Robins traces its history to June 14, 1941, when Macon civic leaders—with the help of U. S. Rep. Carl Vinson—influenced the U.S. War Department to construct an Army Air Corps logistics, supply and maintenance depot in Houston County. The site was adjacent to Wellston, a small town of 47 families located some 15 miles south of Macon.

The defense buildup preceding World War II was under way, and the Middle Georgia area was chosen primarily because it had flat land for an airfield and an abundance of artesian water. These were important points to consider in 1941 when emphasis was on speed of construction. Ground was officially broken Nov. 9, 1941 by the first depot commander, Col. Charles E. "Steve" Thomas, and leading members of the Macon business and political communities.

In January 1942, the installation was officially named Robins Field in honor of Brig. Gen. Augustine Warner Robins, a native of Virginia and one of the Army Air Corps' first general staff officers. Considered the "Father of Modern Air Force Logistics," the general eventually became chief of the Materiel Division of the Army Air Corps, which later became the present Air Force Materiel Command.

Original construction was completed officially in April 1942 with the completion of the command section—what is today Building 220. In a show of local support, Macon-area leaders celebrated the official dedication of the depot and base the day after Easter, April 26, 1943. It was an early example of the close, positive base/community relationship that has become a lasting and proud Robins tradition.

On March 14, 1942, the air depot received its first official name—Wellston Air Depot. Thomas, in an effort to honor his friend and mentor General Robins, acted to rename the depot, as well. To do so, under Army Air Corps regulations, he had to convince Wellston city fathers to rename the town. They did so willingly on Sept. 1, 1942, and on Oct. 14, 1942, the depot became the Warner Robins Army Air Depot.

Since 1942, the depot has undergone a number of name changes: Warner Robins Air Depot Control Area Command in 1943; Warner Robins Air Service Command in 1943; Warner Robins Air Technical Service Command in 1944; and Warner Robins Air Materiel Area in 1946. It received its current name—the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center—on April 1, 1974. The installation remained Robins Field until Feb. 16, 1948, when it was renamed Robins Air Force Base after the Air Force became a separate service.

The decades following World War II were a time of challenge and change for the base. During the Korean War, Robins workers, reduced in number by postwar cuts to 3,900, swiftly and heroically retooled and fitted hundreds of mothballed B-29s which played a key role in saving the Republic of South Korea from Communist aggression.

In the 1960s and '70s, the base played an important part in the Southeast Asia "Pipeline," which supplied vital materiel to U.S. troops fighting in Vietnam.

The changing requirements of a "jet age" Air Force added a new dimension to the logistics challenge. This led to the development of Robins as an avionics center and huge, sprawling complex of diverse missions supporting the U.S. Air Force worldwide.

That support was called upon once again in 1990-91 during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East. C-141 aircraft managed by Robins were the backbone of the airlift to Saudi Arabia. C-130s managed by the center provided valuable transport capabilities for the allied forces. Workers surged parts needed to keep aircraft flying and accelerated the maintenance and repair of aircraft vital to the war effort. Another Robins responsibility, the F-15 Eagle, proved its superiority during repeated air strikes over the Persian Gulf.

In 1999, Robins' proud tradition of keeping Air Force aircraft flying has played a key role in NATO's Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia. This time, the Robins lineup carried a new player, the C-5 Galaxy, which transported troops and equipment to forward deployment locations in support of allied military operations.

Robins AFB has recorded 61 years of dedicated support to the war fighter. With the addition of several new missions in the '90s—the C-5, the 116th Air Control Wing's E-8C Joint Surveillance and Attack Radar System and C- 17 inspections—the future is bright for Robins. Congratulations on your assignment to the heart of Middle Georgia.