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McChord Field, tucked away in the Pacific Northwest, maintains an understated presence. Yet this subdued outpost plays a vital role in major conflicts around the world. On July 3, 1940, McChord officially opened as a training base, developing bomber crews for aircraft such as B-17s, B-18s, B-25s, B26s, and even some of the Doolittle Raiders. Strategically located, McChord functioned as an aircraft modification center, producing P-39s, the Soviet Unions most venerable aircraft, as well as a homeland defense center during World War II. The dawning of the Cold War expanded air defense operations with the newly formed Air Defense Command, receiving the P-61, followed by the F-86, F-102, F-106, and F-15. A global airlift hub using C-124s, C-141s, and C-17s, McChord has supported humanitarian, Antarctic, and wartime missions for America.
About the author
Kimberly Peterson is a military researcher with over 22 years of experience studying military operations and culture spanning the Pacific, European, Southwest Asian theaters, as well as World War II home-front efforts. She is a world traveler, an expert on modern military lifestyle, and an award-winning photographer. She employs her skills to research and develop the untold story of McChord Field from its origins to the present day, using rare and memorable photographs from the Air Force Historical Agency and the McChord Museum.
