton AFB
(San Bernardino) as Norton was closed.
Today, March has many uses. The 452d Air Mobility Wing operates
out of March, as does the Fourth Air Force. The base is also used
by the California Air National Guard's 163d Air Refueling Wing and
Montana's 120th Fighter Wing. The California Department of Forestry
uses the base at times as well. March is now home to 8 C-17
Globemaster III's, the first to belong strictly to the Air Force
Reserve Command.
The land no longer needed as a result of the downsizing was
given to the March Joint Powers Authority, a commission that
represents the county and the base's adjoining cities. This land,
now called March GlobalPort, is being developed as an air cargo
center.
Once Tanker Town's gas station and auto repair shop, this has
been vacant for a decade now. Too bad, we could use it right now as
gas prices are headed toward $4 a gallon.
If you look just north from here you will see what is now
Somerset Academy and "Corporate Connections"
which used to be the preschool and daycare center. Beyond that to
the east was the youth center and its associated ball fields now
under management by the National Forest Service.
Congratulations to MrFRJr for being FTF. This is
particularly rewarding for us because we introduced him to
geocaching a little over a year ago when he smog-checked our car.