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Building Community: Larson Air Force Base Closure When Larson Air Force Base closed in 1966, Moses Lake faced a potentially devastating economic loss. It was quite a shock when we announced the closure of the base . . . [which] had about four thousand people . . . [and] about four to five hundred civilian employees . . . At one time we had over 800 of our people living off-base, in Moses Lake, Ephrata, and Soap Lake. Debriefing figures that I used when announcing base closure was the fourteen million payroll and the local purchase of goods and materials of over six million. Now these are 1963/64 dollars that we're talking about. Clyde Owen Base commander Col. Clyde Owen and community business leaders looked for new industries to utilize the vast runways and buildings. In 1966 they created the Port of Moses Lake, which includes the Grant County Airport. In November of 1968, Japan Airlines established a training facility for pilots of its 747 planes, and became one of the most important Port businesses. Capt. Odagari of Japan Airlines presents a gift to Clyde and Audrey Owen, c. 1969. Photo courtesy of George and Margaret Schiffner Clyde Owen describing Japan Airlines choosing ML as site for 747 training. Other Japanese businesses located at the Port, including Advanced Silicon Industries Inc., Moses Lake Industries, Takata Moses Lake, and U.S. KDK. The former base is also home to Big Bend Community College. forward Table of Contents <> Photo Archive Oral History Archive <> Documents Archive <> Bibliography To Top of Moses Lake Exhibit