The base was renamed Travis Air Force Base in 1951 for Brigadier General Robert F. Travis , who was killed when a B-29 Superfortress crashed shortly after takeoff on 5 August 1950 . The ensuing fire caused the 10,000 pounds of high explosives in the plane 's cargo — a Mark 4 nuclear weapon — to detonate , killing General Travis and 18 others . ( The bomb 's plutonium pit was being transported in a different plane . ) The Military Air Transport Service ( MATS ) resumed command of Travis AFB on 1 July 1958 , after SAC 's new dispersal policy led to the transfer of the 14th Air Division to Beale AFB , California and the 1501st Air Transport Wing ( Heavy ) became the host unit . On 1 January 1966 , MATS was redesignated as the Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) and on 6 January 1966 , the 60th Military Airlift Wing ( 60 MAW ) replaced the 1501st ATW as the host unit
crashed shortly after takeoff on 5 August 1950
1950 Fairfield-Suisun Boeing B-29 crash
Travis Air Force Base