Bellows Air Force Station

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Installation Listings

Installation Listing Category

Geographical Address

State
Duty Station(s)
Public Address
220 Tinker Rd, Waimānalo, HI 96795, United States
Postal Code
96795
latitude
21.36
longitude
-157.72

Contact Info

COMM
(800) 437-2607
Operating Hours
Open 24 hours a Day, 7 Days a Week.

Bellows Air Force Station is one of the oldest bases in the United States, established in 1917 and initially called Waimanalo. Although it has a rich past, its present days are not that glorious from a military point of view. These days, the base is mostly an installation or better said a reservation. It is a training ground for both active and retired military troops who want to stay in shape. Other than that, if they follow a relatively strict set of rules, the civilians can also apply for training courses there. The base is more than just a training spot. It is located on a little piece of Heaven, on the clear shores of the ocean, with a wide beach and surrounded by hills, trees, and forests. Therefore, it is an excellent recreational spot for individuals who like a healthy lifestyle.

History

The base was renamed to its current name 15 years after it was built, in 1933. It was then renamed after Lieutenant Franklin Barney Bellows, one of the World War I heroes and aces. It was initially established as a temporary base to help during the war. Years later, the necessity to join World War II has turned the base into a permanent military spot, in July, 1941. Bad luck or not, its life as an active combatant in the war was relatively short. A few months later, in December, Bellows Air Force Station Hawaii was one of the hit bases during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Ever since then, it was not really entirely rebuilt. Instead, it was maintained as a low-level training base. It is ruled by the 18th Mission group for support, which is based in Okinawa, Japan. In 1999, the base lost some of its areas after the Marine Corps decided to acquire around 1,000 acres in order to set up a training base.

These days, the base is a common controversy in the area, causing a lot of trouble for both the natives and the authorities. The natives and the Waimanalo inhabitants militate for the army to leave the area and give it back to the Hawaiians. On the other hand, the army has some different plans. It hopes to enlarge the base and come up with even more facilities. In order to calm the spirits a little, the army has presented plans to turn Bellows Air Force Station Hawaii into a general training place for those who like to stay fit and involve with various activities, rather than for military-based operations.

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