Moody Air Force Base

Moody Air Force Base, located near Valdosta, Georgia, is a United States Air Force installation. The base was built in 1941, initially known as Valdosta Airfield, and was renamed Moody Army Air Field on December 6, 1941. It was redesignated Moody Air Force Base on January 13, 1948, and has been continuously operational since its establishment. The base is owned by the Department of Defense and operated by the US Air Force, controlled by Air Combat Command.

Historically, Moody Field was established in 1941 for primary flight training, with the 29th Training Wing. It transitioned through various commands, including First Air Force, Army Air Forces Training Command, Tactical Air Command, Continental Air Command, Strategic Air Command, and Air Training Command, where it conducted interceptor and pilot training. In 1975, it returned to Tactical Air Command, hosting the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. In 1992, it came under Air Combat Command, and in 2003, the 347th Rescue Wing was assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command before returning to Air Combat Command in 2006.

The primary units stationed at Moody AFB include the 23rd Wing, which is the host unit, and the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing. The 23rd Wing comprises elements such as the 23rd Fighter Group, with the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons operating A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, and the 347th Rescue Group, which includes the 38th Rescue Squadron, 41st Rescue Squadron (HH-60W Pave Hawk), and 71st Rescue Squadron (HC-130J Combat King II). The 93d Air Ground Operations Wing includes the 820th Base Defense Group. The 476th Fighter Group, a geographically separate unit of the Air Force Reserve Command's 442nd Fighter Wing, also operates the 76th Fighter Squadron with A-10C Thunderbolt IIs. Future plans include basing two squadrons of F-35A Lightning II aircraft at Moody AFB from 2029 to replace the A-10C Thunderbolt IIs. The base features two runways: 18L/36R, which is 2,835 meters (9,301 ft) with a concrete surface, and 18R/36L, which is 2,439 meters (8,002 ft) with a PEM surface.