Check Six – 1917-1993: Chanute AFB, Illinois

Posted on Mar 6, 2022 in Check Six

Before Chanute AFB was decommissioned in 1993, many aircraft maintenance technical training courses were conducted there. Older retirees have memories, good or bad, of the base and the surrounding area. Being there in winter was never fun, especially marching from your dorm to classes and back.

Chanute Air Force Base was established as Chanute Field on May 21, 1917. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the United States entry into World War I. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training.

Chanute AFB was in Champaign County, Illinois, south of and adjacent to Rantoul, Illinois, about 130 miles (210 km) south of Chicago.

The base was decommissioned in 1993, and technical training classes relocated to other Air Force training bases.

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