Davis-Monthan Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1940-Active) - A United States Air Force base first established in 1940 as [[Tucson Army Air Field]] at Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Renamed [[Davis-Monthan Air Field]] on 3 | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1940-Active) - A United States Air Force base first established in 1940 as [[Tucson Army Air Field]] at Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Renamed [[Davis-Monthan Army Air Field]] on 3 Dec 1941 and after the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947 renamed [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] on 11 Jan 1948. Named for [[World War I]] pilots Lieutenant [[Samuel H. Davis]]<!-- not USMA --> and [[Oscar Monthan]]<!-- not USMA -->. Davis died in a Florida aircraft accident in 1921. Monthan was killed in the crash of a Martin bomber in Hawaii in 1924. Active military installation. | ||
{|{{FWpicframe}} | {|{{FWpicframe}} | ||
|- valign="top" | |- valign="top" | ||
|width="50%"| | |width="50%"|[[File:U-2 Aircraft 080110-F-0602B-020.jpg|350px|thumb|left|U-2 Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft, USAF Photo]] | ||
|width="50%"|[[File:.jpg|300px|thumb|right|]] | |width="50%"|[[File:Davis-Monthan AFB 140710-F-BY036-030.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A-10 Thunderbolt II from Davis-Monthan, USAF Photo]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="2"|[[File:.jpg|795px|thumb|center|]] | |colspan="2"|[[File:Davis-Monthan AFB 150301-F-ZT877-556.jpg|795px|thumb|center|F-22 Taking Off at Davis-Monthan AFB, USAF Photo]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Current Mission Statement == | == Current Mission Statement == | ||
Deploy, employ, support, and sustain attack airpower in support of Combatant Commanders anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. Train the finest attack pilots for the Combat Air Forces. Provide every member of Team Davis-Monthan with responsive, tailored, mission-focused base support. | Deploy, employ, support, and sustain attack airpower in support of Combatant Commanders anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. Train the finest attack pilots for the Combat Air Forces. Provide every member of Team Davis-Monthan with responsive, tailored, mission-focused base support. | ||
== [[World War II]] == | == [[World War II]] == | ||
The first assigned U.S. Army Air Corps units were the 1st Bomb Wing, 41st Bomb Group and 31st Air Base Group, activating on 30 April 1941 with Lt. Colonel [[Ames S. Albro Sr.]] as commanding officer. The base became known as Davis-Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941. During the war heavy bombardment units were trained on B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress bombers. | [[File:Davis-Monthan Field 071125-F-0602B-005.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Davis-Monthan Field 1941]] | ||
The first assigned U.S. Army Air Corps units were the 1st Bomb Wing, 41st Bomb Group, and 31st Air Base Group, activating on 30 April 1941 with Lt. Colonel [[Ames S. Albro Sr.]] as commanding officer. The base became known as Davis-Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941. During the war, heavy bombardment units were trained on B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress bombers. The training ended on 14 Aug 1945, with the Japanese surrender. | |||
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== Post World War II == | == Post World War II == | ||
Immediately after the war Davis-Monthan housed German | [[File:Davis-Monthan AFB 110531-F-ZT000-001.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Davis-Monthan Boneyard]] | ||
Immediately after the war Davis-Monthan housed German POWs from June 1945 to March 1946 and became a separation center for returning troops. The base population reached a peak of 11,614 people in September 1945. | |||
Davis-Monthan was selected as a storage site for decommissioned aircraft. Excess B-29s and C-47 "Gooney Birds" were sent to the base because the low humidity and alkali soil made it ideal for aircraft storage and preservation. The stored aircraft were kept in mothballed condition to be used for parts or possible reactivation. This operation continues today as each succeeding generation of aircraft reaches the end of its operational life. | |||
{{Clr}} | |||
== [[Cold War|The Cold War]] == | == [[Cold War|The Cold War]] == | ||
The beginning of the cold war era saw the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947 and the formation of two B-29 bomb groups at the base. This was followed by the development of aerial refueling for bombers with the KB-29 tankers. The base transitioned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 bombers and Air Defense Command (ADC) F-86 fighters in 1953. | [[File:Titan Museum - 22.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Titan II Missile in its Silo at the Titan Missile Museum]] | ||
