George Air Force Base, CA

George Air Force Base (George AFB) is a Superfund Site, EPA ID: CA2570024453, which is located in Southern California 8 miles northwest of central Victorville.  This former Army / Air Force base was in operation from 1941-1992.

Mojave River Ground-Water BasinBecause this facility is in the Mojave Desert, protection of the water supply is of critical concern. Unfortunately, George AFB’s contamination has seriously damaged the fragile aquifer system of the Mojave River Ground-Water Basin that has been in a state of overdraft since the early 1950′s.

Google Map of George AFB and Aerial Photo of George AFB

General Harold Huston GeorgeGeorge AFB was named in honor of Brigadier General Harold Huston George (1892-1942), a World War I fighter ace, General George directed air operations in defense of the fortified islands in Manila Bay at the beginning of World War II. He died on 29 April 1942, in an aircraft accident near Darwin, Australia.

Photo courtesy of Gen. H. H. George’s Family

Date Established: 23 June 1941

• Construction Began: 12 July 1941
• Date Occupied: 25 October 1941
• Date Closed: December 1992

Names and Commands

Army

• Air Corps Advanced Flying School: 23 June 1941
• Renamed Victorville Army Flying School: 6 February 1942
• Renamed Victorville Army Air Field: 23 April 1943
  • After World War II, the base was placed on standby status and used for surplus aircraft storage.: 12 October 1945
  • Transferred to jurisdiction of Sacramento Air Materiel Area: 15 May 1947
  • Designated a sub-installation of San Bernardino Air Depot: 15 December 1948

Air Force

• Renamed Victorville Air Force Base: 13 January 1948
• Renamed George Air Force Base: 2 June 1950
  • Assigned to Continental Air Command: 10 October 1950
  • Reassigned to Air Defense Command: 1 January 1951
  • Reassigned to Strategic Air Command: 23 July 1951
  • Reassigned to Tactical Air Command: November 1951

George Air Force Base 
Environmental Assessment and Remediation

First document in the George AFB Administrative Record (AR): 10 September 1981

https://afrpaar.lackland.af.mil/ar/

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• National Priorities List (NPL) EPA #: CA2570024453
• Proposed placement on the NPL: July 1989
• Designated a Superfund site: 21 February 1990

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

• The Secretary of Defense announced that George Air Force Base was selected for closure. 29 December 1988
• Closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1 (BRAC 1): December 1992
• In 1993, President Bill Clinton placed George AFB on an expedited environmental cleanup, “Fast-Track”, so base property could be quickly transferred to the community for reuse.

George Air Force Base Transferred to Civilian Use

Renamed Southern California International Airport (SCIA): October 1994

Renamed Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), also known as Victorville Airport: (date?)

Victorville Federal Correctional Complex

This prison complex was built on the site of the former Weapons Storage Area (WSA) for George Air Force Base.

• FCI Victorville Medium I, a medium security facility for male prisoners.
• FCI Victorville Medium II, a medium security facility for male prisoners. It also has a satellite prison camp facility for low security female prisoners.
• United States Penitentiary, Victorville, a high security facility for male prisoners.