Francis S. Gabreski Airport

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FAA diagram of Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK)

Francis S. Gabreski Airport is located on Long Island in Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County, New York, approximately 80 miles east of New York City. Known as Suffolk County Air Force Base until 1969, then Suffolk County Airport until 1991, when it was renamed in honor of Col. Francis S. Gabreski, a flying ace in World War II and a former commander of the base. The airport is a general aviation facility utilized by corporate businesses, private aviation and air taxi services. The 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard (ANG) is also based here.

History

In 1943, the United States government built the airport for use as an Air Force Base during World War II. After the war it was given to Suffolk County, but it was reclaimed in 1951 for the Korean War National Emergency. In 1960, it was leased by the US Air Force for an Air Defense Command (ADC) base that served as home to the 52nd Fighter Wing from 1963 through 1968. The base was deactivated in 1969 and released back to Suffolk County.

Military operations were reintroduced in June 1970, when the 102nd Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) under the 106th Air Refueling Group (ARG) relocated here after the closing of Floyd Bennett Field. In 1972, the names changed from "Air Refueling" to "Fighter Interceptor", with the new mission of controlling the skies along the northeast U.S. coast. In 1975, the designation and mission changed to "Aerospace Rescue and Recovery", later shortened to "Air Rescue". The current names 102nd Rescue Group and 106th Rescue Wing were assigned in 1995. Today, the 106th provides search and rescue services using HC-130 Hercules aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.

The rescue wing was featured in the book and movie of The Perfect Storm which details the crash of a rescue helicopter from the airport during the 1991 Halloween Nor’easter.

Air Force One was based at the airport in the summers of 1998 and 1999 during weeklong visits by Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton during extended stays at the Georgica Pond home of Stephen Spielberg in East Hampton (village), New York.

Facilities

Gabreski Airport has a 9,000 foot runway, among New York's longest after JFK International Airport and Stewart International Airport. Two fixed base operators provide aviation services to airport users: [Long Island Jet Center] and [Malloy Air East].

Belle's Cafe is located in the old officer's club at the airport and overlooks the landing strip. It is a casual restaurant specializing in Caribbean, Cajun and Creole cuisine. Breakfast and lunch are available on weekdays, with dinner offered Thursday through Sunday. Bands play weekend nights and during a Sunday brunch.

External links

[Francis S. Gabreski Airport]
[Suffolk County Air Force Base (ADC)]
[106th Rescue Wing]
[Long Island Jet Center]
[Malloy Air East]
[FAA Airport Diagram] (PDF)
[New York State DOT Airport Diagram] (PDF)
Resources for this airport:
* AirNav [airport information for KFOK]
* FlightAware [airport information] and [live flight tracker]
* NOAA/NWS [current] and [historical] weather observations
* SkyVector [aeronautical chart for KFOK]

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