Peterson Space Force Base - History

Edward J. Peterson was born in 1917, in Englewood, Colo., and attended public schools there. He graduated from Denver University with a Master of Arts degree.

Upon completion of flying training in October 1941, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Force. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1942, and was assigned as the operations officer of the 14th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colo., in July 1942.

As he was taking off on a flight to Lowry Field in Denver on Aug. 8, 1942, the left engine on his Lockheed F-4 failed and he crashed. Upon impact, the plane burst into flames. A base fire truck and crew were nearby, and Peterson was dragged out of the wreckage and taken to Glockner Hospital, now known as Memorial Hospital. With extensive burns on his head, chest and lower body, Peterson died a few hours later, becoming the first Coloradoan to lose his life in the line of duty at the base.

Peterson SFB traces its roots to the Colorado Springs Army Air Base, established April 28, 1942, at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport which had been in operation since 1926. The base carried out photo reconnaissance training under the auspices of the Photo Reconnaissance Operational Training Unit (PROTU). On June 22, 1942, Colorado Springs Army Air Base was assigned to the 2nd Air Force, headquartered at Fort George Wright, Wash. On Dec. 13, 1942, the base was renamed Peterson Army Air Base in honor of 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson, who was killed during takeoff in his F-4 here.

The base assumed a new mission in October 1943, that of heavy bomber combat crew training. The 383rd Bomb Group (Heavy) relocated here from Geiger Field in Washington to form the nucleus for a heavy bomber training operation, utilizing the B-24 “Liberator.” Before that, “Peterson Field,” as the base was commonly called, was assigned to the 3rd Air Force, headquartered at MacDill Field, Tampa, Fla. After October 1943, control of Peterson Field then reverted to the 2nd Air Force, headquartered in downtown Colorado Springs. In April 1944, the 383rd Bomb Group was inactivated and the training operation was re-designated the 214th Combat Crew Training School. In June 1944, the mission at the base once again changed, this time to fighter pilot training. The 268th Army Air Forces Base Unit, assigned to the base, employed P-40N Warhawks to carry out this mission under the control of the 72nd Fighter Wing. The 72nd FW was also headquartered at Peterson Field.

In April 1945, Peterson Field was assigned to Continental Air Forces. The location of the Army Air Forces Instructors School at the base sig­naled another mission change. A short time later, on Dec. 31, 1945, the Army inactivated the base, turning the property over to the city of Colorado Springs.

The legacy of Peterson Field and the military presence in Colorado Springs took a significant turn in September 1947, following the birth of the United States Air Force. Soon after its inception, the fledgling service twice reactivated the base, from Sept. 29, 1947 to Jan. 15, 1948, and again from Sept. 22, 1948 into 1949. During the latter period, the base served as an airfield for Headquarters, 15th Air Force which had been temporarily located in Colorado Springs. Peterson Field inactivated again when 15th Air Force moved to March Air Force Base, Calif., in 1949.

The Air Force activated Peterson Field once more, following the January 1951, establishment of Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, located in downtown Colorado Springs. The 4600th Air Base Group activated simultaneously on Jan. 1, 1951, and provided support for the newly established command. In 1958, the 4600th achieved wing status and was designated as the 4600th Air Base Wing. Subsequently, on April 1, 1975, the Air Force re-designated the wing as the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing. One year later, on March 1, 1976, Peterson Field was renamed Peterson Space Force Base.

Strategic Air Command assumed control of the base on Oct. 1, 1979. Then, on Sept. 1, 1982, USAF officials activated Air Force Space Command at Peterson, followed by the activation of the 1st Space Wing on Jan. 1, 1983. Peterson Air Force Base became the hub of Air Forces space activity when the 1st Space Wing assumed host unit responsibility following the inactivation of the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing on April 1, 1983. The 1st Space Wing then transferred host unit responsibility to the 3rd Space Support Wing which activated on Oct. 15, 1986. Finally, on May 15, 1992, these two wings inactivated and their personnel and equipment transferred to the 21st Space Wing which activated May 15, 1992.

21ST SPACE WING HERITAGE: ON GUARD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

The 21st Space Wing has stood guard for freedom and democracy from 1942 to 2005. During this period of 63 years, the wing has evolved through a series of missions and has served at numerous active duty locations worldwide. The 21st Space Wing proudly displays the honors of two earlier units that served in World War 11, the 21st Bombardment Group and the 21st Fighter Group.

The history of the 21st began in the first half of World War 11 when the 21st Bombardment Group activated at Bowman Field, Ky., in February 1942. From February to June 1942, the 21st Bombardment Group served as an operational training unit while rotating through Columbia Army Air Base, S.C., and Jackson Army Air Base and Key Field, in Mississippi. The group served longest at MacDill Field, Fla. From June 1942, until inactivation in October 1943, the 21st conducted anti-submarine patrols over the Caribbean Sea.

The 21st finished the last half of World War 11 in the Pacific Theater. The 21st Fighter Group activated in April 1944, at Wheeler Air Field, Hawaii. Between April 1944 and October 1946, the 21st Fighter Group steadily advanced across the Pacific alongside victorious American forces, never staying more than a few months in any location. In addition to Wheeler Field, the group also served at Mokuleia Field in Hawaii. Then, from February 1945, until inactivation in October 1946, the 21st relocated from Central Field and South Field on Iwo Jima to lsley Field on Saipan, to Northwest Field on Guam.

The 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, which activated Jan. 1, 1953, is the oldest direct ancestor of the 21st Space Wing. Originating at George Air Force Base, Calif., the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing served at Chambley Air Base, France, in the role of air defense from December 1954, until inactivation in February 1958. The wing received its official emblem while stationed overseas on July 23, 1957.

The 21st activated again as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing on July 1, 1958, this time in the Far East. The wing conducted the mission of air defense at Misawa Air Base, Japan until inactivation in June 1960.

The 21st served longest at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; in fact, a total of 25 years spanning 1966 to1991. The first thirteen years, July 1966 to October 1979, were carried by the 21st Composite Wing, called “composite” because of the several aircraft platforms used to conduct the wing’s three missions of air defense, airlift and search and rescue.

Then, on Oct. 1, 1979, the wing was re-designated as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing and streamlined to once again conduct the mission of air defense. The wing served in this capacity at Elmendorf until inactivation on Dec. 19, 1991.

The wing’s second longest station of service has been at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., from 1992 to 2008. Activated as the 21st Space Wing on May 15, 1992, the unit shed its past history of flying to become the world’s largest and most diverse military space wing.