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Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base adjacent to Tucson, Arizona. The installation is primarily an Air Combat Command (ACC) base with the 355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) as the host activity. The base is also home to Headquarters, 12th Air Force (12 AF) and the Air Force Material Command's (AFMC) 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG), previously known as the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC).

Davis-Monthan's primary operational mission is to train A-10 and OA-10 pilots and to provide A-10 and OA-10 close air support and forward air control to ground forces worldwide. In addition, the attached AMARG facility functions as a long term storage and reclamation facility for excess DoD, USCG, NASA and other U.S. government aircraft.

The 7,000 military and 1,600 civilian employees who work on the base are paid $199 million annually, and the base has an estimated $750 million economic impact on Tucson as a whole.

Units

The host wing at Davis-Monthan is the 355th Fighter Wing, which includes:

355th Operations Group

354th Fighter Squadron (A-10, OA-10A) Bulldogs Blue Fin Flash
357th Fighter Squadron (A-10, OA-10A) Dragons Yellow Fin Flash
358th Fighter Squadron (A-10, OA-10A) Lobos Black Fin Flash
355th Operations Support Squadron
355th Training Squadron
607th Air Control Squadron
West Coast A-10 Demonstration Team

355th Mission Support Group
355th Maintenance Group
355th Medical Group

The base commander and commander of the 355th Fighter Wing is Colonel Kent Laughbaum

Other major units assigned to the base are:

Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force
563d Rescue Group

48th Rescue Squadron (Pararescue)
55th Rescue Squadron (HH-60G)
79th Rescue Squadron (HC-130P)
563rd Operations Support Squadron

55th Electronic Combat Group

41st Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "SunDowners" Blue Tail Stripe
42d Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "Bolts" Yellow Tail Stripe
43d Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "Bats" Red Tail Stripe

309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (Air Force Material Command)

All active duty aircraft assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base carry the tail code "DM".

In addition, there are numerous other support agencies assigned to the base. Some of these consist of the 305th Rescue Squadron (Air Force Reserve, HH-60G), and the 214th Reconnaissance Group (Arizona Air National Guard, MQ-1B Predator UAV). Additional support is also provided to the 162d Fighter Wing, Arizona Air National Guard, at nearby Tucson International Airport, flying the Block 30 F-16C.

Other federal agencies using the base include the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Customs Service Air Service Branch, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and a detachment of the Naval Air Systems Command.

History

The base was named in honor of Lieutenants Samuel H. Davis and Oscar Monthan, two Tucsonans and World War I era pilots who died in separate military aircraft accidents. Davis, who died in a Florida aircraft accident in 1921, attended the University of Arizona prior to enlisting in the Army in 1917. Monthan enlisted in the Army as a private in 1917, was commissioned as a ground officer in 1918 and later became a pilot. He was killed in a crash of a Martin bomber in Hawaii in 1924.

Major Operating Units

United States Army Air Forces

31st Air Base Gp, 30 Apr 1941 - 13 Jun 1942
32d Base HQ and Air Base Sq, 13 Jun 1942 - 25 Mar 1944
233d AAF Base Unit, 25 Mar 1944 - 16 Nov 1945
4105th AAF Base Unit, 16 Nov 1945 - 31 Mar 1946
248th AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1946 - 19 Nov 1947
444th Bombardment Group, 1 May - 1 Oct 1946
40th Bombardment Group, 13 May - 1 Oct 1946
43d Bombardment Group, 1 Oct 1946 - 17 Nov 1947

United States Air Force

43d Bombardment Wing, 17 Nov 1947 - 15 Mar 1960
2nd Bombardment Wing, 31 Dec 1948 - 1 Jan 1949
303d Bombardment Wing, 4 Sep 1951 - 8 Jun 1964
15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (ADC) 20 Apr 1953 - 24 Dec 1964
390th Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Jan 1962 - 1984
4453d Combat Crew Training Wing, 1 Jul 1964 - 30 Sep 1971
100th Air Refueling Wing, 25 Jun 1966 - 30 Sep 1976
355th Fighter Wing (Various Designations) 1 Jul 1971 - Present

Major Commands

Fourth Air Force, 1 Feb 1942 - 8 Feb 1943
Second Air Force, 8 Feb 1943 - 16 Nov 1945
Air Technical Service Command, 16 Nov 1945 - 31 Mar 1946
Strategic Air Command, 31 Mar 1946 - 1 Oct 1976
Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct 1976 - 1 Jun 1992
Air Combat Command, 1 Jun 1992 - Present

Operational history

Origins

The history of Davis-Monthan AFB can be traced to the earliest days of civil aviation when the city of Tucson acquired acreage southeast of town for a runway in 1925. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh, fresh from his non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, flew his "Spirit of St. Louis" to Tucson to dedicate Davis-Monthan Field—then the largest municipal airport in the United States.

