History

“The Warthog” by Melissa LaScaleia The A-10 Thunderbolt II was developed in the 1960s for the United States Air Force by the OEM team from Fairchild Republic Company.  The military commissioned a new close-air support aircraft that would be an improvement to the legendary P-47 Thunderbolt used in the latter part of WWII— one that was rugged; survivable for pilots; and with the ultimate goal of providing superior protection to combat troops on the ground. In response, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, affectionately nicknamed “The Warthog,” was developed. It was equipped with dramatic low altitude and low speed maneuverability; accurate weapons delivery; “get home safe” survivability; and mission capable maintainability.  This design featured a titanium encasement that protected the pilot from injury, and dually redundant flight control systems that allowed the pilot to fly the aircraft out of enemy range, despite severe damage such as complete loss of hydraulic capability.  It also had short takeoff and landing capability, making it ideal for unpredictable terrain and territory abroad. And its simplicity of design meant that bases with limited facilities in war-time settings would still be able to service it. The first prototype Thunderbolt II made its initial flight on May 10, 1972; production of the craft commenced in 1975. The aircraft was first delivered to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in July 1977, and was that base’s primary aircraft. The Warthog has a span of 57 feet, 6 inches; it is 53 feet, 4 inches long; 17 feet, 8 inches high; and weighs 47,000 lb. It is equipped with two 9,000 lb engines. It can reach maximum speeds of 450 mph; cruising speed is 335 mph; and it costs $2.4 million. Aircraft and technology constantly change in the military. In the ’90s, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force disagreed on the fate of the A-10: the Army wanted to keep the aircraft in rotation, believing it was “a powerful close-air support asset.” The Air Force wanted to do away with it, believing it was limited in its capacity to low-threat environments.  The Air Force’s choice to phase out the A-10 aircraft was one of the contributing factor’s that lead to the closing of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, as the base was a hub housing that aircraft. The decision to keep the A-10 in the military line-up came after the decision was made to close the base.  The A-10 is still in use by the military today; the aircraft has been continuously modernized over the years. After its closing and the area subsequently redeveloped, Warbird Park was created in the Market Common to commemorate the history not only of the base itself, but of the illustrious history of the memorable and lovable A-10, as it was when the base was active.  Today, visitors can stop by the outdoor area of the park to see one of the original A-10s that used to be in service at the base.

Paul T. Johnson of the United States Air Force was a pilot who served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch & Operation Enduring Freedom. He did a job that not many people could handle; for that, we are all thankful.

Robert Emmens (front row, right), with the other crew members of plane #8 from the Doolittle Raid, on deck of the U.S.S. Hornet, April 18, 1942. A Pilot and The Area That Remembers Him by Melissa LaScaleia Emmens Preserve in the Market Common is named after Robert G. Emmens, who was born on July 22, 1914, in Medford, Oregon. He graduated from Medford High School in 1931, and from the years 1931-1934, attended the University of Oregon with the intention of becoming a physician.  But along the way, he decided to enlist in the Army Air Corps Reserve, and attended flight training school, graduating a pilot in 1938.  In 1941, he was called to active duty, and was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group at March Field, California, where he learned how to fly the B-25. February 1942 was the heighth of WWII. The Japanese had recently attacked Pearl Harbor, and U.S. morale was low. It was then that Robert, now a first lieutenant, volunteered to take part in a secret military mission— the details unknown even to the 80 volunteers that were chosen for the expedition. It was later revealed to history as the Doolittle Raid— as the mission was planned, led, and named after Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle. The plan for the attack was for U.S. soldiers to launch from a naval carrier in the Pacific Ocean, fly to Japan and bomb the area over Tokyo, then fly on to China and safety.  Robert was co-pilot to one of the sixteen B-25B Mitchell bombers launched on April 18, 1942 from the U.S.S. Hornet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. His was the eighth plane to take off— manned with a crew of five. The attack was also called the Tokyo Raid, so named for its intended purpose— to bomb Tokyo and retaliate against the Japanese. Each team either aborted the mission or crashed in China, with the exception of Robert’s plane, which had to make an emergency landing in Russia after successfully hitting target. Although the country was not on the side of Japan at this time, it was still a no-land zone, as Russia did not want to be seen as an American ally.  