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{{Short description|US Air Force base near Omaha, Nebraska}}
{{redirect|Offutt Field|the Pennsylvania athletic field|Offutt Field (Greensburg)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
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| pushpin_label = Offutt AFB
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| battles =
| events =
| current_commander = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = [[55th Wing]] (Host Wing)
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| WMO = 725540
| elevation = {{Convert|319.7|m|0}}
| r1-number =
| r1-length = {{Convert|3567|m|0}}
| r1-surface = Concrete
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==History==
Offutt AFB is named in honor of [[Jarvis Offutt|First Lieutenant Jarvis
===Fort Crook===
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{{Main|Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant}}
[[File:Offutt field - 1940s.jpg|thumb|Offutt in the mid-1940s as a war production plant for the Glenn L. Martin company]]
In 1940 as American involvement in World War II loomed, the Army Air Corps chose Offutt Field as the site for a new bomber plant that was to be operated by the [[Glenn L. Martin Company]]. The plant's construction included a two-mile (3.2 km)-long concrete runway, six large hangars, and a {{convert|1700000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} aircraft-assembly building.
Production switched to [[B-29 Superfortress]] very heavy bombers in 1944, and 531 Superfortresses were produced before the end of [[World War II]]. Among these were the ''[[Enola Gay]]'' and ''[[Bockscar]]'', the B-
Production ended on 18 September 1945, when the last B-29 rolled out of the assembly building. With the manufacturing plant's closure, custody of the airfield and ground facilities were assumed by the 4131st Army Air Force Base Unit, Air Materiel Command.
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In the initial months after the end of World War II, Offutt was used by the 2474th Separation Processing squadron to demobilize service members out of the armed forces after their return from overseas duty. In June 1946, the Army Air Force re-designated Fort Crook and the Martin-Nebraska facilities as Offutt Field. It became the headquarters for the [[Air Defense Command]] [[Second Air Force]] on 6 June. In 1947, the airfield opened for operational use, with the [[381st Bombardment Group]] being assigned to the field with one squadron of B-29 Superfortresses, although the facility remained primarily a separation center.
The newly established United States Air Force took control of the facility in September 1947, and on 13 January 1948, it was renamed Offutt Air Force Base. Later that same year, on 26 September, the 3902nd Air Base Group (later Wing) became the host unit at Offutt under [[A. J. Beck]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MAJOR GENERAL A.J. BECK |publisher=Air Force e-Publishing |url=http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4635 |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411010217/http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4635 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=11 April 2008}}</ref>
===Strategic Air Command===
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Operational use of Offutt Air Force Base included the basing of alert tankers in the late 1950s and 1960s, support for intercontinental ballistic missile sites in Nebraska and Iowa in the 1960s, and worldwide reconnaissance from the mid-1960s to the present.
To provide air defense of the base, the United States Army established the [[Offutt AFB Defense Area]], and [[Nike Hercules|Nike-Hercules]] surface-to-air missile sites were constructed during 1959. Sites were located near Cedar Creek, Nebraska (OF-60) {{Coord|40|59|00|N|096|05|28|W}}, and Council Bluffs, Iowa (OF-10) {{Coord|41|13|47|N|095|41|58|W}}. They were operational between November 1960 and March 1966. The missiles were operated by the 6th Battalion, [[43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment|43rd Artillery]].<ref>
During the Cold War, a [[general officer|general]] and various support personnel from the base were airborne 24 hours a day on an [[Boeing EC-135|EC-135]] from 3 February 1961 to 24 July 1990 in [[Looking Glass (airplane)|Operation Looking Glass]], creating an airborne command post in case of war.
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Offutt again faced changes in 1992 when the easing of world tensions allowed the United States to reorganize the Air Force. The [[Strategic Air Command]] was inactivated on 1 June, succeeded by the [[United States Strategic Command|U.S. Strategic Command]] ([[USSTRATCOM]]), a [[Unified Combatant Command]] of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. The 55th Strategic Wing then became the [[55th Wing]], under the newly created [[Air Combat Command]].
In 1998, the [[Strategic Air and Space Museum]] moved 30 miles (48
In 2005, Offutt began several major renovations. The on-base [[Kenneth S. Wherry|Wherry]] housing area was demolished for replacement with new housing. A new fire house, [[AAFES]] mini-mall, and U.S. Post Office were completed in 2006. Additionally, the Air Force Weather Agency broke ground on a new facility which was completed in 2008.
