Wheeler Army Airfield

Wheeler Army Airfield is a United States Army installation in the Wahiawa District of O'ahu, Hawaii, situated adjacent to Schofield Barracks. Established in 1922 on the former drill grounds of the 17th Cavalry Regiment, the site was named in honor of Major Sheldon H. Wheeler. By 1940, the facility functioned as a base for pursuit aircraft, including P-40 Warhawks, responsible for the air defense of the Hawaiian Islands. Following the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack, the installation was assigned to the Seventh Air Force. In 1947, it was redesignated Wheeler Air Force Base under the operational control of Pacific Air Forces. The U.S. Army resumed control of the installation on 1 November 1991.

The airfield is operated by the U.S. Army and controlled by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Units stationed at the post include the 25th Aviation Regiment, the 2nd Squadron of the 6th Cavalry Regiment, and the 209th Aviation Support Battalion. Other organizations hosted at the facility include the Defense Information Systems Agency, the 516th Theater Signal Brigade, the 30th Signal Battalion, and the Trial Defense Service-Hawaii. The installation also supports the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 169th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 193rd Aviation Regiment. U.S. Air Force components on the airfield include the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron and a detachment of the 1st Combat Weather Squadron.

Infrastructure on the 1,389-acre installation includes the 1941 flightline, hangars, and barracks, which are designated as a National Historic Landmark District. Residential areas utilize the Garden City design pattern and feature Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture. The airfield hosts squadrons of UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Educational facilities located on the post include Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary School and Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School.