As the plane came to a stop in front of a Russian colonel and his group of soldiers, the Americans were initially greeted with guns and then smiles and a bottle of vodka. It was however, an uneasy peace; and Robert and his crewmen were ultimately held captive for thirteen months, subsisting on the same foods as the rest of the starving country— black bread and cabbage. Robert and his crew were determined to escape. They were being held in Ashkhabad when they found a sympathetic Soviet officer who connected them with an Afghani smuggler. The man supplied them with better food and other goods, and Robert and his crew paid the smuggler a total of $250 to take them across the border to Iran— money which they had won in a poker game the night before. From there, they made their way to India and got a flight to the United States. The mission, which had cost Robert and his crew so dearly, boosted American morale tremendously, and cast doubt in the minds of the Japanese about the impermeability of their nation to foreign invasion. It was ultimately hailed as a military success, and Doolittle promoted to Brigadier General. Robert later wrote a book about his time in captivity, Guests of the Kremlin. After his return to the United States, he continued his career in the military, graduating from Army Command and Staff School in Fort Leavenworth.  He served as Commander of the 494th Bomb Squadron at Lakeland, Florida until 1943. He was also Deputy Base Commander at Greenville Air Force Base in 1944. He served at United States Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon from 1948-1950, and then acted as an intelligence officer in Salzburg, Austria. He commanded the 342nd Fighter Day Wing, the first host unit at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base when it was newly built in 1955, and later served as vice-commander of the 354th Fighter-Day Wing.  Under his direction, construction at MBAF was completed at a rapid pace. He also served as Air Attaché to Japan, a country he ultimately grew to love, from June 1958 to September 1961.  He retired from the Air Force on June 10, 1964, and worked as a stockbroker and in real estate in his hometown.  He was married to Justine Emmens, and had three children. He passed away on April 2, 1992, of cancer.

While much is not known about Major General Ervin C. Sharpe’s early life, he achieved a prominent military career and made significant contributions to the prestige of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base towards the end of the base’s days in active service. Written by Melissa LaScaleia

The Persian Gulf Crisis and the Beginning of the End by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read Part 6.  By 1980, when President Jimmy Carter was in office, the 354th at Myrtle Beach became part of the president’s Rapid Deployment Force, also called the Rapid Deployment Task Force. By 1983, the Task Force became a separate entity called the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which focused exclusively on the Middle East in response to the tensions that were mounting there and preparation for ensuing conflict. In the early ’80s, Kuwait experienced a major economic crisis followed by several terrorist attacks. After this period of turmoil, an economic rivalry ensued between Iraq and Kuwait, the former accusing the latter of syphoning oil reserves. Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait in 1990, and the United States led a coalition to remove Iraqi forces from the country in what became known as the Gulf War. Just as it was during the Cold War and Vietnam War, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was a front-line base during the Gulf War. Under the parameters of CENTCOM, the 354th was now assigned to the United States Central Command Air Forces.  Consequently, in 1985, the 354th’s A-10 aircraft and personnel were deployed to Cairo West Air Base to engage in BRIGHT STAR exercises. There were two more such deployments— in 1987 and 1989, both from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The 354th Tactical Fighter Wing was one of the first Air Force units deployed to the Persian Gulf to offer aid in Operation Desert Shield, the name used to reference the operations taken leading up to the conflict. Aircraft from the 354th were also involved in Operation Desert Storm, the name given to the operations exacted between thirty-five countries to free Kuwait. During Desert Storm, aircraft flew early warning and Scud missile missions, as well as conducted search-and-rescue missions. The 354th were also involved in a ground support mission, cutting off enemy supply lines, and inflicting heavy damage to Iraqi artillery.  In March 1991, at the successful conclusion of the war, the 354th returned home to Myrtle Beach. On October 1, 1991, the Tactical Air Command was deactivated and the 354th was redesignated the 354th Fighter Wing.  The wing was reassigned to the new Air Combat Command. The mission of the Air Combat Command is to act as the primary force of airpower defense to America’s war-fighting factions. It is one of ten major commands of the United States Air Force. Despite the prominent role that the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base had played throughout the tumultuous theatre that was international relations during the 20th century, supporting and defending the United States with valor and prowess, there had been talk of closing the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base since the conclusion of the Vietnam War in the early ’70s.  The topic was continuously debated in congress, but Senators Strom Thurmond and Ernest Hollings staunchly advocated that the base remain open. Their arguments won the day and the base did.  Nevertheless, at the conclusion of the Cold War, the government had lessened its budget for defense spending and eyes consistently turned to the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base to question its necessity.  By the early ’90s, it was estimated that there were five more Air Force bases open across the United States than was necessary to provide the amount of support needed for our nation’s defense. To be continued. Click here to read Part 8, the conclusion. 

