▁United ▁States , ▁allowing ▁rock ets ▁to ▁get ▁a ▁boost ▁from ▁the ▁Earth ' s ▁rotation . ▁ ▁Air ▁Force ▁prov ing ▁ground ▁ ▁On ▁June ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁transferred ▁the ▁former ▁Ban ana ▁River ▁Naval ▁Air ▁Station ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force , ▁with ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁ren aming ▁the ▁facility ▁the ▁J oint ▁Long ▁Range ▁Pro ving ▁Gr ound ▁( J LR PG ) ▁Base ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 4 9 . ▁On ▁October ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁the ▁J oint ▁Long ▁Range ▁Pro ving ▁Gr ound ▁Base ▁was ▁transferred ▁from ▁the ▁Air ▁M ater iel ▁Command ▁to ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁J oint ▁Long ▁Range ▁Pro ving ▁Gr ound . ▁On ▁May ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁the ▁base ▁was ▁renamed ▁the ▁Long ▁Range ▁Pro ving ▁Gr ound ▁Base ▁but ▁three ▁months ▁later ▁was ▁renamed ▁Patrick ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base , ▁in ▁honor ▁of ▁Army ▁Maj . ▁Gen . ▁Mason ▁Patrick . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 1 , ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁established ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Miss ile ▁Test ▁Center . ▁ ▁Early ▁American ▁sub - orb ital ▁ro cket ▁fl ights ▁were ▁achieved ▁at ▁Cape ▁C ana ver al ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 . ▁These ▁fl ights ▁occurred ▁shortly ▁after ▁sub - orb ital ▁fl ights ▁launched ▁from ▁White ▁S ands ▁Miss ile ▁Range , ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Vik