Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, Mississippi, on the Gulf Coast. Established in 1941 and named after 2nd Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., a Mississippi aviator killed in World War I, it is part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
Mission:
Keesler AFB’s primary mission is training. It is one of the largest technical training wings in AETC, offering a wide range of courses in:
- Electronics
- Cyber warfare
- Intelligence
- Logistics
- Communications
- Weather reconnaissance
Units:
- 81st Training Wing (81 TW): The host wing at Keesler AFB, responsible for various training programs.
- Second Air Force (2 AF): Oversees all Air Force enlisted professional military education and technical training.
- 403d Wing (403 WG): An Air Force Reserve unit providing airlift and weather reconnaissance capabilities.
Significance:
Keesler AFB plays a crucial role in training Air Force personnel for various technical and support specialties. It also serves as a significant economic driver for the Biloxi area, supporting thousands of military and civilian jobs.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2020) |
Keesler Air Force Base (IATA: BIX, ICAO: KBIX, FAA LID: BIX) is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city along the Gulf Coast in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France during the First World War. The base is home of Headquarters, Second Air Force (2 AF) and the 81st Training Wing (81 TW) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
| Keesler Air Force Base | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biloxi, Mississippi in United States of America | |||||||
 A C-130J-30 Super Hercules of the 815th Airlift Squadron takes off from Keesler AFB | |||||||
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  Keesler AFB  Keesler AFB  Keesler AFB | |||||||
| Coordinates | 30°24′41″N 88°55′25″W / 30.41139°N 88.92361°W | ||||||
| Type | US Air Force Base | ||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||
| Operator | US Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | Air Education and Training Command (AETC) | ||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||
| Website | www.keesler.af.mil | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1941 (as Keesler Field) | ||||||
| In use | 1941 – present | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Garrison |
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| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: BIX, ICAO: KBIX, FAA LID: BIX, WMO: 747686 | ||||||
| Elevation | 9.9 m (32.6 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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| Source: Federal Aviation Administration | |||||||
The base has specialized in ground trade training since its opening in 1941 during World War II. It has had high-quality technical schools and absorbed units moved from other bases under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC).
