[1] It is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the central business district of Knoxville, near Alcoa, Tennessee.

The federalized Tennessee Air National Guard Detachment 1, 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, was assigned to the base while on active duty during the Korean War.

Assigned to Air Defense Command (ADC) and flying F-47D Thunderbolts, the 105th FIS was headquartered at Berry Field in Nashville.

The tactical unit of the 516 ADG was the 469th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (469 FIS), which initially inherited the World War II-vintage F-47s (formerly P-47 Thunderbolts) of the Air National Guard, later replacing them with F-86D Sabre jet fighters.

About 4,000 active duty Air Force personnel left the area, taking with them $25.5 million in equipment from the base.

Regular Air Force operations at McGhee Tyson Airport ended on January 8, 1958, and the 354 FIS was inactivated on that date.

With the retirement of its KC-97s in 1976, the 134 ARG would convert to the KC-135A Stratotanker that year and become operationally gained by the Strategic Air Command (SAC), later transitioning to the KC-135E in 1982.

In addition, the studio and multimedia facilities support ANG video productions, senior leader conferences and general-to-career field specific training.