Portland Air National Guard Base

Portland Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force installation co-located with Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1940 as Portland Army Air Base, its history began in 1936 with land acquisition for a "Super Airport." During World War II, it served as an active air transport center and hosted various units for training and coastal patrols, including the 55th Pursuit Group with P-43 Lancers and later the 354th Fighter Group with P-39 Airacobras. After the war, it was inactivated in 1946 but re-established in 1947 as Portland Air Force Base, operating as a joint military/civil facility under Tactical Air Command and later Air Defense Command. ADC inactivated its base facilities in 1966.

The base is currently operational and owned by the Department of Defense, operated by the US Air Force, and controlled by the Oregon Air National Guard. It serves as the home of the 142nd Wing, which participates in drug interdiction, NORAD air defense, and contingency operations. Tenant units include the 142nd Operations Group, 142nd Maintenance Group, 142nd Mission Support Group, 142nd Medical Group, 142nd Security Forces Squadron, 123d Fighter Squadron, 123rd Weather Flight Squadron, and 125th Special Tactics Squadron. The 304th Rescue Squadron of the Air Force Reserve Command is also stationed there. The base also hosts the 73rd Columbia Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. The airfield features three runways: 10R/28L (3,352.8 meters, concrete), 10L/28R (2,994.6 meters, asphalt), and 3/12 (1,828.8 meters, asphalt). In 2018, F-15C aircraft from the 142nd Wing intercepted a stolen turboprop over Seattle. The base is planned to host the Air Force's first operational F-15EX unit from 2025.