The beginning of the cold war era saw the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947 and the formation of two B-29 bomb groups at the base. This was followed by the development of aerial refueling for bombers with the KB-29 tankers. The base transitioned to [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) B-47 bombers and [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) F-86 fighters in 1953. | |||
In April 1954 the 684th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron moved to Davis-Monthan from [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] with their mobile radar equipment in preparation for integration into the permanent radar system. In the spring of 1956, the 684th moved from Davis-Monthan to the newly constructed [[Mount Lemmon Air Force Station]] atop the nearby 9,000-foot Mount Lemmon. Davis-Monthan continued to support the [[Mount Lemmon Air Force Station]] logistically and by providing quarters for its married personnel and daily transportation to and from the site until the site closed in 1969. | |||
In 1962 SAC activated a Strategic Missile Wing and 18 Titan II ICBM sites around Tucson. In 1963 U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, began flying global long-range strategic reconnaissance and intelligence missions from Davis-Monthan. | In 1962 SAC activated a Strategic Missile Wing and 18 Titan II ICBM sites around Tucson. In 1963 U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, began flying global long-range strategic reconnaissance and intelligence missions from Davis-Monthan. | ||
Davis-Monthan was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) on 1 Oct 1976 after 30 years under SAC and began A-10 Thunderbolt II training. | Davis-Monthan was transferred to [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) on 1 Oct 1976 after 30 years under SAC and began A-10 Thunderbolt II training. | ||
In 1982 Davis-Monthan began the deactivation and destruction of its 18 Titan II missile launch sites and by 1984 the last one was taken offline. One site was not destroyed and today it remains as the [http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org Titan Missile Museum] south of Tucson. | |||
{{Clr}} | |||
== Current Status == | == Current Status == | ||
Active military installation. Access may be restricted. | Active military installation under the U.S. Air Force [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC). Access may be restricted. The nearby Pima Air Museum offers a great variety of vintage aircraft and tours through the Davis-Montham boneyard. The boneyard tours are not given on weekends or Federal holidays. Inside the entrance to Davis-Monthan is a static display of vintage aircraft tied to the base. This display includes a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and an early version of the current A-10 aircraft. | ||
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{| | {| | ||
| | | | ||
<googlemap version="0.9" lat=" | <googlemap version="0.9" lat="32.16639" lon="-110.88306" zoom="13" width="-500" height="-500" | ||
( | scale="yes" overview="yes" controls="large" icons="http://www.fortwiki.com/mapicons/icon{label}.png"> | ||
(A) 32.16639, -110.88306, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base | |||
(1940-Active) | (1940-Active) | ||
</googlemap> | </googlemap> | ||
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'''Location:''' Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. | '''Location:''' Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. | ||
{{Mapit-US-cityscale| | {{Mapit-US-cityscale|32.16639|-110.88306}} | ||
* Elevation: 1,867' | * Elevation: 1,867' | ||
|valign="top"| | |||
<br> | |||
'''GPS Locations:''' | |||
* {{GPSLinkLong|Lat=32.16639|Lon=-110.88306}} Davis-Monthan Air Force Base | |||
|} | |} | ||
'''See Also:''' | '''See Also:''' | ||
* [[Mount Lemmon Air Force Station]] | |||
* [[:Category:Active Air Force Bases|Active Air Force Bases]] | * [[:Category:Active Air Force Bases|Active Air Force Bases]] | ||
'''Sources:''' | '''Sources:''' | ||
* {{GNIS2|ID=2512157}} - Base | * {{GNIS2|ID=2512157}} - Base | ||
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis–Monthan_Air_Force_Base Wikipedia - Davis-Monthan] | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis–Monthan_Air_Force_Base Wikipedia - Davis-Monthan] | ||
{{Visited|6 Mar 2015}} | {{FortID|ID=AZ0061|Name={{PAGENAME}}}} | ||
* AZ0271 - Tucson Army Air Field | |||
* AZ0060 - Davis-Monthan Army Air Field | |||
{{Visited|5-21 Mar 2016, 6 Mar 2015}} | |||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
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[[Category:All]] | [[Category:All]] | ||
[[Category:Arizona All]] | [[Category:Arizona All]] | ||
[[Category:Arizona | [[Category:Arizona Airfields]] | ||
[[Category:Arizona Pima County]] | [[Category:Arizona Pima County]] | ||
