CoBases – US Military Bases

Category: Missouri

There are 3 military bases in Missouri

  • Whiteman Air Force Base

    Officially named as Whitman Air Force Base, this United States Air Force base covers approximately acres of land. The center was first run by the Army Air Forces’ XII Troop Carrier Command unit but is currently being run by the 509th Bombing Wing and commanded jointly by BG Scott A. Vander Hamm as the Bomb Wing Commander and Sergeant Tim Cooley as the Command Chief Master Sergeant.  This base hosts both units of the Army and Navy units and air force; the Bombing Wing of the Air National Guard of Missouri is hosted in this center. The center also oversees the Air Force Strike Command as well as host to many others.

    Whiteman Air Force Base Facts

    • Website: Visit Whiteman Website ›
    • Location: Johnson County, near Knob Noster, Missouri
    • Phone: (660) 687-1110
    • Latitude: 38.728911
    • Longitude: -93.560535
    • DSN: 975-1110

    The Facility was initially set up during the First World War for use as WACO glider pilots’ training center. It began by workers building a rail road on what used to be known as the ‘Blue Flats’. Other link roads and structures were constructed quickly.  The runway is made of concrete totaling over 27,800 square yards, which was constructed by pouring out whiles driving a Midwest rainstorm. The official opening ceremony of the base was conducted in 1942.

    B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber at Whiteman AFB

    B2 bomber comes out of Whiteman AFB hangar

    Some sick bombers B2 at Whiteman Air Force Base

    Whiteman Air Force Base Tower

    The air facilities at the center were used for transporting personnel as well as other types of cargo. The C-47 and C-46 aircrafts were used for the transport services in addition to other gliders. The center provides training for instructors for all the training bases for combat crew; in effect, it was a training center for trainers. Most of the buildings at the base were brought down in 1940s and the facility closed. However during the cold war, it was opened again and the facility used as a bombardment wing. Whiteman Base became host to Minuteman ICBM wing, which was the fourth in the series. The vase was rebuilt in the famous excavation exercise, where large surface of concrete was laid at the base.

  • Fort Leonard Wood

    Located in Missouri in the Ozarks, this military installation was named after an ex chief of staff of the United States, General Leonard Wood. The facility has its main gate at St. Robert’s southern boundary and was established in 1940. The initial intention of setting up the facility is to train new infantry troops, but was eventually used a training facility for engineering officers. When the Fort McClellan was shut down, operations of the Chemical Corps of the Army and the training schools for Military Police Corps were transferred to the Fort Leonard Wood Base. The center is commanded by Major General David E. Quantock, assisted by Major Corbly L. Elsbury, who are the commanding general and sergeant general respectively. The facility is also nick-named the “Fort Lost in the Woods of Misery” by those who visit the facility and the military officers as well.

    Missouri Fort Leonard Wood Facts

    The Leonard Wood Fort was used to train replacement officers for engineers of the Army because of its remote location; out of town and in the mountains where temperature and other conditions can be very extreme. The facility has mainly been used for all kinds of training all over the years. With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the facility is being used by the 94th Engineering Battalion, when it was relocated to the United States from Germany.  It also offers combat training to mostly non-combat army officers as well as other engineering units. The unit gives equal opportunity to both male and female trainees, except in the case combat training, some models which are not open to women. Leadership courses are offered at both Advanced and Senior levels and are mainly for Engineering, Chemical and Military Police departments.  The training schools turn out a large number of warrant officers and other officers, including Captains and officers of other senior ranks.

    Headquarter at Fort Leonard Wood

    Fort Leonard Wood main gate

    Model of Fort Leonard Wood

    Fort Leonard Wood Soldier practice