Standard Airlines, later absorbed by American Airlines, had regular flights to and from Tucson in 1928. Military presence at the field began when Sergeant Simpson relocated his fuel/service operation to Tucson airport on 6 October 1927. He kept a log containing names of the field's customers--it reads like a Who's Who of aviation greats, including Benjamin Delahauf Foulois, Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and James H. Doolittle.

James H. Doolittle, awarded the Medal of Honor for his Tokyo raid, was the first military customer at the field on 9 October 1927.

World War II

Davis-Monthan Airport became Tucson Army Air Field, a military base in 1940 as the United States prepared for World War II. The first assigned USAAF units were the 1st Bomb Wing, 41st Bomb Group, and 31st Air Base Group, activating on 30 April 1941 . In its military role, the base became known as Davis-Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941. Even before Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Army Air Corps leaders started to increasingly utilize the airfield, first by sending Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses for bombing practices. Next came some Douglas B-18 Bolo bombers, with both training and observation missions.

During the war, Davis-Monthan Airfield became the primary training location for B-24 Liberator groups and, nearing the war's end, B-29 Superfortresses. Known bombardment groups which trained at DM during the war were:

34th Bombardment (Heavy) 13 May 1942 - 4 Jul 1942
94th Bombardment (Heavy) Aug 1942 - 1 Nov 1942
302nd Bombardment (Heavy) 23 Jun 1942 - 30 Jul 1942
308th Bombardment (Heavy) 20 Jun 1942 - 1 Oct 1942
380th Bombardment (Heavy) 3 Nov 1942 - 2 Dec 1942
382nd Bombardment (Heavy) 23 Jan 1943 - 5 Apr 1943
389th Bombardment (Heavy) 24 Dec 1942 - 1 Feb 1943
392nd Bombardment (Heavy) 26 Jan 1943 - 1 Mar 1943
399th Bombardment (Heavy) 1 Mar 1943 - 10 Apr 1943
400th Bombardment (Heavy) Apr 1943 - 2 May 1943

446th Bombardment (Heavy) 1 Apr 1943 - 8 Jun 1943
449th Bombardment (Heavy) 1 May 1943 - 5 Jul 1943
451st Bombardment (Heavy) 1 May 1943 - 3 Jun 1943
459th Bombardment (Heavy) 20 Sep 1943 - 1 Nov 1943
466th Bombardment (Heavy) 15 Aug - 17 Oct 1945
486th Bombardment (Heavy) 9 Nov 1943 - Mar 1944
489th Bombardment (Heavy) 3 Apr 1945 - 13 Jul 1945
491st Bombardment (Heavy) 1 Oct 1943 - 11 Nov 1943
444th Bombardment (Very Heavy) 1 Mar 1943 - 29 Jul 1943
499th Bombardment (Very Heavy) 20 Nov 1943 - 1 Dec 1943

Training at the airfield came to a halt on 14 August 1945 when the Japanese unconditionally surrendered. One little known role Davis-Monthan played in the war effort consisted of housing German Prisoners of War from June 1945 to March 1946.

Postwar Years

With the end of the war, operations at the base came to a virtual standstill. It was then the base was selected as a storage site for hundreds of decommissioned aircraft with the activation of the 3040th Aircraft Storage Group. The 3040th oversaw the storage of excess B-29s and C-47 "Gooney Birds." Tucson's dry climate and alkali soil made it an ideal location for aircraft storage and preservation, a mission that has continued to this day. The airfield also acted as a separation center, which brought the base populace to a high of 11,614 people in September 1945.

