Reese Air Force Base

Reese Air Force Base
Reese Air Force Base
Lubbock, Texas in the United States
	Aerial view of runways on Reese AFB
	Reese AFB Location in the United States
Coordinates	33°35′47″N 102°02′34″W / 33.59639°N 102.04278°W
Site information
Owner	United States Department of Defense
Operator	United States Air Force
Condition	Closed
Site history
Built	1942
In use	1942–1997
Fate	Redeveloped as a research center known as Reese Technology Center

Reese Air Force Base was a former U.S. Army Air Base located near Lubbock, Texas. It was closed in 1997 and converted into a research center.

History

Reese Air Force Base began as the Lubbock Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School in 1942.^[1] It was renamed Lubbock Army Flying School in 1943 and then Lubbock Army Airfield later that same year. In 1949, it was renamed Reese Air Force Base in honor of a local West Texas pilot, Augustus F. Reese, Jr., who was killed in a bombing raid over Italy during World War II.^[1]

Over the years, many milestones were accomplished at Reese Air Force Base, including a special pilot training program, the first flight simulator used in a training program, and a joint pilot training program with the Navy.^[2] More than 25,000 pilots, who fought in every conflict since World War II, were trained at Reese.^[3]

In 1995, word reached the Lubbock community that Reese Air Force Base was on the Pentagon’s list for base closures via the BRAC process. In spite of much opposition from community members and leaders alike, the base closure was announced for September 30, 1997.^[4] The Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Committee (LRRC) was created in 1995, just two weeks after the base was recommended to be closed.^[3]

The Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Committee was renamed the Redevelopment Authority (LRRA) and could now execute contracts for base property. This committee was composed of local government officials and area businesspeople. ^{[citation needed]}

In the years since Reese AFB closure, investigations have occurred to look into the per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) around the former base. Before Reese Air Force Base closed, it was home to training Air Force Firefighters to extinguish life-threatening fires using foam containing PFAS. After using this substance for many years at the base, it began seeping into the groundwater. The Air Force is continually checking bases for PFAS to this day. Past Reese AFB residents are entitled to compensation if found to the following toxins: Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, and Prostate cancer.^[5]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1970	2,545	—
1980	1,934	−24.0%
1990	1,263	−34.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1960^[7] 1970^[8] 1980^[9] 1990^[10] 2000^[11] 2010^[12]

Reese Air Force Base was listed as an unincorporated area in the 1970 U.S. Census (pop 2,545); and redesignated as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census.^[9] The CDP was deleted prior to the 2000 U.S. Census after the air base was closed in 1997; and the Reese Center CDP was formed out of part of its area.^[11]^[12]