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About | Castle Airport
2-2 minutesWho We Are
Castle Airport serves the Merced County region as part of the National Airspace System.
The airport is operated by the County of Merced, Community & Economic Development Department.
Our History
Formerly Castle Air Force Base, the airfield is named in honor of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle. General Castle posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while leading more than 2,000 heavy bombers in a WWII strike against German airfields on December, 24 1944.
At the end of the Cold War, Castle Air Force Base was selected for closure under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 during Round II Base Closure Commission deliberations (BRAC 91). The base was officially closed in 1995 and named Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center. In early 2007, Castle Airport’s control tower was reopened to handle increased traffic. Castle Air Museum was opened in 1981 at Castle AFB and currently displays more than 80 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.