The Life and Legacy of a Memorable Base Commander by Melissa LaScaleia This month’s history section commemorates the valor of Colonel Joseph R. Nevers, for whom Nevers Street in the Market Common is named.  Colonel Nevers passed away on November 15, 2019, in Homestead, Florida; he was eighty-nine years old. Joseph had an illustrious military career with the United States Air Force that spanned thirty-five years.  Joseph was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on May 25, 1930. His parents were Joseph and Stephanie Nevers.   As an adult, he was a renowned fighter pilot in the Vietnam War and flew more than 7,700 military hours in the F-86, F-100, and F-104 aircraft.  In the 1950s, the F-100 Super Sabre replaced the F-86 in the Air Force with its superior design. The F-100 distinguished itself by being the first plane in the Air Force to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. The F-104, a further enhancement in the F series of planes, has been called a missile with wings by some pilots due to its speed and ability to climb quickly. Nevers logged 4,885 flying hours in the F-104— a number which was exceeded by only one other pilot in the United States Air Force.  Joseph flew F-104 combat missions during the Vietnam War. Later in the war, he served the United States further by acting as a Deputy Base Commander of a special operations wing operating from a base in Thailand. Joseph held other key assignments during his military career.  He was the director of F-104 operations at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; and Deputy Base Commander at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. During the ’70s, he was also Commander of the 354th Combat Support Group at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. In effect, he was the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing’s Base Commander for the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. He served for more than seven years, becoming our base’s longest serving commander.  Jim Parker, when he was stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1978, remembers meeting Colonel Nevers and what it was like to be stationed under his supervision:    “He was a well-liked base commander. He had a great reputation amongst the military as well as civilian employees and the community at large. I was 18 when I met him. I remember he made an impression on me with his ability to discern a person’s character. He was one of the highest authority figures I had ever met, and he was a role model for me as a community leader and an authority figure. He was well liked, and he was a gentleman and a scholar.”  Colonel Nevers served as base commander the entire time Jim was stationed here.  “He will be missed,” Jim says.  Colonel Joseph R. Nevers medals include: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and five Air Medals.  During his lifetime, Joseph was a member of several aviation organizations— among them: the EAA # 1354, OX 5 club, Quiet Birdmen, and the Daedalians.  Joseph was married twice: first to Patricia Nevers.  After her death, he married Patricia Dunn Nevers. He is succeeded by his children: Carol Nevers-Bernier, Linda Nevers, Joseph Nevers, and Mark Nevers; as well as his in-law’s children whom he took in as his own— Lynn Daly and Warren Breither.  Joseph is succeeded as well by numerous grandchildren as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and his favorite canine companion, Murphy. 

