Location
Beale AFB is located approximately 50 miles north of Sacramento, the California state capitol, and 140 miles east of the culturally rich San Francisco Bay Area. Beale AFB is surrounded by rice fields and grazing land.
History
Beale Air Force Base not only has a unique mission, it was named for a unique individual. Unlike most other bases that were named for aviators, Beale was named for Edward Fitzgerald Beale (1822-1893), the nineteenth century pioneer. Beale graduated from the Naval Academy, served in the California militia, and led the experiment to replace Army mules with camels. Camp Beale opened in October 1942, as a training site for the 13th Armored and the 81st and 96th Infantry Divisions. During World War II, Camp Beale's 86,000 acres were home for more than 60,000 soldiers, a prisoner-of-war encampment, and a 1,000-bed hospital. In 1948, the camp transferred from the Army to the Air Force. The Air Force conducted bombardier and navigator training at Beale and in 1951 reactivated the Beale Bombing and Gunnery Range for aviation engineer training. The base has been under several commands, including: Air Training Command, Continental Air Command, Aviation Engineer Force, the Strategic Air Command, and since June 1, 1992, Air Combat Command.
In May 1959, Colonel Paul K. Carlton assumed command of the recently activated 4126th Strategic Wing. The first two KC-135s arrived two months later on July 7, 1959. On January 18, 1960, the 31st Bombardment Squadron with its B-52s arrived at Beale to become part of the wing. The 14th Air Division moved to Beale from Travis AFB, one week later.
On February 1, 1963, SAC redesignated the 4126th as the 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing. On September 30, 1975, the 456th Bombardment Wing deactivated and the 17th Bombardment Wing activated in its place. On September 30, 1976, the 17th deactivated and the 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz., became the 100th Air Refueling Wing and moved to Beale. Many of the people and the tankers that had been part of the 17th now became members of the 100th. The 17th Wing's B-52s moved to other bases. The 100th ARW stayed at Beale until March 15, 1983, when the Air Force deactivated the wing and consolidated its refueling mission and assets into the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. From 1959 until 1965, Beale was support base for three Titan I missile sites near Lincoln, Chico, and the Sutter Buttes. On July 1, 1979, the 7th Missile Warning Squadron brought the Phased Array Warning System (PAVE PAWS) Radar site to Beale. This 10-story structure can detect possible attack by sea-launched ballistic missiles or track a global satellite.
On October 15, 1964, the Department of Defense announced that Beale would be the home of the new, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, the SR-71 "Blackbird." The 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing activated on January 1, 1965. The new wing received its first aircraft, a T-38 Talon, on July 8, 1965. The first SR-71 did not arrive until January 7, 1966.
On June 25, 1966, the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, that began as the 9th Observation Group in 1922 and its 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron activated as the 1st Aero Squadron in 1913, replaced the 4200th.
The first U-2 arrived from Davis-Monthan on July 12, 1976. Until January 26, 1990, when budget restrictions forced the retirement of the SR-71, Beale AFB was the home of two of the world's most unique aircraft.
In July 1994, the 350th Air Refueling Squadron transferred from Beale to McConnell AFB, Kansas, taking the last of the KC-135Q tankers with it. Tankers returned in 1998 when the 940 th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit, transferred to Beale. In 2001, the 12 th Reconnaissance Squadron activated at Beale as the parent organization for the GLOBAL HAWK, the Air Force's newest high-altitude reconnaissance platform. So today, Beale AFB is again the home for the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, the T-38 jet trainer and the KC-135 tanker. The first production GLOBAL HAWK will join them later this year. Visitors enter the base through a main gate that local merchants, individuals and the Beale Military Liaison Committee donated $100,000 to construct. The base, covering nearly 23,000 acres, is home for approximately 4,000 military personnel. Beale AFB has an unique name and mission, a historic past, and a promising future.
Mission
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is responsible for providing national and theater command authorities with timely, reliable, high-quality, high-altitude reconnaissance products. To accomplish this mission, the wing is equipped with the nation's fleet of U-2 and RQ-4 reconnaissance aircraft and associated support equipment. The wing also maintains a high state of readiness in its combat support and combat service support forces for potential deployment in response to theater contingencies. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is composed of more than 3,000 personnel in four groups at Beale and multiple overseas operating locations.
Population Served
The base is also host to a medium-sized community. The base includes:
3,500 active duty members comprised of 600 officers and 2,900 enlisted personnel
4,500 family members
540 civilians
1,000 reservists
Approximately 13,000 retirees, widows, and retiree family members
Sponsorship
Because of Beale's rural location, incoming personnel should ensure they have a sponsor assigned prior to arrival. Your sponsor should meet you and can ensure your move to Beale goes smoothly with all your in-processing needs met. If you do not have a sponsor, contact the Family Support Center or your gaining First Sergeant. The Family Support Center's number is DSN 368-2863 or (530) 634-2863. You can reach your First Sergeant by calling the base operator at DSN 368-3000 or (530) 634-3000.
Temporary Quarters
The Gold Country Inn operates Beale's temporary lodging facility. Reservations are encouraged to be made before your arrival by calling 530-634-2953 or DSN 368-2953. If you email your reservation to lodging.reservations@beale.af.mil be sure to include full name, rank, status (Active, Reserve, Retired, Government, Civilian), length of stay, purpose of stay, phone number, address, organization, date arriving, date departing date. On Beale's sites webpage click on the house tab for more information.
Relocation Assistance
Any assistance you need is just a phone call away by calling (530) 634-2863 or DSN 368-2863 during normal duty hours. FTAC (First Duty Station Personnel) will be attending a 3 week program before starting there career here at Beale. All other arriving personnel will attend a Right Start (New Comers Briefing) within two weeks of arrival. If you need loaner items while awaiting your shipment of household goods, you can check out sleeping mats, dishware, small appliances and folding tables and chairs, the Family Services loan locker, located in the temporary lodging facility area at (it is 5114B) 1541-B Tern Court, can assist you free of charge.
Critical Installation Information
An Outdoorsman's Paradise - Beale has vast open spaces including grazing land for cattle! Wild turkey, mule deer, jack rabbit and even coyotes occasionally roam the base's open fields. The rural nature of the area offers a quiet and safe environment for raising a family. The Yuba River, Feather River, Sacramento River and American River all offer a variety of water sports and recreational activities and are only minutes from Beale. Clear water reservoirs including Englebright and Camp Far West are only minutes from Beale. Oroville Lake, Collins Lake, Folsom Lake, Shasta Lake, Trinity Lake, Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe are all easily accessible from Beale.
Housing Privatization - Beale's on base house is going under privatization. You can get more information on the privatization progress at the Beale website, Housing Privatization and clicking on "What's New."
New California Driving Law - Anytime a driver must use their windshield wipers, their vehicle must have their headlights on. Additionally, drivers are required to have their headlights on anytime between dusk and dawn.
Base Driving Law - It is illegal to use a cell phone on base while driving unless you are using a hands-free device.
Child Care - Child Care at Beale is sometimes difficult to obtain. The Child Development Center's waiting list can be weeks to months depending upon the age of the child. Ensure you contact the center once you have received your orders to be placed on the waiting list in advance.