🇺🇸 Duke Field

Duke Field (KEGI/EGI) is a military airport located three miles south of Crestview, Florida, and is also known as Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3. It is owned by the Department of Defense and operated by the U.S. Air Force, specifically controlled by the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).

Type of facility and operations: Duke Field is primarily an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation, hosted by the 919th Special Operations Wing (919 SOW). The 919 SOW currently operates MQ-9 Reaper, U-28A Draco, and C-146A Wolfhound aircraft. Although technically an auxiliary field to Eglin AFB, it functions as a self-contained installation with its own air traffic control tower, security forces, fire protection, instrument landing system (ILS), and other support infrastructure. It is a private-use airport, requiring permission prior to landing.

Notable features or history: Clearing and grading for Duke Field began in 1941, and it was used as a training base by the Doolittle Raiders in 1942. After World War II, it was one of the sites used for the 1949 film *Twelve O'Clock High*. In 1975, the 919th Tactical Airlift Group (TAG) converted to a special operations mission, becoming the 919th Special Operations Group (SOG) and the only Air Force Reserve AC-130 Spectre gunship unit. The field has two asphalt paved runways, with the main runway (18/36) measuring 8,025 x 150 feet.

Current status: Duke Field is operational. The 919 SOW, which is operationally gained by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), continues to be based there.

*Sources researched: nfdc.faa.gov, en.wikipedia.org, airnav.com, skyvector.com*