Sondrestrom Air Base

Sondrestrom Air Base
Sondrestrom Air Base, 1974
Sondrestrom Air Base Location in Greenland
Coordinates	67°00′38.00″N 050°42′33.00″W / 67.0105556°N 50.7091667°W / 67.0105556; -50.7091667
Type	Military airfield
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1941
In use	1941–1992

Sondrestrom Air Base, originally Bluie West-8, was a United States Air Force base in central Greenland. The site is located 60 mi (97 km) north of the Arctic Circle and 90 mi (140 km) from the northeast end of Kangerlussuaq Fjord (formerly known by its Danish name Søndre Strømfjord). The base is approximately 11 mi (18 km) west-northwest of Ravneklippen and 80 mi (130 km) east of Sisimiut.

Following World War II, the base was briefly returned to Danish control between 9 October 1950 and 20 July 1951. The 1951 Greenland bases treaty led to the return of Sondrestrom to American control.

In 1992, the base was turned over to the Greenland government and is now the civilian community of Kangerlussuaq and Kangerlussuaq Airport, although the USAF operates a small Air National Guard detachment in the former base.