Truax Field Air National Guard Base

Truax Field Air National Guard Base is located at Dane County Regional Airport, five miles northeast of Madison, Wisconsin. Established in June 1942 as Madison Army Airfield, the site served as an Army Air Force Eastern Technical Training Center during World War II, providing instruction for radio operators, mechanics, and radar personnel. The facility was named for Lieutenant Thomas L. Truax. It transitioned to a separation center in September 1945 before closing as an active Army Air Force airfield in November 1945.

The United States Air Force reactivated the installation as Truax Air Force Base in February 1952. During this period, it functioned as an Air Defense Command fighter-interceptor base. From 1955 through 1967, the base served as the headquarters for the 37th, 30th, and 20th Air Divisions. These units utilized the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system to coordinate air defense across the Midwest. The base was deactivated as an active Aerospace Defense Command installation in 1968, and the military facilities were transferred to the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

The 115th Fighter Wing is the host unit and operates under the control of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. The installation also houses units of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. The 115th Fighter Wing maintains a dual mission: a federal Title 10 role to augment Air Combat Command fighter forces and a state Title 32 role to provide emergency response and public safety support under the direction of the Governor of Wisconsin.

Infrastructure at the base supports joint military and civilian operations. The 115th Fighter Wing operates F-35A Lightning II multi-role fighters, which replaced the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 2023. Previous aircraft assigned to the installation include the F-80 Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre, F-89 Scorpion, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-101 Voodoo, and F-106 Delta Dart.