Beale Air Force Base, Military Base

U.S. Air Force Maj. Pritt, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 Dragon Lady pilot, prepares for landing during his final flight Jan. 25, 2023, at Beale Air Force Base, California. — U.S. Air Force Maj. Pritt, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 Dragon Lady pilot, prepares for landing during his final flight Jan. 25, 2023, at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The U-2 is a reconnaissance aircraft that can reach an altitude of about 70, 000 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shaei Rodriguez)

Beale was named for Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the nineteenth century pioneer. Edward Beale led the experiment to replace Army mules with camels.

Camp Beale opened in October 1942 During World War II, Camp Beale's 86,000 acres were home for more than 60,000 Soldiers, a prisoner-of-war encampment, and a 1,000-bed hospital.

In 1948, the camp transferred from the Army to the Air Force. Today, Beale’s mission is to deploy warrior airmen, deliver timely, relevant and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and to leverage technology to increase capability for our joint partners.

Beale Air Force Base Information

Condition: Operational
Years in Use: 1948-Present
Controlled by: United States Air Force
Current Commander: Colonel Geoffrey Church
Garrison: 9th Reconnaissance Wing, 940th Air Refueling Wing
Base Occupants: 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, 13th Reconnaissance Squadron 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, 314th Air Refueling Squadron
Open to the Public: No