Dyess AFB, TX Installation Guide

Welcome to Dyess Air Force Base, one of the most important and mission-diversified bases in the United States. Dyess is the home of the B-1B, the C-130, and the T-38. Buffalo brought the first settlers to the Abilene area, but the railroad made this West Central Texas city grow and prosper. Today, Abilene is a thriving community of over 100,000 residents with an economy based on agriculture and industry. You and your family will be fortunate to experience the most phenomenal community-base relationship in the entire Air Force -- one that has lasted for over 35 years. Each year as a gesture of friendship, the community sponsors a West Texas Barbecue for the military families stationed at Dyess. No other assignment will offer the same warmth, hospitality and downright "good neighbor" feeling.

Location: Dyess AFB is located in the city of Abilene in Taylor County. Abilene is a West Central Texas city located about 183 miles west of Dallas and 250 miles north of San Antonio. It is the center of a 22-county area called "The Big Country", and considered the economic hub of this part of Texas. Near the geographic center of the state, Abilene is easily accessible by five major highways - Interstate 20, Highways 80 and 84 east and west, and Highways 83 and 277 north and south.

Major Command: Air Combat Command

Primary Weapon Systems: B-1B, C-130-H, T-38

Mission: The 7th Bomb Wing develops and maintains operational capability for 38 B-1B aircraft, delivering global power to theater commanders. Produces combat-ready aircrews in the command's only B-1B formal training unit. Formulates policy for operations, training, maintenance and supply.

Population assigned-served: 20,494 Active Duty Officer: 726 Active Duty Enlisted: 3804 Family Members: 6773 Retirees: 8,700 Civilian Employees: 491 Telephone Access: All numbers listed are in the 325 area code, except as indicated differently. Dyess: DSN 461-XXXX, Commercial (325) 696-XXXX; From on base 6-XXXX, operator ext 6-3113.

History:

World War II saw the blossoming of "tent camps" throughout the United States and Abilene was no exception.

Camp Barkeley, a few miles south of Abilene, became an Army infantry training camp for thousands of recruits. Army inductees were trained for various duties while there.

Following the outbreak of the Korean crisis, Abilenians called for a military installation. Armed with 1,500 acres and determination, civic leaders besieged Washington, DC and Pentagon officials with their request for a military installation. Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt they meant business, Abilenians raised $893,000 to purchase an additional 3,500 acres to provide a home for the military base they hoped would be in Abilene. Together with Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and Congressman Omar Burleson, civic leaders persuaded military and civilian officials to put a military base in Abilene.

Known as Abilene Air Force Base, the Strategic Air Command base was dedicated by the city fathers at the end of Abilene's Diamond Jubilee on April 15, 1956. On December 6 of that same year, the base was renamed Dyess AFB in honor of Lt Col William Edwin Dyess who was born in Albany, Texas, August 9, 1912 and died in an aircraft crash at Burbank, California, Dec 22, 1943.

On Feb 8, 1961, Dyess AFB became home to the Tactical Air Command's 64th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium) flying the C-130 Hercules. Abilene and the entire Big Country community celebrated President Reagan's announcement on Dec 21, 1983, that Dyess AFB would receive the Air Force's first operational B-1B's. The arrival ceremony June 29, 1985, for the "Star of Abilene" included more than 50,000 people, most from our host neighbor, Abilene, Texas. On October 1, 1993 Dyess became a one-base, one-wing, one-commander base, combining the 96th Wing and the 463d Wing as the 7th Wing.

When the 7th Wing moved to Dyess, it began to fly the B-1B Lancer and C-130 Hercules. Dyess AFB trains all Air Force B-1 crews and is commonly referred to as the "Home of the B-1".

On 1 April 1997 Dyess' wing became the 7th Bomb Wing and the C-130 Hercules aircraft once again became a part of Air Mobility Command and Dyess' 317th Airlift Group.