Location
Truax Field, a United States Air National Guard base, is located at the Dane County Regional Airport, just on the northeast side of Madison, Wisconsin.
History
Truax Field was activated as an Army Air Base in June of 1942. It was deactivated as an active military base in 1968, when it was taken over by the Wisconsin Air National Guard. It was named in honor of Lieutenant Thomas L. Truax, a Wisconsin native, who was killed in a P-40 training accident in November 1941.
Truax Field is currently home to the 115th Fighter Wing, which flies the F-16 aircraft. Truax Field is approximately 130 acres in size and has 44 buildings with a square foot total of approximately 400,000.
Mission
The 115th Fighter Wing has two distinct missions. The Federal mission is to staff and train flying and support units to augment Air Combat Command general purpose fighter forces to effectively and rapidly project F-16 combat power anywhere in the world to perform wartime or peacetime missions as well as operations other than war. 115 FW will maintain mobilization readiness and conduct training in support of Total Force capabilities as directed by gaining commands. The State mission is to provide trained and equipped units to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order, and public safety as directed by the Governor of Wisconsin.
Population Served
The weekday workforce is approximately 350 persons and increases to about 1000 persons on a Unit Training Assembly weekend.