Gowen Field Air National Guard Base

Gowen Field Air National Guard Base is located in Ada County, Idaho, three miles south of downtown Boise. The installation originated in 1936 when the city began acquiring land for aviation purposes. It was officially designated Gowen Field on July 23, 1941, in honor of 1st Lt Paul R. Gowen. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces utilized the field as a training center for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber crews. Following the war, the Idaho Air National Guard commenced leasing the military portion of the airfield.

The 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard operates the base. This wing includes the 190th Fighter Squadron and 12 support units. The primary mission is close air support, conducted by a squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. Gowen Field is a joint-service installation, hosting the Idaho Army National Guard and reserve components of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The base also provides logistical support for the National Interagency Fire Center and functions as a base for United States Forest Service aerial firefighting tankers during wildfire seasons.

Military infrastructure is primarily located on the south side of the airfield. Notable facilities include an air traffic control tower that houses the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). This facility, designated Big Sky Approach, provides radar services for the Boise region and the Bozeman Airport in Montana. The airfield also includes an assault strip used for military operations. The base previously hosted a mission of C-130H Hercules transport aircraft until these were transferred to the Wyoming Air National Guard in 2009. Fixed-base operators on the field provide maintenance and repair capabilities for based and visiting aircraft.