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The new headquarters for STRATCOM, the Command and Control Facility (C2F), is expected to be operational in September 2018.<ref name="vice">{{cite news |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mb4j5y/the-us-military-has-a-new-facility-for-overseeing-nuclear-war |title=The US Military Has a New Facility for Overseeing Nuclear War |first=Dave |last=Axe |date=10 July 2018 |publisher=[[Vice Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710222305/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mb4j5y/the-us-military-has-a-new-facility-for-overseeing-nuclear-war |archive-date=10 July 2018}}</ref>
The base sustained significant damage in the spring of 2019 as a result of the [[2019 Midwestern U.S. floods|Missouri River flooding]]; at one point, almost half of the base's runway was underwater. Flight operations and some support staff were temporarily relocated to nearby [[Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)|Lincoln Air National Guard Base]] while repairs (as well as some pre-planned construction projects) were undertaken.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |title=Lincoln Airport approves deal with Air Force for Offutt planes |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-airport-approves-deal-with-air-force-for-offutt-planes/article_7506c781-2e05-5c15-9ca4-d7347b31ada3.html |website=JournalStar.com |date=15 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Losey |first1=Stephen |title=Floodwaters overwhelm one-third of Offutt; nine aircraft evacuated |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/03/18/floodwaters-overwhelm-one-third-of-offutt-nine-aircraft-evacuated/ |website=Air Force Times |date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
===President Bush Offutt Conference on 11 September 2001===
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Bush, who was in Florida at the [[Emma Booker Elementary School]] in [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]]<ref name=time /> at the time of the attacks, first flew from [[Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport]] to [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale AFB]] in [[Louisiana]] and then to Offutt en route back to Washington, DC. Bush arrived at 2:50pm, conducted a video conference in an underground command bunker and left for Washington, DC at 4:30pm.<ref name="time">{{cite web |author=Cline, Austin |url=http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/09/11/september-11-2001-timeline-of-events.htm |title=September 11, 2001: Timeline of Events |publisher=About.com Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518072556/http://atheism.about.com/b/2006/09/11/september-11-2001-timeline-of-events.htm|archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=11 September 2006}}</ref>[[Image:White-house-offutt.jpg|thumb|President George W. Bush at the Offutt AFB command bunker on 11 September 2001|alt=|left]] [[Air Force One]] left Barksdale AFB for Offutt AFB around 1:30pm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Offutt Air Force Base|url=http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=offutt_air_force_base|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> The Air Force One entourage was pared down to a few essential staffers such as [[Ari Fleischer]], [[Andrew Card]], [[Karl Rove]], [[Dan Bartlett]], Brian Montgomery, and [[Gordon Johndroe]], plus about five reporters.<ref name=mashable>{{cite web|last1=Kohn|first1=David|title=Bush's Press Secretary Live-Tweets 9/11 From His Perspective|url=http://mashable.com/2014/09/11/bush-press-secretary-ari-fleischer-tweeting-911/|website=mashable.com|date=11 September 2014|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> During the flight, Bush remained in "continuous contact" with both the [[White House Situation Room]] and Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] in the [[Presidential Emergency Operations Center]].<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|last1=Langely|first1=William|title=Revealed: what really went on during Bush's 'missing hours|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1365455/Revealed-what-really-went-on-during-Bushs-missing-hours.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1365455/Revealed-what-really-went-on-during-Bushs-missing-hours.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=8 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Air Force One landed at Offutt shortly before 3:00pm.<ref name=time /> At 3:06pm, Bush passed through security to the US Strategic Command Underground Command Center ({{Coord|41|06|50|N|095|55|04|W}})<ref name=time /> and was taken into an underground bunker designed to withstand a nuclear blast.<ref name=telegraph /> There, he held a teleconference call with Vice President Cheney, National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]], Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Deputy Secretary of State [[Richard Armitage (politician)|Richard Armitage]], CIA Director [[George Tenet]], Transportation Secretary [[Norman Mineta]], and others.<ref name=telegraph /> The meeting lasted about an hour. Rice recalled that during the meeting, Tenet told Bush, "Sir, I believe it's [[al-Qaeda]]. We're doing the assessment but it looks like, it feels like, it smells like al-Qaeda."<ref name=60min>{{cite web|last1=Kohn|first1=David|title=Bush on 9/11: Moment To Moment|date=2 September 2003 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bush-on-9-11-moment-to-moment/|publisher=CBS News|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> The White House staff was preparing for Bush to address the nation from the Offutt bunker, but Bush decided instead to return to Washington.<ref name=telegraph /> Air Force One left Offutt around 4:30pm.<ref name="time" />
===Whistleblower suit===