Cold War

Strategic Air Command ushered in the Cold War era at Davis-Monthan in March 1946, in the form of the 40th and 444th Bombardment Groups, both equipped with B-29s. As part of the postwar austerity, these groups were inactivated, with the personnel and equipment being consolidated into the 43d Bombardment Group in October. Davis-Monthan's 43rd Air Refueling Squadron had the honor of being one of the first two air refueling squadrons in the Air Force, flying the KB-29M.

On 11 January 1948, with the establishment of the United States Air Force, the facility was renamed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. On June 30, 1948, the Air Force activated the 43rd Air Refueling Squadron, whose KB-29Ms were newly-equipped with aerial refueling equipment purchased from the British firm FRL. The 43rd ARS, along with the 509th ARS at Walker AFB, New Mexico, was the first dedicated air fefueling unit in history.

On 2 March 1949, the Lucky Lady II, a B-50A of the 43d Bombardment Wing, completed the first nonstop round-the-world flight, having covered 23,452 miles in 94 hours and 1 minute (249.45mph). Lucky Lady II was refueled four times in the air by KB-29 tankers of the 43d Air Refueling Squadron, which had made only one operational air refueling contact before the mission. For this outstanding flight, the Lucky Lady II's crew received the Mackay Trophy, given annually by the National Aeronautic Association for the outstanding flight of the year, and the Air Age Trophy, an Air Force Association award, given each year in recognition of significant contributions to the public understanding of the air age. In 1953, the jet age came to the base when SAC units converted to the new B-47 Stratojet.

In April 1953 the Air Defense Command 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated with F-86A Sabres. A year later the unit transitioned into F-86Ds followed by a transition to F-86Ls in the fall of 1957. In the spring of 1959 the unit received Northrop F-89J interceptors which it flew for only a year when it transitioned into McDonnel F-101Bs. On 24 December 1964 the 15th FIS was deactivated.

In 1962, the 390th Strategic Missile Wing and its 18 Titan II ICBM sites were activated. This unit inactivated in 1984.

In July 1963, the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Wing, equipped with U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft was assigned to the base and began flying global missions. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963, the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas relocated to Davis-Monthan and assumed responsibility for all U-2 operations, emphasizing long-range strategic reconnaissance and intelligence collection. As a Strategic AIr Command (SAC) unit, the 4080th was later redesignated the 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and also acquired DC-130 Hercules aircraft for launch and control of Firebee reconnaissance drones that were the precursors of contemporary unmanned aerial systems. The U-2s remained at the Davis-Monthan until 1976, when the 100 SRW was inactivated and its U-2s were to SAC's 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) at Beale Air Force Base, California, where U-2 Dragon Lady operations were consolidated with SR-71 Blackbird operations.

The year 1964 brought back the combat crew training mission of the World War II years with the 4453d Combat Crew Training Wing equipped with the Air Force's newest and most sophisticated fighter, the F-4 Phantom II.

In July 1971, the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying the A-7 Corsair II aircraft, was activated at the base and the previously assigned F-4s were moved to Luke AFB, near Phoenix, Arizona.

On October 1, 1976, the base was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) after 30 years under SAC. It was also that year the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing accepted the first A-10 Thunderbolt II. Since 1979, D-M has been the training location for pilots in the A-10 and was redesignated as the 355th Tactical Training Wing on 1 Sep 1979. The organization was later redesignated the 355th Fighter Wing since it includes operational, deployable A-10 squadrons in addition to its CONUS training mission

The 1980s brought several diverse missions to D-M. The headquarters charged with overseeing them was now the 836th Air Division, which was activated January 1, 1981 the AD advised Air Force component commanders and land forces on A-10 aircraft tactics, training, employment and readiness, and subordinate units participated in exercises such as Red Flag and Celtic Echo.

The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron, equipped with the EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, arrived on 1 July 1980, and reported to the 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing.

In 1981 D-M welcomed the 868th Tactical Missile Training Group. The 868th was the only US-based Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) unit and the source of the crews that staffed the forward deployed GLCM wings in NATO in 1982.

On 1 September 1982 the headquarters of the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing (TAIRCW) and its subordinate 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), a unit responsible for the Air Force's tactical air control system west of the Mississippi River stood up at D-M, bringing 16 OA-37B aircraft and numerous new personnel to the base. The 23rd TASS became the Air Force's first O/A-10 squadron in 1988, providing heavily armed airborne forward air control (FAC) capability for the first time. Unlike all other D-M aircraft at the time, the 23rd TASS fleet's tail flash read "NF", for "Nail FAC"; the squadron's radio call sign was "Nail."

