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  • Belleville, Illinois parade for returning Desert Shield and Desert Storm Scott Airmen in 1991

    Scott History: 1990s

    The 90s saw multiple organizational movements and realignments that impacted Scott Air Force Base’s purpose and mission. Starting in the early 90s, the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing and the United States Air Force Medical Center Scott were realigned under the 22nd Air Force while the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing was re-designated as the 375th
  • In October 1983, the 23rd Air Force helped rescue Americans from the island nation of Grenada. During the seven-day operation, centered at Point Salines Airport, the 23rd AF furnished MC-130s, AC-130s, aircrews, maintenance, and support personnel.

    Scott History: 1980s

    During the 1980s Scott renovated many older structures and built new ones. A new precision Measurement Equipment Lab was completed in March 1981. To provide Military Airlift Command with dedicated communications to ensure rapid response during crises, Air Force Communications Command activated the Airlift Communications Division at Scott on June 1,
  • During Vietnam, Gen. Daniel James flew 75 combat missions including the infamous Operation BOLO mission where seven communist MiG-21 aircraft were destroyed. Operation BOLO was a deception-based mission intended to trick enemy fighter aircraft into battle where American fighters held the advantage. This operation pitted the U.S. F-4 Phantom II against the MiG-21 and, because of this operation, the enemy re-evaluated their MiG-21 strategy and deployment.

    Scott History: 1970s

    From 1967-70, a total of 75,000 battlefield casualties were brought to the United States. Throughout that same period, the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing’s domestic aeromedical evacuation system moved an average of 60,600 patients a year. During the 1970s, Scott Air Force Base and the 375th AAW continued their involvement in aeromedical airlift. In
  • Pictured is Airman 1st Class Darryl Winters.

    Scott History: 1960s

    As the remaining radio schools were phased out and relocated during the late 1950s, responsibility moved from the Air Training Command to the Military Air Transport Service, and Scott Air Force Base assumed a new role in the 1960s. During the early 60s, Scott primarily supported other units on base and also held the unique distinction of hosting
  • Radar operators pose for a photo in 1953 at the Belleville Air Force Station at Turkey Hill, Belleville. These Airmen were assigned to the 798th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, which was responsible for monitoring the skies for hostile airborne objects in the metro-east, including the St. Louis metropolitan area. These particular Airmen were tasked with continuous detection, identification, and monitoring of aircraft. The call sign they used to communicate with F-86 pilots at Scott Air Force Base and with other air defense centers was “Agony,” so named as to be random for security and reporting purposes.

    Scott History: 1950s

    Not all the Airmen who contributed directly to Scott missions were on the base in the 1950s. The buildings that made up the Belleville Air Force Station, informally called “Turkey Hill” were positioned in the rolling outskirts of Belleville. The location of the 798th Radar Squadron was chosen in 1949 for its high elevation in the region. The Airmen
  • In January 1943, 330 black servicemen, assigned to the 46th Aviation Squadron, entered the Radio School, and in May 1943, they graduated, ready to help Tuskegee Airmen fly. These radio school graduates were a part of a bigger initiative of the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command to supply black flying squadrons with sufficient support personnel, including supply, adjutant, intelligence, and statistical officers.

    Scott History: 1940s

    Radio operator-mechanics training was the primary mission of Scott Field during World War II. The Radio School began classes in October 1940 in Hangar 1 before moving to another area. With a slogan of, “The best damned radio operators in the world!” the 77,370 graduates were referred to as the WWII “eyes and ears of the Army Air Forces.” The Airmen
  • Pictured is the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation’s three million cubic foot balloon, which was the largest balloon ever made. Maj. William Kepner was appointed to pilot the craft. Capt. Albert Stevens and Capt. Orvil Anderson accompanied him as the alternate pilot and organizer of the expedition camp dubbed the “Stratobowl.”

    Scott History: 1930s

    Complete, non-stop mail service across the continent was first attempted by 2d Lt. John Fowler (unless he was Army the correct abbrev is 2d). A 40-pound sack of mail that was fastened to his airship was lowered by rope to a designated location, where it was placed on a second plane and transferred again. The entire operation lasted 15 minutes and
  • Cpl Frank Scott (left) and PFC James O'Brien (right) on 28 September 1912.

    Scott History: 1917-1930

    During World War I, Secretary of War, Newton Baker, encouraged an expanded role for aviation. Business and political leaders on both sides of the Mississippi River wanted the Midwest to be the location of a new flying field. Aerial expert Albert Bond Lambert joined with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and the directors of the Greater Belleville
  • Pictured are the Harchaoui triplets (from left): Myriam, 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron at Scott AFB; Rabah, 56th Security Forces Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz.; and Warda, 60th Medical Operations Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif. All three were born in Algeria before immigrating to the United States, and are Airmen serving in today’s Air Force.

    Team Scott member 1 of 3 Algerian-born triplets serving today’s Air Force

    For one Algerian family, 6,600 miles was the distance between a life of struggle and a life of promise and opportunity. Their journey has carried them over thousands of miles, from a barren region in Africa to California’s Simi Valley where eventually the Harchaoui triplets—Myriam, Rabah and Warda—would join the U.S. Air Force. Scott Air Force Base
  • U.S. Public Health Service Cmdr. Julie Chodacki has deployed six times to assist with humanitarian crisis or national disasters and helps people with emotional and mental wellness as they go through the recovery process. She’s assigned to Air Mobility Command’s Surgeon General office and is the installation’s Comprehensive Airman Fitness chief.

    Public Health Cmdr. Chodacki helps with mental, emotional wellness during crisis, disasters

    After the Northeast was torn apart by wind and slammed by violent waters during Superstorm Sandy in 2014, Cmdr. Julie Chodacki, along with 400 other United States Public Health Services Commissioned Corps members, deployed to assist those affected with getting their lives back on track.This was just one of six deployments in the past 10 years to
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