In May 2011, base civilian employee George Sarris successfully settled with the government over claims that he was subjected to retaliation for talking to the media in 2008 about poor maintenance of RC-135 aircraft at the base. After Sarris' allegations appeared in the ''[[Kansas City Star]]'', base officials revoked his security clearance and reassigned him to menial duties. Later investigations by the government substantiated many of Sarris' claims. As part of the settlement, the USAF agreed to pay Sarris his full salary until he retired in 2014 and paid $21,000 of his attorney's fees.<ref name="star">{{cite news|url=http://whistleblower.org/multimedia/kansas-city-star-air-force-whistleblower-settles-claims|title=Air Force whistleblower settles claims|last1=McGraw|first1=Mike|newspaper=Kansas City Star|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> After retiring, Sarris published a book titled, ''Cowardice in Leadership – A Lesson in Harassment, Intimidation, and Reprisals''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.mybookorders.com/Orderpage/1384|title=Cowardice in Leadership|last1=Sarris|first1=George|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> Ten years after Sarris blew the whistle, the ''[[Omaha World-Herald|Omaha World Herald]]'' published a three-part series titled "In-flight emergency", which confirmed his earlier claims.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/news/in-flight-emergency-an-investigation-into-flight-safety-at-offutt/collection_14992f1c-f68d-5330-9a65-fe89d3727760.html|title=In-flight emergency: An investigation into flight safety at Offutt's 55th Wing|website=Omaha.com|date=23 June 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref>
===Previous names===
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===2019 shooting===
In September 2019, a shooting took place in Offutt's private housing community, killing Sgt. Zachary Firlik and his wife Kari Firlik.<ref name=shootingrepor1>{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Jessica |last2=Cole |first2=Kevin |title=2 dead in shooting near Offutt identified as active-duty service member, spouse |url=https://www.omaha.com/news/crime/dead-in-shooting-near-offutt-identified-as-active-duty-service/article_eee7d0dc-5feb-58f6-ab8d-7197b500f22f.html |website=Omaha.com |date=30 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=THAYER |first1=ROSE L. |title=Father confirms daughter's death in Offutt Air Force Base shooting |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/father-confirms-daughter-s-death-in-offutt-air-force-base-shooting-1.601497 |website=Stars and Stripes}}</ref> The case was identified as a murder-suicide; the shooter, Zachary Firlik, was an active off-duty airman,<ref name=shootingrepor1 /> who afterwards killed himself.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liewer |first1=Steve |title=Offutt couple's deaths being investigated as murder-suicide, court documents say |url=https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/bellevue/offutt-couple-s-deaths-being-investigated-as-murder-suicide-court/article_f9d7555b-895e-552f-876a-d357cd09791e.html |website=Omaha.com |date=9 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==Role and operations==
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Flying and notable non-flying units based at Offutt Air Force Base.<ref>{{cite journal|date=2018|title=Aircraft and Squadrons of the US Air Force|journal=United States Air Force Air Power Review 2018|publisher=Key Publishing|pages=84–86}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offutt.af.mil/Units/55th-Wing/|title=55th Wing|website=Offutt AFB|publisher=US Air Force|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.557weatherwing.af.mil/Units/|title=Units|website=557th Weather Wing|publisher=US Air Force|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.8af.af.mil/Units/595th-Command-and-Control-Group/|title=595th Command and Control Group|website=8th Air Force|publisher=US Air Force|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stratcom.mil/About/|title=About|website=US Strategic Command|publisher=Department of Defense|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-10 |title=Wing Fact Sheet 655th ISRW |url=https://www.445aw.afrc.af.mil/Portals/117/Documents/Fact%20Sheets/AFR%20Wing%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20655%20ISRW_April%202019.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828033027/https://www.445aw.afrc.af.mil/Portals/117/Documents/Fact%20Sheets/AFR%20Wing%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20655%20ISRW_April%202019.pdf |archive-date=2021-08-28 |access-date=2022-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-08 |title=20 Intelligence Squadron (ACC) |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/862205/20-intelligence-squadron-acc/ |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
Units marked GSU are
=== United States Air Force ===
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**** 488th Intelligence Squadron
*** 55th Communications Group
**** 55th
**** 55th Strategic Communications Squadron
*** 55th Maintenance Group
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** [[960th Cyberspace Wing]]
*** [[960th Cyberspace Operations Group]]
**** 52nd Network Warfare Squadron (GSU)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.960cyber.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/Units/ | title=Units }}</ref>
'''[[Air National Guard]] (ANG)'''
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== General's Row ==
Most of the high-ranking officials at Offutt live on General's Row, a row of 4-story duplexes that
==Radio transmissions==
Because of its central position in the US, radio traffic to and from Offutt is often heard by [[shortwave]] listeners on 11175 kHz, USB.<ref>
==Demographics==
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| image_map1 = Offutt-map.gif
| mapsize1 = 250px
| map_caption1 = U.S. Census
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
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==Education==
Most of the base is in the [[Bellevue Public Schools]] [[school district]]. A portion is in the [[Papillion-La Vista School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st31_ne/schooldistrict_maps/c31153_sarpy/DC20SD_C31153.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004012037/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st31_ne/schooldistrict_maps/c31153_sarpy/DC20SD_C31153.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-04 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sarpy County, NE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-10-03}}</ref>
==Offutt in popular culture==
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Offutt is also mentioned in Strike Three, a post-apocalyptic novel, by Joy V. Smith.
An aerial view of Offutt is used as a photographic reference on an SCPF Secure Facility Dossier for Site-19.<ref name="SCP Secure Facility Dossier: Site-19">{{cite web |last1=Filipp |first1=Scientist |title=Secure Facility Dossier: Site-19 - SCP Sandbox III |url=http://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/collab:scp-site-19 |website=scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com |access-date=20 February 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
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* [[SAC Elite Guard]]
* [[David Wade (Louisiana general)|David Wade]], Strategic Air Command chief of staff at Offutt in middle 1950s
==References==
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