Williams Air Force Base

Williams Air Force Base
Williams Army Airfield
Part of Air Training Command (ATC)
Located in Maricopa County, Arizona
2006 USGS airphoto
Williams AFB is located in Arizona
Williams AFB
Williams AFB
Coordinates33°18′29″N 111°39′35″W / 33.30806°N 111.65972°W / 33.30806; -111.65972
TypeAir Force Base
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Air Force
Site history
Built1941
Built byDel E. Webb Construction Company
In use1941–1993
Garrison information
GarrisonAir Training Command
Occupants82d Training Wing (1973–1993)

Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force (USAF) base, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, east of Chandler, and about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Phoenix. It is a designated Superfund site due to a number of soil and groundwater contaminants.

It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993. Williams was the leading pilot training facility of the USAF, supplying 25% of all pilots.

Since its closure, the base has largely been annexed by the city of Mesa, Arizona. It was converted into the civilian Williams Gateway Airport, later renamed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. In recent years, the land has emerged as an educational and industrial campus anchored by Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus and Chandler-Gilbert Community College.