The Latter Vietnam War Years by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read Part 5.  As we continue our exploration of the history of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base throughout the 20th century, as well as the squadrons that were stationed there and abroad, our journey takes us this month back to Vietnam during the 1970s. The 354 Tactical Fight Wing flew combat operations in Vietnam until January 1973. They stayed in Laos until February 22, 1973, and Cambodia until August 15, 1973.  The last aggressive shot fired by the United States was from an A-7D aircraft of the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, on August 15, 1973.  The 354th TFW was returned from Thailand to its home base of Myrtle Beach on May 23, 1974. In May 1975, former Myrtle Beach A-7Ds were used in the SS Mayaguez Operation, the last combat action of the United States in Southeast Asia.  The incident took place between the United States and Kampuchea over the course of three days. The Khmer Rouge was the name attributed to the followers of the Kampuchea communist party, the regime which ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979. The incident began when the Khmer Rouge seized an American merchant vessel, the SS Mayaguez, when it was sailing in contested maritime waters.  United States marines mobilized and retaliated quickly— recapturing the ship, and pursuing the hostages to the island of Koh Tang. The skirmish lasted only a few days, and the hostages were released unharmed, but several Americans were captured and executed. This was the official last battle of the Vietnam War.    But even with the conclusion of American involvement in the most contentious war of that century, the 354th continued to see action. On February 1, 1974, the squadron was sent from Myrtle Beach to Howard Air Force Base in the Panama Canal for operation “Coronet Cove” to act as close air support for U.S. Army personnel training in that area. In April of that same year, A-7D aircraft from Myrtle Beach were sent to Hawaii for training exercises with army and marine units. Training like this with A-7D aircraft continued to occur until 1978, when the Air Force phased that aircraft out. The aircraft were retired to the service of the Air National Guard until the late 1980s. The A-7D was replaced by A-10A aircraft in 1977. The 354th at Myrtle Beach was the first wing in the Air Force fully trained, equipped, and ready to operate the new craft. They were fully implemented by the summer of 1978. Operating the new A-10s, and with their involvement in Asia over, the 354th reinstated their NATO commitments, and served terms around Europe in support of the training exercises, COMET, CORONET, and CRESTED CAP. The trainings were meant to familiarize troops with the European theater of operations as well as test the mettle of the troops’ long-term deployment capabilities.  In 1975, the City of Myrtle Beach and the military agreed to implement joint civilian and military activities at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.  Construction for what eventually became the Myrtle Beach International Airport commenced on the Northeast side of the base’s runway. And by 1977, the Myrtle Beach International Airport officially became a part of the city. To be continued. Click here to read Part 7. 

The Contentious ’70s by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read Part 4.  During the Vietnam War years, needs abroad for fighter units left the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base without any squadrons.  Air guardsmen were dispersed throughout parts of Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam as part of the war effort.  It has been argued that the fighter pilots of the Vietnam era who were stationed to serve in Korea had more difficult assignments than those who were staying in Vietnam.  Most who were serving terms in Korea had been taken individually from their original units and then reassigned with unknown troops. Alienated from their unit, and in a foreign place, their morale was severely impacted. The disorganization that ensued was eventually sorted, but caused many time-consuming hiccups along the way. After the prisoners of the USS Pueblo were released, and Operation Combat Fox subsequently ceased, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing again returned to duty in Korea.  In Korea, the military realized that the F-100C aircraft was not the optimal choice for the burden placed upon it— that of speed and agility in the event of an attack by the North Korean armies. Moreover, the plane lacked an effective all-weather, air-to-air combat capability— something which was essential for fighting in Korea.  On June 14, 1970, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated at Kunsan, and the following day, re-activated and transferred to Myrtle Beach. The wing was assigned with the new duties of combat crew training in T-33s and proficiency in operating the new A-7D aircraft.  By November, the 355 Tactical Fighter Squadron was reassigned to the 354th TFW; it was the first Myrtle Beach squadron to be equipped with A-7Ds.  The 354th TFW also received the manpower and equipment of the 4556th TFS and the 356th TFS from its deployment in Japan. In July 1971, the 353rd TFS was also reassigned to the 354th after its deployment in Spain, bringing more A-7D fighter craft as well.  Initially, the aircraft had separate codes painted onto their tails to distinguish one squadron from another. But by 1972, the military abolished this practice and all the tails were designated with a simple ‘MB’ for Myrtle Beach.  In September, squadrons from the 354th deployed into Southeast Asia with their A-7D aircraft in what was called operation Constant Guard VI. This was the first overseas deployment with that particular craft.  The wing was split into two components— Rear and Advanced. The Advanced ran combat operations from Korat, Thailand, and a small number were also stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam.  While there, personnel from the 354th were responsible for halting enemy supply lines of the North Vietnamese, supported U.S. ground troops, and guarded ally supply ships up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  In November, the 354th took over Combat Search and Rescue operations in Vietnam. The 354th TFW earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their courage, prowess, and service during the years 1972 and 1973 in Vietnam.  During the Linebacker II military campaign, they helped with 22 rescues of downed planes and flew over 4,000 combat attacks.  By March 1973, deployed squadrons from the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base were permanently assigned to Korat, Thailand, along with their A-7D aircraft.  To be continued. Click here to read Part 6. 