Post Cold-War changes

In the 1990s, the 355 TTW continued to train A-10 crews for assignments to units in the United States, England and Korea. During this period, the 355 FW deployed Airborne Forward Air Controllers in their OA-10 aircraft to Operation Desert Storm, providing nearly 100% of this capability to the war.

On 1 October 1991 the 355th was redesignated as the 355th Fighter Wing (FW) in tune with the Air Force's Objective Wing philosophy. The 355th Fighter Wing was comprised of the 355th Operations Group, the 355th Maintenance Group, the 355th Medical Group, and the 355th Mission Support Group.

In May 1992, the 41st and 43d Electronic Combat Squadron, flying EC-130E Hercules Compass Call arrived. The aircraft carried an airborne battlefield command and control center capsule that provides continuous control of tactical air operations in the forward battle area and behind enemy lines. This capability added yet more strength to the wing's combat capability. The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron "Bats" are part of the 55th Wing at Offut AFB, Nebraska but operate out of Davis-Monthan. In addition, the 42d Airborne Command and Control Squadron arrived from Keesler AFB, Mississippi on On 19 July 1994.

On 1 May 1992, senior Air Force leaders implemented the policy of one base, one wing, one boss. The 836 AD and 602 TAIRCW inactivated while the 41 ECS and 43 ECS came under control of the 355th Fighter Wing. With the mission diversified, the 355th was redesignated as the 355th Wing.

Following Operation Desert Storm, the 355th Wing supported Operation Southern Watch during deployments to Al Jaber, Kuwait in 1997 by deploying 24 A-10s, in 1998 by deploying 16 A-10s, and in 1999 by deploying 14 A-10s--all to ensure compliance of the 33rd parallel southern no-fly zone.

The flight and mysterious crash of Captain Craig D. Button took off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on April 2, 1997.

21st Century

The attacks on September 11 2001, led to the initiation of three ongoing missions--Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), which Davis-Monthan currently continues to support--and Operation Noble Eagle (ONE).

After the execution of Operation Enduring Freedom, eight A-10s from the 355th Wing were called to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan to fly close air support missions supporting multinational ground forces.

In September 2002, the 48th, 55th, and the 79th Rescue Squadrons (RQS) transferred under control of the 355th Wing, equipped with HC-130 aircraft and HH-60 helicopters. At the same time, the 41st and 43 Electronic Combat Squadrons were realigned under the control of the 55th Electronic Combat Group (55 ECG). While personnel and aircraft remained on Davis-Monthan AFB operational control of the 55 ECG was assumed by the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Another major wing realignment occurred on 1 October 2003 with the activation of the 563 Rescue Group on Davis-Monthan AFB. Control of the 48th, 55th, and 79th Rescue Squadrons (RQS) was passed to the new group with the 23d Wing assuming operational command of the unit.

In 2003 and 2005, the 354th Fighter Squadron "Bulldogs" deployed on five-month deployments to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. During these deployments, they provided 24-hour presence to reassure the Afghan population as it struggled with its emergent democracy, and provided key support during national elections. While the 2003 deployment saw limited action, the Bulldogs employed over 22,000 rounds of 30 mm during 130 troops-in-contact situations during the 2005 deployment.

The 354th Fighter Squadron also returned to Afghanistan in April 2007 for a six-month deployment. Again, they provided 24-hour presence and Close Air Support expertise to coalition forces in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this period, insurgent activity level was the highest recorded to date in OEF. The Bulldogs employed an unprecedented number of munitions during this deployment--over 150,000 rounds of 30 mm in support of over 400 troops-in-contact situations.

Another major change occurred on April 26 2007. With only A-10 fighter aircraft assigned, the 355th Wing was redesignated once again as the 355th Fighter Wing. Today, the 355th Fighter Wing is composed of four groups: the 355th Operations Group, the 355th Maintenance Group, the 355th Mission Support Group and the 355th Medical Group. Together, along with their tenant organizations, they make up the 6,000 Airmen and 1,700 civilian personnel at Davis-Monthan AFB.

In 2007, the 214th Reconnaissance Group was activated.

References

NotesBibliography

Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present