History. Langley Air Force Base, originally known as Langley Field, is named after Samuel Pierpont Langley, an aerodynamic pioneer and a former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Langley began aerodynamic experiments in 1887 and formed a basis for practical pioneer aviation.

How did Langley get its name?

The land which makes up Langley today once belonged to Thomas Lee, former Crown Governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1749 to 1750. Lee's land was named Langley in honor of Langley Hall, which was part of the Lee home estate in Shropshire, England.

Who was Langley AFB named after?

“The 1st Fighter Wing entered into service at the Langley base in January 1976.” The airfield was designated as Langley Field in 1917 in the honour of aviation pioneer Samuel Pierpont Langley. New buildings were built at the field in 1918. The field served as the major airfield for the Army Air Corps in the 1930s.