Dyess Air Force Base

Dyess Air Force Base
Near Abilene, Texas in United States of America
Dyess AFB is located in North America
Dyess AFB
Dyess AFB
Location in North America
Dyess AFB is located in the United States
Dyess AFB
Dyess AFB
Location in the United States
Dyess AFB is located in Texas
Dyess AFB
Dyess AFB
Location in Texas
Coordinates32°25′15″N 099°51′17″W / 32.42083°N 99.85472°W / 32.42083; -99.85472
TypeUS Air Force Base
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUS Air Force
Controlled byAir Force Global Strike Command
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.dyess.af.mil
Site history
Built1942 (1942) (as Tye Army Air Field)
In use1942 – present
Garrison information
Garrison
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: DYS, ICAO: KDYS, WMO: 690190
Elevation545.6 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]
Main gate entrance sign
7th Bomb Wing Headquarters
Abilene Army Airfield, mid-1940s.

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.

  1. ^ "Airport Diagram – Dyess AFB (KDYS)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 20 June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  2. ^ "C-130 Hercules". Air Force. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. ^ "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT RAYMOND K. MOTT > Dyess Air Force Base > Display". Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.