McConnell Air Force Base (IATA: IAB, ICAO: KIAB, FAA LID: IAB) is a United States Air Force base located four miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both Air Force pilots and World War II veterans. It is the home of Air Mobility Command’s 22d Air Refueling Wing (22 ARW), Air Force Reserve Command’s 931st Air Refueling Group (931 ARG), and the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Intelligence Wing (184 IW).
MC CONNELL AIR FORCE BASE HISTORY
McConnell Air Force Base was known during the first part of its existence as the Wichita Municipal Airport. Although the field was designed originally to serve only municipal civil airport needs, it had an Air Force connection almost from the beginning.
Origins
McConnell’s history began in October 1924, when the city of Wichita hosted more than 100,000 people for the National Air Congress. The event was used by city planners to raise funds for a proposed Wichita Municipal Airport. The event was a success and ground-breaking ceremonies for the airport were held on 28 June 1929.
In August 1941, the Kansas National Guard 127th Observation Squadron was activated as the first military unit assigned to the Wichita airport. The unit’s limited equipment included one BC-1A, one C-47, and four L-1 aircraft. This was the start of a cooperative relationship between the people of Wichita and military aviation.
MC CONNELL AIR FORCE BASE LOCATION
MC CONNELL AIR FORCE BASE FACTS
ICAO/IATA: IAB/KIAB
Lat: 37°37′23″N
Long: 097°16′02″W
Elevation: 1371 ft.
Runway length available: 01R/19L 12000×300 ft. :: 01L/19R 12000×200 ft.
