Simmons Army Airfield

Simmons Army Airfield is located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, on the southeast portion of Fort Bragg. Operated by the U.S. Army, the facility supports the aviation requirements of the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. It also accommodates U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard aviation units.

Established in August 1952 as Smith Lake Airfield, the site was constructed by the 406th Engineer Brigade. It was renamed in June 1955 in honor of Warrant Officer Herbert W. Simmons, Jr. Early operations included the 6th Transportation Company (Helicopter), which utilized Sikorsky H-19C and Bell H-13 aircraft. Between 1956 and 1957, the site was converted into a permanent army airfield to facilitate the transfer of air activities from Pope Air Force Base. In 1957, the 82nd Aviation Company was formed at the installation. During the 1960s, the airfield supported the development of air mobility, hosting units that deployed to Southeast Asia, including the 8th and 57th Transportation Companies. Based units later participated in Operation Urgent Fury and the Gulf War.

Resident units include the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade, which consists of the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment; the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of the 82nd Aviation Regiment; and the 122nd Aviation Support Battalion. The airfield also hosts the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, the United States Army Special Operations Command Flight Detachment, the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, and the 3rd Airfield Operations Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment.

The airfield operates AH-64E Apache, UH-60M Black Hawk, and CH-47F Chinook helicopters. Infrastructure includes flight simulators for UH-60 and AH-64 airframes. Historically, the base hosted aircraft such as the Helio U-10 Courier, Grumman OV-1 Mohawk, and Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. By 1965, the facility comprised 23 permanent buildings.