The Invaluable Contributions of the 354th by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read Part 3.  During the 1950s and beyond, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base saw considerable action in Eastern countries and other parts of the world, including Europe, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.  During these years, an estimated 3,500 civilian and military personnel were involved in keeping the military base at the ready to meet the needs of our country.  The 342nd Fighter-Day Wing was the wing that was initially activated at Myrtle Beach, then soon thereafter, on November 19, 1956, was redesignated the 354th Fighter-Day Wing. At the time of its initial activation, there were eighty-four officers, three warrant officers, and 911 enlisted men.  The squadrons of the 342nd were redesignated the 353rd, the 355th, and the 356th Fighter-Day Squadrons respectively.  On September 25, 1957, a fourth squadron, the 352nd Fighter-Day Squadron, was added onto the 354th Fighter-Day Wing. It was comprised of F-100 aircraft.  Each squadron had aircraft tails that were painted different colors indicating the squadron to which it belonged. The 353rd was red; the 355th was blue; the 356th was green; and the 352nd was yellow.  On July 8, 1958, the 354th Fighter-Day Wing was renamed the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing. The support elements for the newly designated wing were called the 354th Air Base Group. Beginning the year it was activated, the wing trained heavily for fighter-bomber missions overseas. And from 1958 through April 1966, at least one of its squadrons was always deployed overseas.  In the early years, the 354th acted mainly as support for NATO assignments, and squadrons with F-100 aircraft were often deployed to Europe. By 1958, after the Lebanon Crisis, squadrons rotated consistently between air force bases in Turkey and Aviano, Italy as part of NATO.  The first deployment the 354th made was to Aviano, Italy. On July 15, 1958, fighters went for 100 days to stand by in the event of an uprising over the presidential overthrow in Lebanon.  On September 4, 1961, eighteen F-100 aircraft from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base deployed to Hahn Air Base in West Germany, to act as support for the crisis that ensued as the Soviets were constructing the Berlin Wall.  The 354th Tactical Fighter Wing also deployed to Alaska for the months of February and March in 1963, due to that base’s proximity to the Soviet Union.  In 1962, part of all four squadrons were deployed to McCoy Air Force Base in Florida as a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  In 1965, the Dominican Republic crisis caused more than 400 people and eighteen F-100s to deploy to nearby Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico and San Isidro Air Force Base in the Dominican Republic.  But it wasn’t until 1965, during the Vietnam Conflict, that the resources and capabilities of the 354th were drawn upon and utilized to their max. The deployments to Vietnam began in July.  During this time, it was customary for squadrons to be removed from their home bases and attached indefinitely to another wing at a foreign airbase overseas to collectively support the war effort.  The 356th Squadron was deployed to Misawa Air Base in Japan on March 16, and attached to the 39th Air Division. The 353rd Squadron was deployed to Spain at Torrejon Air Force Base on April 27, 1966. It was reassigned to the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, a permanent reassignment.  The 352nd Squadron was deployed to South Vietnam, and permanently reassigned to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang Air Base on August 15, 1966. The 355th Squadron was deployed to Phu Cat Air Base, also in South Vietnam, on February 3, 1968. The entire wing, now with no fighter squadrons left, was reassigned to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, on July 1, 1968.  The Wing’s initial job was to support two F-100C Air National Guard fighter squadrons which were replacing the regular units that had been deployed for Operation Combat Fox.  This operation was the United State’s response to the crisis that ensued from the attack and seizure of the USS Pueblo by the North Korean forces on January 23, 1968. The Pueblo was an environmental research ship run by eighty-three crewmen that was linked with Navy intelligence. To be continued. Click here to read Part 5. 

