Offutt Air Force Base, Military aerodrome in Bellevue, Nebraska, United States.
Offutt Air Force Base is a military airfield in Sarpy County along the Missouri River, south of Omaha, Nebraska. The installation covers 10 square miles and includes runways, hangars, underground command centers, and residential and administrative buildings.
The installation began in 1921 as Fort Crook, named after a 19th-century general. Three years later it received its current name for Lieutenant Jarvis Offutt and later became headquarters for the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.
The installation bears its name in honor of a pilot from Omaha who fell over France in 1918. Local schools maintain partnerships with the facility and regularly host talks on aviation and military history.
Access to the facility requires valid authorization obtained through the visitor center during business hours. The grounds lie about 15 minutes south of downtown Omaha and can be reached via Nebraska Highway 370.
The president flew here on September 11, 2001, and used the protected spaces beneath the surface for crisis talks with government officials. This command post can continue operating even during severe disruptions to normal communications.
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