England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located northwest of Alexandria and about northwest of New Orleans. Originally known as Alexandria Army Air Base, on 23 June 1955 the facility was renamed England Air Force Base in honor of Lt Col John Brooke England (1923–1954). The base was closed in 1992. The airfield and buildings are now Alexandria International Airport. Three episodes of The Crocodile Hunter were recorded in this base because the area is an important area for conservation. History The base was opened on 21 October 1942 and during the Second World War performed Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircrew training. It was placed on inactive status on 23 September 1946, although a small cadre of Army and Air Force personnel (331 Composite Squadron) remained assigned to Alexandria Municipal Airport throughout the late 1940s. On 10 October 1950, the United States Air Force reopened Alexandria Air Force Base during the Korean War. The station's primary mission was tactical fighter operations for Tactical Air Command. Its major operating units were: United States Army Air Forces 67th Airdrome Squadron, 1 February 1943 – 25 March 1943 471st Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943 – 7 May 1943 469th Bombardment Group, 7 May 1943 – 1 April 1944 221st AAF Base Unit, 25 March 1944 – 1 March 1945 329th AAF Base Unit, 1 March 1945 – 23 September 1946 United States Air Force 4416th Base Complement Sq, 23 October 1950 – 22 December 1950 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 22 December 1950 – 2 May 1952 Composite Air National Guard wing activated to Federal Service due to Korean War Flew Republic F-84 "Thunderjets". Three operational squadrons 125th (Oklahoma ANG, F-84B/G, 127th (Kansas ANG F-84C/G), 128th (Georgia ANG, F-84B/G)). ANG personnel trained at Alexandria AFB 1950/51, being replaced by active duty Air Force personnel in 1951/52. Wing reassigned to USAFE at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France 132d Fighter-Bomber Wing, 2 May 1952 – 1 January 1953 Iowa ANG Wing activated to Federal Service replacing reassigned 137th FBW One operational squadron (124th FIS). Flew Republic straight winged F-84s. Returned to state control.(F-84Fs were not assigned to front line units until January 1954-please see pages 42/3 in POST WORLD WAR TWO FIGHTERS 1945–73 U S Government Printing Office) 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 January 1953 – 1 April 1959 Active duty Air Force wing activated at Alexandria AFB. Three operational squadrons (389th,