Charleston Air Force Base is a U. S. Air Force base located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The base is also known as Joint Base Charleston and is assigned to the Air Mobility Command. The base shares runways with the Charleston International Airport for commercial airline aircraft operations and general aviation aircraft operations. Charleston Air Force Base was established in 1931 and by 1941; anti-submarine missions were being flown out of Charleston Army Air Field. The base became a joint base in June 1953. Units assigned to Charleston Air Force Base include the 437th Airlift Wing, and the 628th Air Base wing. The 628th Air Base Wing’s duties include servicing a total force of 79,000 military personnel in all branches of the Armed Forces. The Charleston Air Force Base began in 1919 when U.S. Army Col. Herbert A. Dargue who was Chief of the Air Service visited the area looking for a place to land airplanes. Charles Lindberg had just crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 and that had heightened interest to establish air operations in Charleston. Pan American Airways selected Charleston Airport as its western terminus for trans-Atlantic flights which caused the city to buy more land and construct more buildings. With the onset of World War II, the Charleston Air Force Base became part of a massive build up of troops, bases, and equipment. By 1948, the air field had returned to a fully civilian airport.

Weather in the Charleston Air Force Base area tends to be warm in the summer with temperatures in the 70s and very cold in the winter with the temperatures in the 30s. Annual rainfall in the area is 43 inches with the wettest month being July. July is also the warmest month, and January is the coldest. Local housing options are available nearby in cities such as Charleston, Goose Creek, and Summerfield. After nearly a year of work, Joint Base Charleston reopened one of their largest runways which now has improved edge lighting and runway end indicator lights. With the renovation, larger and heavier aircraft will be able to land at the Charleston Air Force Base. As of January, 2010, the 628th Air Wing will essentially be the landlord of Charleston Air Force Base and will take over the administrative duties for a number of military commands.