Pioneer Mustang Group— The Illustrious 354th Wing by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read Part 2.  In 1956, officers and military personnel began the work of compiling a fighter wing on the premises of the newly reconstructed Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The 342nd Fighter Day Wing was initially activated then subsequently deactivated.  In its stead, officers and airmen worked to reactivate the 354th Fighter Day Wing which garnered fame during World War II as the “Pioneer Mustang Group.”  This wing was commanded by Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, who was a top fighter ace in the European Theater during that war. (There is a street in the Market Common which bears his name in remembrance of his outstanding military feats including the destruction of more than thirty-four enemy aircraft in aerial combat.)  The wing was first activated at Hamilton Field Air Force Base in California, on November 15, 1942; the group flew P-39 aircraft. In October of the following year, the group began flying the P-51 Mustang, and shortly thereafter was transferred to England to begin combat missions in Europe. In 1944, the wing began flying P-47 aircraft.  Pilots from that wing engaged in over 18,000 attacks on the enemy, and earned more than 500 victories over the Germans. During World War II, the group produced 67 aces, of whom Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Eagleston was the leader— having single-handedly destroyed 18.5 enemy aircraft.  The unit earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm in honor of its outstanding accomplishments during World War II.   Major James H. Howard, who was part of the group, and for whom Howard Avenue in the Market Common is named, received a Medal of Honor for his exemplary courage and military service.  On August 25, 1944, groups of P-51s from the unit were unleashed against the enemy and successfully destroyed 51 enemy aircraft.  In total, during World War II, the 354th flew 18,334 sorties, or attacks against the enemy; destroyed 701 enemy aircraft via aerial means; 255 aircraft on the ground; 150 armored vehicles; 584 locomotives; 5,282 railroad cars; 55 bridges; 122 gun sights; 15 ammo dumps; 37 hangars; 834 buildings; and 9 airdrones.  The wing returned to the United States and was deactivated in February 1946. Thus is was with eagerness and pride that this illustrious wing was reactivated at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.  On December 7, 1956, the dedication ceremony for the new Wing took place at the base with an amalgamation of World War II veterans, military dignitaries, and civilians in attendance.  Notables involved included Lieutenant Bill Rutherford, who was a fighter pilot in the 356th Fighter Day Squadron, and Captain Robert Pasqualicchio, who was Commander of the 356th Fighter Day Squadron.  The first aircraft as part of that Wing, the F-100 Super Sabre, arrived at the base in 1957. Colonel James F. Hackler, Jr., for whom Hackler Street in the Market Common is named, was the group’s company commander, and delivered the aircraft.  To be continued. Click here to read Part 4. 

