A mural for Klamath Falls' Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base painted on the side of VFW Pelican Post 1383.
Roman Battaglia / Jefferson Public Radio
The Air Force has approved Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls to host a squadron of F-35A Lightning II aircraft, giving the Oregon Air National Guard base a new training mission.
For decades, the Klamath Falls base was a primary training facility for the F-15 Eagle. Last year, the remaining F-15s left the airfield as the military turned to training pilots on a new generation of aircraft.
Now Kingsley Field, home to Oregon’s 173rd Fighter Wing, will be part of that transition. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink signed the Record of Decision that approved the base for F-35 pilot training on Oct. 5.
Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty said the decision will provide economic security for the community.
“The addition of the new mission for the base is something that we in leadership have been saying is the most exciting development in Klamath in probably several decades,” Minty said.
The base will require new infrastructure to host the 26 aircraft, pilots and support operations.
A 173rd Fighter Wing statement said the modernization efforts will generate economic activity throughout Southern Oregon.
“The Klamath Basin has stood with Kingsley Field for generations, and now we have an opportunity to build something that will serve both our community and our nation well into the future,” said Col. Adam Gaudinski, 173rd Fighter Wing commander.
The Air Force selection follows years of environmental reviews.
“Breathing a sigh of relief is an understatement,” Minty said. “This would have been catastrophic if the community did not secure a new mission.”
The airbase transition will take years, with the first F-35s expected in the summer of 2027.
Justin Higginbottom is a reporter with Jefferson Public Radio. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
