Base History \ Arrival
Columbus Air Force Base is located in Columbus, Mississippi, and is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Located in Lowndes County, Columbus is considered a low-cost military town and is home to many retirees. Many popular travel spots such as New Orleans, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and the Gulf Coast are within 350 miles driving distance from Columbus. The base operator's phone number is 662-434-7322; DSN 312-742-1110.
History
The installation's history began June 26, 1941 with the War Department's approval to establish an Army Air Field for the Columbus area. Initially, the base was a training facility for fighters and bombers. The Columbus flying sc
hool received its first aircraft--nine Lockheed AT-10s and twenty-one AT-8s--in early 1942. Twenty-five cadets arrived at Columbus in February 1942. A total of 7,766 students came to Columbus for pilot training during World War II. When the war ended in 1945, the base strength had reached a peak of 2,300 enlisted men, 300 officers, and an average of 250 pilot cadets per class. Columbus was void of activity for four years until communist troops violated South Korea's borders and fighting broke out in 1950. To handle increased pilot requirements for the Korean War, Air Training Command activated Columbus AFB on December 20, 1950, to be used as a station for a contract flying school. On April 1, 1955, HQ USAF transferred Columbus AFB from ATC control to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Second Air Force. After 14 years as a SAC base, on July 1, 1969, HQ USAF transferred Columbus back to Air Training Command and to its original mission of training pilots. For more history on Columbus AFB, view the installationhomepage.
Mission
"Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen, Feed the Fight." The 14th Flying Training Wing, under the Air Education Training Command (AETC), is responsible for an intensive 52-week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) program.
Population Served
Columbus AFB currently serves more than 11,500 personnel, comprised of 1,334 active duty military members, and an area populace of more than 10,123 personnel from the Reserves, other branches of service, Geographically Separated Units, family members, DoD civilians, contractors, and retirees.
Base Transportation
Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation other than the Base taxi for official use.
Sponsorship
If you do not currently have a sponsor, please call the Individualized Newcomer Treatment and Orientation (INTRO) manager at DSN 312-742-2626 or 662-434-2626, so that a sponsor can be assigned to assist you. For those spouses desiring a sponsor, a spouse-to-spouse sponsorship program is available by simply contacting the sponsor's gaining unit. It is very important to keep the active duty member's sponsor informed of any changes and/or concerns.
Upon your arrival to Columbus AFB, contact our 24-hour arrival point located in Building 956 Magnolia Inn DSN 312-742-2548 or 662-434-2548 for assistance in contacting your sponsor or obtaining general information about the base.
All personnel PCSing to Columbus AFB should have their mail forwarded to the address below, using an Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address order form (available from your servicing postal facility). Be sure to check "Yes" in Block 2 and include in Block 4 the date to discontinue forwarding (NLT 45 days after your arrival). Once you establish a permanent address you will need to complete a new change of address. Please be sure to notify all concerned of your new permanent address as soon as possible. Columbus AFB does not have an on-base Post Office
To have your mail forwarded while en-route or after being newly assigned, you may have it sent to your Name, General Delivery--680 Seventh Street, Suite 101, Columbus AFB MS 39710-6801.
Columbus Air Force Base is located in Columbus, Mississippi, and is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Located in Lowndes County, Columbus is considered a low-cost military town and is home to many retirees. Many popular travel spots such as New Orleans, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and the Gulf Coast are within 350 miles driving distance from Columbus. The base operator's phone number is 662-434-7322; DSN 312-742-1110.
History
The installation's history began June 26, 1941 with the War Department's approval to establish an Army Air Field for the Columbus area. Initially, the base was a training facility for fighters and bombers. The Columbus flying school received its first aircraft--nine Lockheed AT-10s and twenty-one AT-8s--in early 1942. Twenty-five cadets arrived at Columbus in February 1942. A total of 7,766 students came to Columbus for pilot training during World War II. When the war ended in 1945, the base strength had reached a peak of 2,300 enlisted men, 300 officers, and an average of 250 pilot cadets per class. Columbus was void of activity for four years until communist troops violated South Korea's borders and fighting broke out in 1950. To handle increased pilot requirements for the Korean War, Air Training Command activated Columbus AFB on December 20, 1950, to be used as a station for a contract flying school. On April 1, 1955, HQ USAF transferred Columbus AFB from ATC control to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Second Air Force. After 14 years as a SAC base, on July 1, 1969, HQ USAF transferred Columbus back to Air Training Command and to its original mission of training pilots. For more history on Columbus AFB, view the installationhomepage.
Mission
"Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen, Feed the Fight." The 14th Flying Training Wing, under the Air Education Training Command (AETC), is responsible for an intensive 52-week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) program.
Population Served
Columbus AFB currently serves more than 11,500 personnel, comprised of 1,334 active duty military members, and an area populace of more than 10,123 personnel from the Reserves, other branches of service, Geographically Separated Units, family members, DoD civilians, contractors, and retirees.
Base Transportation
Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation other than the Base taxi for official use.
Sponsorship
If you do not currently have a sponsor, please call the Individualized Newcomer Treatment and Orientation (INTRO) manager at DSN 312-742-2626 or 662-434-2626, so that a sponsor can be assigned to assist you. For those spouses desiring a sponsor, a spouse-to-spouse sponsorship program is available by simply contacting the sponsor's gaining unit. It is very important to keep the active duty member's sponsor informed of any changes and/or concerns.
Upon your arrival to Columbus AFB, contact our 24-hour arrival point located in Building 956 Magnolia Inn DSN 312-742-2548 or 662-434-2548 for assistance in contacting your sponsor or obtaining general information about the base.
All personnel PCSing to Columbus AFB should have their mail forwarded to the address below, using an Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address order form (available from your servicing postal facility). Be sure to check "Yes" in Block 2 and include in Block 4 the date to discontinue forwarding (NLT 45 days after your arrival). Once you establish a permanent address you will need to complete a new change of address. Please be sure to notify all concerned of your new permanent address as soon as possible. Columbus AFB does not have an on-base Post Office
To have your mail forwarded while en-route or after being newly assigned, you may have it sent to your Name, General Delivery--680 Seventh Street, Suite 101, Columbus AFB MS 39710-6801.
Homes Near Base