The Birth of a Base: WWII and Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia Continued from last month. Click here to read part 1.  Last month’s history column highlighted the role that the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base played throughout part of the 20th century. This month, we’ll explore its role in history in greater detail.   During World War II, the United States Air Force was not yet in existence. In its stead there was the United States Army Air Corps.  In 1941, when World War II was fully underway, the United States defense was constantly seeking to increase the training, expertise, and prowess of its military. Army Air Corps pinpointed the airport at Myrtle Beach as an ideal place to train their needed pilots.  Negotiations ensued, and in addition to the federal funding that Myrtle Beach had received to build two initial runways, they also received funding to lengthen and pave the runways.   The War Department implemented the Second War Powers Act, which meant that the U.S. Military could annex the necessary land to buoy their military activities. They consequently acquired a total of 6,707 acres, which included the airport, to sustain an active fighter-bomber group and execute training.   One of the most important roles that this new military post provided was that of defending the coastline. Their other mission was the continuous training of pilot crews to make them ready for aerial battle engagements.  The base trained thousands of units, crews and individuals for varying lengths of time. To this purpose, the military built bombing and gunnery ranges that extended for 100,000 acres around the airport.   Pilots also deployed to Europe from this location. And in 1943, pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air Force trained here, learning how to fly B-25 bombers.   Two years after the conclusion of the war, in 1947, the Defense Department ordered the deactivation of the military post in Myrtle Beach. The land and runways were returned to the city of Myrtle Beach for civilian activities. Commercial airlines flew in and out of Myrtle Beach for the next several years.  But in the aftermath of the war, with the onset of the Cold War, the United States felt mounting pressure to be prepared militarily as the Soviet Union rallied in support of communism around the world.   The airport at Myrtle Beach, with a foundation already in place, had the potential to become a major military base. In 1954, the city offered to donate the airport and airport equipment to the military; and on April 1, it was officially designated the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.   After activation, the base quickly grew to become an integral part of the culture and functioning of the city. Upwards of 3,500 civilians and military personnel worked there.  The base boosted the local economy by supplying jobs for civilians, who, along with the military personnel, would venture into the city on off-hours to frequent local establishments, thereby putting that money back into the economy. Through industry, taxes, and housing, the base contributed to a new and vibrant economy for Myrtle Beach.   In 1955, Colonel Robert G. Emmens, for whom Emmen’s Preserve, a subdivision in the Market Common is named, supervised the reconstruction of the base. He remodeled it, implementing the necessary structures and equipment to fully modernize and optimize the base for the times. After its completion, the 727th Tactical Air Control Squadron was the first squadron to be positioned on the base.   To be continued. Click here to read Part 3. 

The Advent of Something Grand by Melissa LaScaleia In 1939, the Myrtle Beach Town Council voted that the City of Myrtle Beach needed a local airport, and subsequently purchased 135 acres of property to create one. At the time of the purchase, they paid $35 an acre.  The airport was constructed by the Works Progress Administration, and named the Harrelson Municipal Airport after the city’s mayor, Dr. Wilford L. Harrelson, a staunch supporter of the project.  In June of 1940, the United States War Department made an agreement with the City of Myrtle Beach to convert the municipal airport property for use by the military, to train pilots for the European theatre of World War II.  In 1941, the United States Department of War acquired additional land around the airport, totaling roughly 7000 acres. The government formally established a base on the site on March 24, 1942; it was called the Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range.  114 buildings were built on the premises, including barracks, a hospital, offices, and other facilities, as well as a compound to house German prisoners of war.  Six months after construction began, the military began training their pilots there. By November 1943, the base was renamed the Myrtle Beach Army Air Field. The 351st, 136th, and 317th Air Base Units; the 323rd and 391st Bombardment Groups; the 404th Fighter-Bomber Group; and the 304th Fighter Squadron were all stationed there.  The famous Doolittle Raiders, heroes for their carrier-based attack on Tokyo in 1942, were stationed in Myrtle Breach for training prior to conducting the raid. Lieutenant William G. Farrow, of Darlington, South Carolina, was stationed here; he was one of the raiders who was captured and executed by the Japanese. Farrow Street in the Market Common bears his name in his honor.  On November 1, 1947, after the conclusion of the war was solidified, the base was deactivated and returned to the city. After that, in addition to being a municipal airport, the city leased a portion of the property to a turkey farm. The Boston Braves baseball team, of Babe Ruth fame, also used the property as a training ground.  As the Cold War continued to intensify in the early 1950s, the city chose to donate the airport to the United States military, and the Air Force took over again on June 1, 1954. On April 1, 1956, they activated the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Much of what previously existed was torn down and modernized.  The first unit stationed at the new base was the 727th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. Additional units to spend time at Myrtle Beach included: the 4434th Air Base Squadron, the 342nd Fighter-Day Wing, the 455th Fighter Day Group, the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, and the 728th Tactical Control Squadron.  During the years of 1958 – 1993, the base housed the legendary 354th Fighter Day Wing; this group went through several name changes over the years.  To be continued. Click here to read part 2.