Wheelus AFB Lybia

Wheelus Air Base, located near Tripoli, Libya, was established by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II in 1943. Originally named Mellaha Airfield, it was later renamed Wheelus Air Base in honor of Lieutenant Richard Wheelus in 1948. Throughout the Cold War, Wheelus served as a crucial Strategic Air Command (SAC) base for bomber training, air refueling, and as a staging point for U.S. operations in the Mediterranean and Middle East. The base remained a key U.S. facility until 1970, when it was handed over to the Libyan government following the rise of Muammar Gaddafi.