The base is one mile east of Portsmouth and houses the New Hampshire ANG's 157th ARG flying the KC-135R. Pease was formerly an Air Force Base until 1991, when operational units were withdrawn and the site was transferred to the ANG. It is named for Captain Harl Pease, who was killed when his B-17 was shot down while attacking Rabaul, New Britain on 7 August 1942.