Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Franklin O. Carroll, first commander of the Arnold Engineering Development...... read more read more
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – For more than 70 of Arnold Engineering Development Complex’s 75 years, Woods Reservoir has bore the name of a man who had a hand in its creation. On July 1, 1953, Woods Reservoir was dedicated in memory of Col. Lebbeus Woods, a little more than a month following his death in May 1953. Woods was one of the first two Air Force officers to set foot in southern middle Tennessee in connection with what was then known as the Arnold Engineering Development Center. Woods was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation near Kadoka, South Dakota, on Feb. 13, 1901. According to a blog site operated by Col. Woods’ son, the late architect Lebbeus Woods, Col. Woods joined the U.S Army in 1918. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, in 1925. He also completed training at the Army Air Forces Advanced Engineering School and graduated from the Command and Staff School at Air War College in Alabama. His son’s blog states that, following his West Point graduation, Col. Woods resigned his commission and became a civil engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, designing and directing the construction of railway bridges. Col. Woods then worked for the U.S. District Engineer in New York until he entered active service in 1942. On overseas duty during the war, Col. Woods served at Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe for 23 months as director of supply for the American forces. “He continued his engineering work in the Army, building airfields, bridges, and other necessary facilities in England and Europe as the Allies steadily advanced against the Axis forces,” Lebbeus Woods wrote of his father in his blog, Lebbeus Woods’ online blog states that in 1944, Col. Woods was assigned to the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to construct buildings and additional structures required by Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller and other scientists at the site to develop the atomic bomb. In 1946, Col. Woods served as assistant chief of supply during the “Operation Crossroads” nuclear tests that occurred at the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He was later appointed Chief of the Air Installations Division at Air Training Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He then served as executive assistant for the Deputy Chief of Staff of Materiel at U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. His stint in Tullahoma followed. Col. Woods began his AEDC assignment on Jan. 25, 1950. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of Air Engineering Development Division Materiel at AEDC. In April 1948, Camp Forrest, located near Tullahoma, Tennessee, and one of the Army’s largest training bases during World War II, was named as the site for AEDC. The Unitary Wind Tunnel Plan Act of 1949 was signed by then-President Harry S. Truman in October 1949, clearing the way for construction of AEDC. The Secretary of Defense subsequently approved construction of the center. On Jan. 1, 1950, the Air Engineering Development Division was established at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to oversee the creation of the AEDC. Col. Woods and Col. Waddell in February 1950 established AEDD offices at Northern Field, a commercially owned airfield and war-time Army Air Forces base in Tullahoma. In November 1950, AEDD Commander Maj. Gen. Franklin O. Carroll, moved the AEDD from Ohio to Northern Field. The following year, the AEDD was redesignated as AEDC. Construction of AEDC began in mid-1950. Col. Woods played a considerable role in the construction and planning of the new center. “In additional to his duties as chief of the Materiel Division, he was designated the officer-in-charge, with offices in Tullahoma, Tennessee,” Lt. Col. Edward Rankin stated in his address during the July 1953 Woods Reservoir dedication. “In that responsible position, he had the complete responsibility for all staff functions normally the function of the Directorate of Installations, Headquarters, U.S.A.F., including issuing all construction directives, final approval of plans and specifications, programming, scheduling, reporting, etcetera, as was necessary in the construction of this project. “Col. Woods performed this long list of duties with such complete satisfaction to all concerned that those of us who knew him were constantly wondering how he still had time left for his friends. “But he did have friends here and, before he left Tullahoma, he told many people that this was the happiest tour of duty he ever had.” Woods Reservoir which, prior to the dedication ceremony, was known simply as the AEDC Lake, opened for public fishing and recreation on May 30, 1953. During his address, Rankin noted that in the little more than one month between that date and the July ceremony, the lake was becoming “one of middle Tennessee’s major fishing and recreational attractions. He added Air Force officials wanted the public to use the area for activities such as picnicking, camping, fishing and hunting. “We will try to make Woods Reservoir a fitting symbol of the life of the man whose memory we honor today,” Rankin said. “And, with the cooperation of the local sportsmen’s clubs, we are getting off to a good start. “And, with your interest and help, we can make Woods Reservoir live up to its name.” Col. Woods’ AEDC assignment ended on Feb. 5, 1952. He was transferred to Ohio to serve as Director of Installations for the then-active Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He passed away in Dayton, Ohio, on May 22, 1953. This is the 12th in a series of articles highlighting the history of Arnold Engineering Development Complex during its first 75 years. Additional articles will be published throughout 2026 to commemorate the anniversary of AEDC.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2026 07:59 |
| Story ID: | 563563 |
| Location: | ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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