Davis- Monthan Air Force Base by : E ric Roach

1. Davis-Monthan Air Force Baseby: Eric Roach

3. Overview Base History • Namesake • Early Years • WWII Era • Postwar years • Cold War • Modern Era • Base Info • Summary

4. Namesake • 2nd Lt. Samuel H. Davis • Native Tusconian, Attended UofA, then joined the Army Air Service in 1917 • Was killed in an aircraft accident while serving in Florida while on a training mission in a JN-6 in 1921

5. Namesake • 1st Lt. Oscar Monthan • Born in Dewsbury, England. Moved to AZ in 1900 • In 1917 Joined Army Air Corps. • Graduated from Boston School of Technology and became the Chief Engineer at Rockwell Field, CA • Was considered one of the foremost aero-engineers • Died in crash of B2-Bomber during a training mission 1924

6. Early Years • In 1919 Tucson Chamber of commerce established the nation’s first municipally-owned airfield at the present day rodeo grounds • Rapid growth in aviation meant a move to its present site and a runway was built when the city acquired the land for it • Davis-Monthan Field was dedicated in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh and it became the largest municipal airport in U.S.

7. Early Years Contd. • Municipal Airport • Standard Airlines (later acquired by American Airlines) began flights to and from Tucson • Military Operations • Began at the field when Sergeant Simpson relocated his fuel and service operation to the site in October 1927 • Civil and military operations worked well together until the early 1940s when military requirements forced civilian aviation activities to relocate

8. WWII Era • As the United States prepared for WWII Davis-Monthan Airport became Tucson Army Air Field in 1940. • The U.S. Army Air Corps first assigned the 1st Bomber Wing, 41st Bomb Group, and 31st Air Base Group, activation on 30 April 1941. • With its new military role, on 3 Dec 1941 the name of the base was changed to Davis-Monthan Army Air Field. • Corps leaders started to increasingly utilize the airfield, sending Boeing B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and Douglas B-18 Bolo which were utilized for training and observation missions.

9. On 13 January 1948 the name was changed to Davis-Monthan Air Force BaseThe base became the storage site for hundreds of decommissioned aircraft. Tucson’s dry climate and alkali soil made it anideal location for aircraft storage and preservationB-29s and C-47“Gooney Birds”And Eventuallymost all aircraft Postwar Years

10. The 43rd Air Refueling Squadron activated there and became the first unit dedicated to air refueling in history Cold War • Strategic Air Command (1949) established the 355th FW • Base was Transferred to Tactical Air Command 30 years later • A-10 became the main aircraft for training and deployment

11. Modern Era • Currently Air Combat Command MAJCOM • 93rd Rescue and 214th Reconnaissance groups operate out of DM AFB Pararescue Jumpers General Atomics MQ-1B Predator

12. 355th Fighter Wing Info

13. Summary Namesake Early Years WWII Era Postwar years Cold War Modern Era Base Info

14. QUESTIONS? References • www.dm.af.mil • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis%E2%80%93Monthan_Air_Force_Base