SP Unit and Base Designations

The various security and law enforcement units at Maxwell AFB and Gunter AFS have had numerous designations over the decades. Since the Air Force was once part of the Army, there were "M.P." units during World War II and into 1948. Maxwell AFB was known as "Maxwell Field", and Gunter AFS was known as "Gunter Field", during that era.

SP Unit Designations

Here are the possible unit designations at Gunter and Maxwell:

• 1947 ~ 502d Air University Wing


• 1948 ~ 3800th Air Police Squadron


• 1966 ~ 3800th Security Police Squadron


• 1992 ~ 502d Security Police Squadron


• 1994 ~ 42nd Security Police Squadron


• 1997 ~ 42nd Security Forces Squadron

Thanks to Bill McCue for providing, and to Steve Branyon for scanning, numerous photos and documents from Gunter AFS. Below is an organizational chart for the 3800th ABS SP Section circa 1978. It shows how the SP unit at Gunter AFS was separate from the SP unit at Maxwell AFB.


Gunter AFS 3800th ABS/SPS Organizational Chart
(via Bill McCue, scanned by Steve Branyon)

Gunter and Maxwell Designations

Over the years, Gunter and Maxwell have had numerous designations. These occurred as the USAF became a distinct service from the Army, combined with Gunter's evolving role. The base closings in the early 1990s also affected this.

Gunter Field

Gunter AFS

Gunter AFB

Gunter Annex

Maxwell Field

Maxwell AFB

Maxwell-Gunter