Happy birthday, US Air Force! The Air Force was officially born on September 18, 1947, when President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, which restructured some parts of the military and officially established the US Air Force as a separate branch of the military. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which is such an important part of our community, was also officially established in 1947, although as you'll soon see, the aeronautical pursuits here began much earlier. Our REALTORS® have the details, in our history of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

• Where the Wright Brothers Once Again Took Flight
  The history of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base begins long before the base was officially established, when Orville and Wilbur Wright returned to Ohio following their work at Kittyhawk. The Wright brothers continued their aeronautical work at Huffman Prairie Flying Field, which is now part of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, from 1904 to 1905. They used the field to perfect their Wright Flyer, before turning their attention to training pilots at Huffman Prairie Flying Field from 1910 through 1916. Today, you can still find a marker at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on the spot where the Wright Brothers' hangar was located.

• The Next Steps for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
  Following the work of the Wright brothers, Wright Field continued to be a key location for aeronautical research. The Army Air Corps, a precursor to the modern Air Force, was established in 1926, and its Materials Division was stationed at Wright Field. Research and development on all types of flight technology was conducted at Wright Field, building upon the work established by the Wright Brothers.

• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Takes Shape
  In 1940, the US government made a significant investment in Wright Field, to strengthen the Army Air Corps with new planes and technology. Over the course of a few short years, the size of the facilities at Wright Field went from 40 buildings to more than 300 buildings. Research continued at full pace throughout the growth of Wright Field, and collaboration between research groups stationed here helped to advance aeronautical technology more quickly during World War II.

• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Is Officially Founded
  After the US Air Force was officially established in 1947, Wright Field was combined with Patterson Field which was located nearby. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was officially established, with a commitment to research and development that continues to the present day. The base is also a place to remember the past, with the National Museum of the United States Air Force located onsite.

• Get to Know the Modern Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
  Today, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the size of a small city, with a workforce of more than 30,000 that includes both military and civilian employers. The facilities are a hub of worldwide coordination for the US Air Force, with many important functions in addition to research and development. The base covers more than 8,000 acres and includes two runways that see more than 47,000 aircraft operations every year. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the largest employer close to Fairborn homes for sale and is in fact the largest employer on a single site in all of Ohio.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is one of the many things that make our corner of Ohio such a special place to call home. Contact Wright-Patt Realty to buy and sell homes throughout the Fairborn, OH area.