Slide 1

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

by: Eric Roach1111

22Overview Base HistoryNamesakeEarly YearsWWII EraPostwar yearsCold WarModern EraBase InfoSummary

33Namesake

2nd Lt. Samuel H. DavisNative Tusconian, Attended UofA, then joined the Army Air Service in 1917Was killed in an aircraft accident while serving in Florida while on a training mission in a JN-6 in 19214Namesake1st Lt. Oscar Monthan

Born in Dewsbury, England. Moved to AZ in 1900In 1917 Joined Army Air Corps. Graduated from Boston School of Technology and became the Chief Engineer at Rockwell Field, CAWas considered one of the foremost aero-engineersDied in crash of B2-Bomber during a training mission 1924

5Early Years

In 1919 Tucson Chamber of commerce established the nations first municipally-owned airfield at the present day rodeo groundsRapid growth in aviation meant a move to its present site and a runway was built when the city acquired the land for itDavis-Monthan Field was dedicated in 1927 by Charles Lindbergh and it became the largest municipal airport in U.S.

6Early Years Contd.Municipal AirportStandard Airlines (later acquired by American Airlines) began flights to and from Tucson

Military OperationsBegan at the field when Sergeant Simpson relocated his fuel and service operation to the site in October 1927Civil and military operations worked well together until the early 1940s when military requirements forced civilian aviation activities to relocate 77WWII EraAs 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.

8Postwar Years

On 13 January 1948 the name was changed to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

The base became the storage site for hundreds of decommissioned aircraft. Tucsons dry climate and alkali soil made it an ideal location for aircraft storage and preservation

B-29s and C-47Gooney Birds

And Eventuallymost all aircraft

9The 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 FWBase was Transferred to Tactical Air Command 30 years laterA-10 became the main aircraft for training and deployment

10Currently Air Combat Command MAJCOM

93rd Rescue and 214th Reconnaissance groups operate out of DM AFB

Modern Era

General Atomics MQ-1B Predator

Pararescue Jumpers11355th Fighter Wing Info

12

NamesakeEarly YearsWWII EraPostwar yearsCold WarModern EraBase Info

Summary

13QUESTIONS?14Referenceswww.dm.af.mil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis%E2%80%93Monthan_Air_Force_Base