Hamilton Army Airfield Site (Novato, California)

USA / California / Santa Venetia / Novato, California / Main Gate Road
 wetland, interesting place, closed / former military, historic landmark
Known at first unofficially as the Marin County Air Field, as Marin Airfield, as Marin Meadows Air Field, and as the Army Air Base at Marin Meadows, it was officially termed from 1929 until 1932 the "Air Corps Station, San Rafael." Then, with formal development beginning, it was named Hamilton Army Air Field on July 1932.

Hamilton was originally designed as a bomber installation. It then became a fighter base under the USAAC Air Force Combat Command in December 1940, becoming the home of the 9th, 10th and 11th Pursuit Wings. Redesignated 12 July 1932 in honor of 1st Lt. Lloyd A. Hamilton, a Marin County native and World War I ace, who was killed in action over Langrecourt, France, in World War I. Airfield opened for active operations on 27 June 1933.

Formerly home to the Headquarters, 7th Bombardment Group from 1934 to 1935 and 1937 to 1940, the Headquarters, 20th Pursuit Group, the Headquarters, 35th Pursuit Group, the Headquarters, 10th Pursuit Wing from 1940 to 1941, the Headquarters, 11th Pursuit
Wing from 1940 to 1941, the Headquarters, 20th Pursuit Group from 1940 to 1941, the Headquarters, 35th Pursuit Group from 1940 to 1941, the Headquarters and 5th Air Base Squadron from 1936 to 1940, the 9th Bombardment Squadron from 1934 to 1940, the 11th Bombardment Squadron from 1934 to 1940, the 18th Pursuit Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 20th Pursuit Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 21st Pursuit Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 22nd Bombardment Squadron in 1940, the 31st Bombardment Squadron from 1934 to 1938, the 34th Pursuit Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 55th Pursuit Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 69th Service Squadron from 1935 to 1936, the 70th Service Squadron from 1933 to 1936, the 77th Pursuit Squadron from 1939 to 1941, the 82nd Observation Squadron from 1940 to 1941, the 88th Observation Squadron from 1935 from 1940, the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron from 1940 to 1941.

Hamilton Field was decommissioned in 1988 as a result of BRAC. Following its closure, many of the facilities at the airfield have been reclaimed by the city of Novato and county of Marin for public use. Several structures have been removed and replaced with a housing subdivision known as Hamilton Landing. Some of the hangars have been converted into offices, retaining their façade while being renovated on the inside. Several other old AAF/AFB buildings remain intact, either awaiting demolition or renovation. The U.S. Coast Guard currently owns 282 Spanish style duplexes and homes; these units were part of the old Hamilton Air Force Base housing. The old runways have been removed and the airfield is being restored as wetlands.

www.militarymuseum.org/HamiltonAFB.html
www.airjeffphotos.com/Museums-and-Airfields/2016-Hamilt...
www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/hamilton.htm
www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_SanRafael.htm...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Air_Force_Base
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   38°3'34"N   122°30'41"W

Comments

  • Also a popular Mythbusters filming location.
  • I always remember flying in here in 1969. It was a really quiet AFB, and really looked nice.
This article was last modified 5 years ago