Columbus Air Force Base

Columbus Air Force Base is situated in unincorporated Lowndes County, Mississippi, near Columbus. The United States War Department established the installation in 1941 as a pilot training facility. Originally designated Kaye Field, it was renamed Columbus Army Flying School before deactivation in 1946. The base reactivated in 1950 during the Korean War and transferred to the Strategic Air Command in 1955. During this period, it hosted the 4228th Strategic Wing and the 454th Bombardment Wing. In 1969, jurisdiction transferred to the Air Training Command, with the 3650th Pilot Training Wing operating on-site until the 14th Flying Training Wing was activated in 1972.

The base is currently operated by the United States Air Force under the Air Education and Training Command. The 14th Flying Training Wing serves as the host unit, supported by the 14th Operations Group, 14th Mission Support Group, 14th Medical Group, and 14th Comptroller Squadron. The primary mission is pilot training.

Flying operations involve several training aircraft types, including the T-6A Texan II, T-1A Jayhawk, and T-38C Talon. The 37th and 41st Flying Training Squadrons operate the T-6A Texan II, while the 48th Flying Training Squadron utilizes the T-1A Jayhawk. The 49th and 50th Flying Training Squadrons operate the T-38C Talon. Additionally, the 43rd Flying Training Squadron, a geographically separate unit of the Air Force Reserve Command, operates both T-1A and T-6A aircraft. Infrastructure includes specialized facilities for medical operations, civil engineering, communications, and logistics readiness. A residential area designated as a census-designated place is located within the base boundaries.