R. I. Bong Air Force Base, Wisconsin

R. I. Bong Air Force Base was a planned United States Air Force installation near Brighton in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Conceived during the early Cold War as a Strategic Air Command base, the project was abandoned before completion, leaving only partial infrastructure that was later repurposed for public use.

The base was authorized in 1951 as part of the Air Force's postwar expansion. It was named after Major Richard Ira Bong, a Wisconsin native and America's top World War II ace. The facility was intended to house bomber wings and related Strategic Air Command operations to strengthen U.S. defense capabilities in the upper Midwest.

Although work began with runways, taxiways, and support buildings, construction halted in 1959 after strategic priorities shifted. Advances in intercontinental ballistic missile technology and budget reductions rendered several unfinished bases redundant. By the time of cancellation, only about 40% of the infrastructure had been completed.

After the project's termination, the federal government transferred the property to the state of Wisconsin. The site was later converted into the Richard Bong State Recreation Area, a 4,500-acre park offering camping, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation. Remnants of the airfield remain visible and are integrated into park trails and facilities, serving as reminders of its Cold War origins.