Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
| Seymour Johnson Air Force Base | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, North Carolina in the United States of America | |||||||
F-15E Strike Eagles of the 4th Fighter Wing based at Seymour Johnson AFB. | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Type | U.S. Air Force Base | ||||||
| Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||
| Operator | U.S. Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | Air Combat Command (ACC) | ||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||
| Website | www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/ | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
Seymour Johnson AFB Location in North America Seymour Johnson AFB Location in the United States Seymour Johnson AFB Location in North Carolina Seymour Johnson AFB Seymour Johnson AFB (North Atlantic) | |||||||
| Coordinates | 35°20′28″N 77°58′00″W / 35.34111°N 77.96667°W | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1942 | ||||||
| In use | 1942 – present | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Current commander | Colonel Kurt Helphenstine | ||||||
| Garrison | |||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: GSB, ICAO: KGSB, FAA LID: KGSB, WMO: 723066 | ||||||
| Elevation | 33.2 metres (109 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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| Source: Federal Aviation Administration | |||||||
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for U.S. Navy Lt. Seymour A. Johnson, a test pilot from Goldsboro who died in an F4F Wildcat crash near Norbeck, Maryland, on March 5, 1941.
In December 1941, $168,811 were authorized for the construction of a U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Training School. Local officials began working to have the field named in honor of Lieutenant Johnson; it is the only USAF base named in honor of a naval officer. Seymour Johnson Field was deactivated in May 1946.
In late 1952, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers arrived and demolished old buildings and began construction of new ones. Led by Goldsboro mayor Scott B. Berkeley Sr., local community leaders began a campaign to have the installation reopened. The efforts were successful, and on April 1, 1956, the renamed Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was opened for use by Tactical Air Command. Three months later, the 83rd Fighter Day Wing was assigned to the base as the primary unit.
In December 1957, the 4th Fighter Day Wing took up host responsibilities at the base from the 83rd Fighter Day Wing, which was inactivated.