More than a road: The story behind Wright-Patt's Estabrook Road Published July 15, 2022 By Matthew Clouse 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Estabrook Road on Area A, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was named after Brig. Gen. Merrick Estabrook Jr., July 12, 2022. Estabrook was commander of both Patterson Field and Fairfield Air Depot from 1939 to 1943. The road runs from Wright-Patterson Medical Center to Turtle Pond. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Clouse) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Estabrook Road, located on Area A and running from Wright-Patterson Medical Center to Turtle Pond, honors Brig. Gen. Merrick Estabrook Jr. Estabrook was born July 12, 1886, in Boston. He graduated from Harvard University in 1909 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After spending years as a mine operator, he joined the Army in 1917. Brig. Gen. Merrick Estabrook Jr. served 27 years in the Army. He served as commander of both Patterson Field and Fairfield Air Depot from 1939 to 1943. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res During his 27-year military career, he achieved the rank of brigadier general and served as commander of both Patterson Field and Fairfield Air Depot from 1939 to 1943. “General Estabrook commanded Patterson Field (now WPAFB Area A) and its primary tenant, the Fairfield Air Depot, during the largest expansion the base had ever — and would ever — see,” said Kevin Rusnak, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center chief historian. “New facilities for leadership, maintenance, training, support and overhaul were all built in these years.” Some of the buildings constructed during his tenure were: The 88th Air Base Wing headquarters is located in Building 10 on Area A, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 17, 2022. As the host unit at Wright-Patt, the 88th Air Base Wing operates the airfield, maintains all infrastructure and provides security, communications, medical, legal, personnel,finance, transportation, air traffic control, weather forecasting, public affairs, recreation and chaplain services for more than 100 associate units. The 88th Air Base Wing is comprised of more than 5,000 officers, enlisted, Air Force civilian and contractor employees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Clouse) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res 10 — now 88th Air Base Wing headquarters 70 — now home to Wright-Patt’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team 146 — now Area A fire station 206 — now 88th Operations Support Squadron headquarters 219 — now Air Force Marathon Office 257 — now mobility bag storage 258 — now the U.S. Postal Service 262 and 262A — now Air Force Materiel Command headquarters “Brig. Gen. Estabrook reportedly worked day and night managing all of this growth, but the pace aggravated his health conditions,” Rusnak added. “After giving all he had for four years, he was transferred to Air Service Command headquarters at Patterson Field in 1944 to relieve some of his stress, but he retired for health reasons just a few months later.” Estabrook retired from active duty due to a disability Aug. 31, 1944. He passed away three years later on Dec. 19, 1947.