View source for Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field

{{Short description|Airfield in Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field
| ensign =
| ensign_size =
| native_name =
| partof = [[Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range]]
| location = [[Gila Bend, Arizona|Gila Bend]], [[Arizona]]
| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = the [[United States|United States of America]]
| image = Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field AZ 2006 USGS.jpg
| alt = A US Geological Survey aerial image from 2006
| caption = A [[United States Geological Survey|US Geological Survey]] aerial image from 2006
| image2 = [[File:Air Education and Training Command.svg|100px]]
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type = US Air Force auxiliary airfield
| coordinates = {{coord|32|53|15|N|112|43|12|W|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| image_map =
| image_mapsize =
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption =
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = Gila Bend AFAF
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_mark =
| pushpin_marksize =
| ownership = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator = [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[Air Education and Training Command]] (AETC)
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built = {{Start date|1942}}
| used = 1942 – present <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder =
| materials =
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = Operational
| battles =
| events =
| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = [[56th Fighter Wing|56th Range Management Office]]
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations =
| website =
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA =
| ICAO = KGXF
| FAA = GXF
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO = 747240
| elevation = {{Convert|269.1|m|0}}
| r1-number = 17/35
| r1-length = {{Convert|2591.4|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| footnotes = '''Source:''' AirNav.com<ref>{{Cite web|title=AirNav: KGXF – Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Airport|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/KGXF|website=www.airnav.com|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>
}}
'''Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field''' {{airport codes||KGXF|GXF}} is a [[United States Air Force]] auxiliary airfield used as an emergency landing facility by [[Luke Air Force Base]] and [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] aircraft and units from other nearby bases using the [[Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range]] complex. The airfield is located {{convert|3.5|mi|nmi km|lk=on}} south of [[Interstate 8]] and the [[central business district]] of [[Gila Bend, Arizona|Gila Bend]], in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], [[Arizona]], [[United States]].<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=GXF|use=PR|own=MA|site=00689.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 3 June 2010.</ref>
Although many U.S. airports use the same three-letter [[location identifier]] for the [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] and [[International Air Transport Association|IATA]], this facility is assigned '''GXF''' by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gcmap.com/airport/KGXF | title = Gila Bend, Arizona (ICAO: KGXF, FAA: GXF) | publisher = Great Circle Mapper | access-date = 11 November 2013}}</ref>
==History==
The facility was opened in July 1942 when it was part of the Gila Bend Gunnery Range. During [[World War II]] it was under the command of the 492d (Reduced) Army Air Force Base Unit, AAF West Coast Training Center.  It served as the range headquarters for a massive bombing and gunnery range, now known as the [[Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range|Barry M. Goldwater Range]], and for maintenance of the range and range targets.  It remained an active Air Force facility manned by USAF personnel until approximately 1995. It was also used as an auxiliary landing field. As of 2011, this role is handled by private contractors utilizing portions of the facility.<ref>Thole, Lou (1999), ''Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now'' – Vol. 2.  Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, {{ISBN|1-57510-051-7}}</ref>
Auxiliary fields to Gila Bend AFAF (all on the Goldwater Range) are:
* Gila Bend #6/Williams AAF #4: {{coord|32|43|11|N|112|51|14|W}}
* Gila Bend #6/Williams AAF #5: {{coord|32|49|05|N|112|54|54|W}}
* Gila Bend #6/Williams AAF #6: {{coord|32|53|05|N|112|48|59|W}}
== Facilities ==
Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field has one [[runway]] designated Rwy 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring {{cvt|8500|x|150|ft|lk=on}}.<ref name="FAA" />
==See also==
{{Portal|Arizona|Aviation}}
* [[Arizona World War II Army Airfields]]
* [[List of United States Air Force installations]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Other sources
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas  {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}
* Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), ''Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy'', Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. {{OCLC|57007862|1050653629}}
{{Refend}}
==External links==
* [https://www.luke.af.mil/Units/56th-Range-Management-Office/ 56th Range Management Office] – operates Gila Bend AFAF
{{US-airport-mil|GBN|-}}
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{{AZMilitary|state=autocollapse}}
{{Arizona during World War II}}
{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}}
[[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Arizona]]
[[Category:Airports in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Arizona]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1942]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Arizona]]