George Air Force Base occupies 5,347 acres and is located about eight miles northeast of Victorville in San Bernardino County. The base was constructed between 1941 and 1943 and closed in December 1992.

The base's mission was to support tactical fighter operations and provide training for air crews and maintenance personnel. To meet mission requirements, the base engaged in a variety of support operations such as aircraft maintenance and firefighting training that mandated the use and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous materials.

When the base closed, Victorville and the surrounding area lost 16,000 jobs.

Southern California Logistics Airport opened in 1994 when the U.S. Air Force executed a lease for 2,300 acres.

In July 2000 the Department of Commerce awarded the airport the designation of Foreign Trade Zone. The designation was intended to make it much easier for the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority to convince international carriers to use the airport as a base for shipping foreign products to Southern California. During that same period, the Department of Transportation approved a $4.9 million grant for the airport to extend its main runway from 10,050 feet to 13,050 feet to accommodate international jet transports. The longer runway was needed so cargo planes could depart fully loaded in summer heat and also ensured efficient use of the facility as the main transportation hub for the 70,000 troops a year traveling to and from the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin.

In late 2006, the airport became home to Air Tanker 910, which is on contract to the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE). Tanker 910 is the only wide-body jet currently in service and uses the airport as its re-loading base for fires occurring anywhere in California.

-- Chris H. Sieroty