Relocating to Beale Air Force Base (AFB) History - Beale AFB has been a fixture in the Yuba-Sutter area of Northern California since its establishment as an Army base known as "Camp Beale" in 1942. During its military history, the base has been home to a prisoner of war camp, a military hospital, training facilities for armored and air divisions, including mortar, rifle, and bomb ranges, and more. In 1948, it was officially renamed Beale Air Force Base and was used primarily as a training facility until its conversion in the 1950s to an operational Air Force Base. Currently, Beale AFB is home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, the Base's host unit, and is a critical asset in the Air Force's intelligence gathering mission. To that end, Beale serves as home base for the famed U-2 "Dragon Lad... 07/10/2011