Pope AFB is a closed base that welcomes military or Department of Defense identification card holders and their guests. The War Department officially established “Pope Field” in 1919, and it ranks as one of the oldest installations in the Air Force. It is named after First Lieutenant Harley Halbert Pope who was killed on January 7, 1919, when the JN-4 Jenny he was flying crashed into the Cape Fear River.

Today it is home to the 43rd Airlift Wing and two tenant units: the 23rd Fighter Group and the 18th Air Support Operations Group. Tours are available with a reservation.

For additional information you can call Pope AFB Public Affairs: (910) 394-4183, or visit the Pope Air Force Base web site