McEntire Joint National Guard Base

McEntire Joint National Guard Base is a military installation in Richland County, South Carolina, situated 10 miles west of Eastover. The site was established in 1943 as Congaree Army Airfield, an outlying facility for Columbia Army Airbase. During World War II, it hosted the 404th and 406th Bombardment Groups (Dive) until its transfer to the United States Navy in April 1944. Operating as Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Congaree, the base supported Marine Aircraft Groups 52 and 92. After 1945, the facility was transferred to the South Carolina Air National Guard. It was renamed in 1961 for Brigadier General Barnie B. McEntire Jr. and designated a Joint National Guard Base in 2005.

The installation is owned by the Department of Defense and operated by the U.S. Air Force under the control of the South Carolina Air National Guard. The 169th Fighter Wing serves as the host unit and is operationally gained by Air Combat Command. This wing includes the 157th Fighter Squadron and the 316th Fighter Squadron. Also stationed at the base is the 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron. The South Carolina Army National Guard maintains a presence through the 59th Aviation Troop Command, which includes units of the 111th Aviation Regiment and the 151st Aviation Regiment.

Infrastructure at the base supports fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets, including aircraft shelters and maintenance facilities. The 169th Fighter Wing operates F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcons. Previous aircraft operated at the site include the A-7 Corsair II, F-102 Delta Dagger, and F-104 Starfighter. Army National Guard units utilize UH-60M Blackhawk and AH-64A Apache helicopters. The 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron provides fixed and remote air traffic control capabilities. The base is configured to support wartime mobilization, tactical air missions, and state-level disaster response.