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | ||
[[Category:Starter Page]] | [[Category:Starter Page]] | ||
[[Category:Cold War Air Force Bases]] | [[Category:Cold War Air Force Bases]] | ||
[[Category:Air Force Bases]] | [[Category:Air Force Bases]] | ||
[[Category:Active Air Force Bases]] | [[Category:Active Air Force Bases]] | ||
[[Category:Arizona Air Force Bases]] | |||
[[Category:2015 Research Trip]] | |||
[[Category:2016 Research Trip]] | |||
Latest revision as of 13:56, 18 January 2023
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Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (1940-Active) - A United States Air Force base first established in 1940 as Tucson Army Air Field at Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Renamed Davis-Monthan Army Air Field on 3 Dec 1941 and after the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947 renamed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on 11 Jan 1948. Named for World War I pilots Lieutenant Samuel H. Davis and Oscar Monthan. Davis died in a Florida aircraft accident in 1921. Monthan was killed in the crash of a Martin bomber in Hawaii in 1924. Active military installation.
Current Mission StatementDeploy, employ, support, and sustain attack airpower in support of Combatant Commanders anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. Train the finest attack pilots for the Combat Air Forces. Provide every member of Team Davis-Monthan with responsive, tailored, mission-focused base support. World War II The first assigned U.S. Army Air Corps units were the 1st Bomb Wing, 41st Bomb Group, and 31st Air Base Group, activating on 30 April 1941 with Lt. Colonel Ames S. Albro Sr. as commanding officer. The base became known as Davis-Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941. During the war, heavy bombardment units were trained on B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress bombers. The training ended on 14 Aug 1945, with the Japanese surrender.
Post World War II Immediately after the war Davis-Monthan housed German POWs from June 1945 to March 1946 and became a separation center for returning troops. The base population reached a peak of 11,614 people in September 1945. Davis-Monthan was selected as a storage site for decommissioned aircraft. Excess B-29s and C-47 "Gooney Birds" were sent to the base because the low humidity and alkali soil made it ideal for aircraft storage and preservation. The stored aircraft were kept in mothballed condition to be used for parts or possible reactivation. This operation continues today as each succeeding generation of aircraft reaches the end of its operational life.
The Cold War The beginning of the cold war era saw the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947 and the formation of two B-29 bomb groups at the base. This was followed by the development of aerial refueling for bombers with the KB-29 tankers. The base transitioned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 bombers and Air Defense Command (ADC) F-86 fighters in 1953. In April 1954 the 684th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron moved to Davis-Monthan from Kirtland Air Force Base with their mobile radar equipment in preparation for integration into the permanent radar system. In the spring of 1956, the 684th moved from Davis-Monthan to the newly constructed Mount Lemmon Air Force Station atop the nearby 9,000-foot Mount Lemmon. Davis-Monthan continued to support the Mount Lemmon Air Force Station logistically and by providing quarters for its married personnel and daily transportation to and from the site until the site closed in 1969. In 1962 SAC activated a Strategic Missile Wing and 18 Titan II ICBM sites around Tucson. In 1963 U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, began flying global long-range strategic reconnaissance and intelligence missions from Davis-Monthan. Davis-Monthan was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) on 1 Oct 1976 after 30 years under SAC and began A-10 Thunderbolt II training. In 1982 Davis-Monthan began the deactivation and destruction of its 18 Titan II missile launch sites and by 1984 the last one was taken offline. One site was not destroyed and today it remains as the Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson.
Current StatusActive military installation under the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). Access may be restricted. The nearby Pima Air Museum offers a great variety of vintage aircraft and tours through the Davis-Montham boneyard. The boneyard tours are not given on weekends or Federal holidays. Inside the entrance to Davis-Monthan is a static display of vintage aircraft tied to the base. This display includes a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and an early version of the current A-10 aircraft.
See Also: Sources:
Links: Fortification ID:
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