A suburban Georgia air base that once built bombers for the second world war

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Tucked into the dense urban sprawl of Cobb County, Georgia, Dobbins Air Reserve Base serves as a vital military hub. Originally conceived as a civilian airfield in 1941, the site transformed into a massive production center for B-29 Superfortress bombers before evolving into the complex, multi-branch installation operating today.

Construction began in July 1941 on what was then called Rickenbacker Field, named for the top American flying ace of the First World War. The project was part of a massive 1940 initiative led by General Lucius D. Clay to build hundreds of airfields across the United States in anticipation of global conflict. By 1942, the site was repurposed for the war effort, becoming the Marietta Army Airfield. It soon became the home of a massive Bell Aircraft factory, which produced hundreds of B-29 Superfortress bombers, including the advanced B-29B model, before the plant ceased operations in January 1946.

Following the war, the base transitioned into a permanent military installation. It was renamed in 1950 to honor Captain Charles M. Dobbins, a transport pilot who lost his life near Sicily in 1943. Throughout the Cold War, the facility hosted a wide array of aircraft, from P-47 Thunderbolts to F-15 Eagles. The adjacent factory, later operated by Lockheed, became a cornerstone of American aerospace manufacturing, producing iconic aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and the C-5 Galaxy. This industrial legacy continues today as the facility remains a key site for Lockheed Martin's defense work.

Today, Dobbins Air Reserve Base functions as a bustling center for the Air Force Reserve, the Georgia Army National Guard, and units from the Navy and Marine Corps. Despite its suburban location, the base handles over 14,000 flight operations annually. While urban development has encroached on the facility, leading to safety concerns and debates over its future, it remains the only active military installation in northern Georgia. It continues to serve as a critical training ground, housing the Air Force Reserve's Transportation Proficiency Center and maintaining a constant state of readiness.

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