Dyess Air Force Base

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Dyess Air Force Base
Near Abilene, Texas in United States of America
Dyess AFB Location in North America Show map of North America Dyess AFB Location in the United States Show map of the United States Dyess AFB Location in Texas Show map of Texas
Coordinates	32°25′15″N 099°51′17″W / 32.42083°N 99.85472°W / 32.42083; -99.85472
Type	US Air Force Base
Site information
Owner	Department of Defense
Operator	US Air Force
Controlled by	Air Force Global Strike Command
Condition	Operational
Website	www.dyess.af.mil
Site history
Built	1942 (1942) (as Tye Army Air Field)
In use	1942 – present
Garrison information
Garrison	7th Bomb Wing (Host) 317th Airlift Wing
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: DYS, ICAO: KDYS, WMO: 690190
Elevation	545.6 metres (1,790 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 16/34 4,114.8 metres (13,500 ft) PEM 164°/344° Strip 1,066.2 metres (3,498 ft) Asphalt 163°/343° Strip 1,066.8 metres (3,500 ft) Graded or rolled earth
Other airfield facilities	Marion drop zone
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) (IATA: DYS, ICAO: KDYS, FAA LID: DYS) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of downtown Abilene, Texas, and 150 miles (240 km) west of Fort Worth, Texas.

The host unit at Dyess is the 7th Bomb Wing assigned to the Global Strike Command Eighth Air Force. The wing is one of only two B-1B Lancer strategic bomber wings in the USAF, the other being the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

The 317th Airlift Wing, assigned to Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, is a tenant unit and one of four world-wide active-duty locations for the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.^[2]

Dyess AFB was established in 1942 as Abilene Army Air Base. It was renamed in honor of Texas native and Bataan Death March survivor Lieutenant Colonel William Dyess. As of 2023, the 7th Bomb Wing is commanded by Colonel Seth W. Spanier. The vice commander is Colonel Samuel M. Friend and the command chief master sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Richelle D. Baker.^[3]

Dyess covers 6,409-acre (25.94 km²), and is home to the 7th Bomb Wing, which consists of four groups. The 9th and 28th Bomb Squadrons fly the B-1B. In addition, the 28th Bomb Squadron is the USAF schoolhouse for all B-1B aircrew members.

The base employs more than 5,000 people, making it the single largest employer in the area. Dyess AFB has nearly 200 facilities on base, plus 988 units of family housing, and encompasses 6,117 acres (24.75 km²) of land. The base has a total economic impact of nearly $310 million yearly on the local community.