Description: 

This Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) consists of 1,252 acres in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The site is located on the West Mesa of Albuquerque, north of the Double Eagle II Airport.

History: 

In 1941, the U.S. Army acquired land adjacent to the municipal airport and initiated construction of the Albuquerque Army Air Base, which was expanded in 1942, and renamed Kirtland Field. The U.S. Army Bombardier School located at Kirtland Field expanded its operations in 1942 by leasing approximately 15,246 acres on the west side of Albuquerque from the City of Albuquerque, Santa Fe Pacific Railroad, and the Department of Interior for use as Precision Bombing Ranges (PBRs).

The Former Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) PBRs were used between 1942 and 1947 to train World War II bomber pilots. Based on historical records, the primary types of ordnance dropped on N-2/NDA munition response site (MRS) included: M38A2 practice bombs armed with M1A1 black powder spotting charges and 100-pound (lb) AN-M30 series general purpose (GP) high explosive (HE) bombs (used on the former new demolition area (NDA) target area).

In the early part of World War II, the U.S. leased approximately 10,456 acres of the land from the City of Albuquerque. The land was owned by the State of New Mexico and the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad and leased back to the City of Albuquerque who subleased it to the U.S. Government. This acreage, located on the West Mesa along with 4,790 acres transferred from the Department of Interior, was leased for the purpose of building several precision bombings ranges. After the war, the land reverted to the original owners. Between 1955 and 1988 the City of Albuquerque acquired 13,868 acres of the original 15,246 acres. The State of New Mexico retains 898 acres and the remaining 480 acres have been broken up into small private lots owned by various individuals.