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Davis–Monthan Air Force Base
Tucson,Arizona in theUnited States of America
The309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group's "aircraft boneyard" located at Davis–Monthan AFB
Site information
Type	US Air Force base
Owner	Department of Defense
Operator	US Air Force
Controlled by	Air Combat Command (ACC)
Condition	Operational
Website	www.dm.af.mil
Location
Davis–Monthan AFB Show map of North America Davis–Monthan AFB Show map of the United States Davis–Monthan AFB Show map of Arizona
Coordinates	32°09′49″N110°50′58″W / 32.16361°N 110.84944°W /32.16361; -110.84944
Site history
Built	1925 (1925) (as Davis–Monthan Landing Field)
In use	1940–present
Garrison information
Current commander	Colonel Scott C. Mills
Garrison	355th Wing (host) 55th Electronic Combat Group 214th Attack Group 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group 943rd Rescue Group 924th Fighter Group
Occupants	41st Electronic Combat Squadron 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron 47th Fighter Squadron 55th Rescue Squadron 79th Rescue Squadron 214th Attack Squadron 305th Rescue Squadron 354th Fighter Squadron 357th Fighter Squadron 418th Test and Evaluation Squadron 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron SeeBased units section for full list.
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: DMA,ICAO: KDMA,FAA LID: DMA,WMO: 722745
Elevation	824.2 metres (2,704 ft)AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 12/30 4,158.3 metres (13,643 ft) PEM
Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base (DM AFB) (IATA:DMA,ICAO:KDMA,FAALID:DMA) is aUnited States Air Force base 5 miles (4 nmi; 8 km) southeast of downtownTucson, Arizona. It was established in 1925 asDavis–Monthan Landing Field. The host unit for Davis–Monthan AFB is the355th Wing (355 WG) assigned toTwelfth Air Force (12AF), part ofAir Combat Command (ACC). The base is best known as the location of theAir Force Materiel Command's309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG), theaircraft boneyard for all excess military and U.S. government aircraft and aerospace vehicles.

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a key ACC installation. The355th Wing (355 WG) providesA-10 Thunderbolt II close air support and OA-10 forward air controllers to ground forces worldwide. The 355 WG is the host unit, providing medical, logistical, mission and operational support to assigned units. The 355 WG is the sole formal training unit for the A-10 aircraft, providing initial and recurrent training to all U.S. Air ForceA-10 and OA-10 pilots, to include those in theAir Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and theAir National Guard (ANG). The 355th is ACC's executive agent forINF andSTART treaty compliance. In October 2018, the563rd Rescue Group, previously a geographically separated unit of the23rd Wing atMoody AFB, Georgia, was transferred to the 355th Wing, along with itsHC-130J COMBAT KING II andHH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft.

One of the wing's tenant units, the55th Electronic Combat Group (55 ECG), is a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the55th Wing (55 WG) atOffutt AFB, Nebraska. Tasked to provide offensive counter-information and electronic attack capabilities in support of U.S. and Coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces, the 55 ECG unit employs itsLockheed EC-130H Compass Call aircraft worldwide in tactical air operations in war and other contingencies. It also provides initial and recurrent training to all EC-130H Compass Call pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, and aircrew.

Two other major tenant units are assigned to theAir Force Reserve Command (AFRC). The943rd Rescue Group (structured as a GSU under AFRC's920th Rescue Wing atPatrick Space Force Base is equipped with HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and Guardian Angel personnel. The 943 RQG is tasked to provide combat search and rescue (CSAR) and personnel recovery (PR) support worldwide. The924th Fighter Group, originally a classic associate unt to the 355 FW, now 355 WG, flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II and is now equipped with its own aircraft.

Perhaps the most prominent tenant is the309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) of theAir Force Materiel Command (AFMC). As the main location for the 309 AMARG, Davis–Monthan AFB is the soleaircraft boneyard for excess military and U.S. government aircraft and other aerospace vehicles such as ballistic missiles. Tucson's dry climate andalkali soil make it an ideal location to store and preserve aircraft; more than 4,000 military aircraft are parked on the base.^[2]

The base was named in honor ofWorld War I pilots Lieutenants Samuel H. Davis (1896–1921) and Chief EngineerOscar Monthan (1885–1924), both Tucson natives.^[3] 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 the crash of aMartin B2 bomber inHawaii on March 27, 1924.^[4]

First Lieutenant Samuel Howard Davis (November 20, 1896 – December 28, 1921) was a pilot andUnited States Army Air Service officer. Born to Sam and Effie Davis^[5] in 1896 inDyer County, Tennessee,^[6][7] Davis was known by his middle name, Howard.^[8][9] He attended public schools in Tucson.^[10][11] As a young man, his hobbies included horseback riding and shooting; he was a good marksman.^[6]

Davis enrolled atTexas A&M College in 1915 as a student of mechanical engineering,^[12] having previously attended theUniversity of Arizona inTucson.^[10] After enlisting in the military in 1917, he was briefly assigned toFort Hauchuca in Arizona before being transferred toCollege Station, Texas, to complete his academic studies. He returned to the military after graduation in 1918, assembling airplanes atKelly Field inSan Antonio, Texas.^[12][6] He trained pilots during thefirst World War, including some pilots who took down German planes.^[6] He reached the rank ofSecond Lieutenant.^[7] Davis washonorably discharged from the military about 1919 with the rank ofFirst Lieutenant in thereserve corps. For a time he worked commercial aviation as a manager with the Arizona Aviation Company, where he pilotedOrioles and standard manufacture airplanes.^[9][13][14] Davis married Marjorie Cameron of San Antonio in 1920.^[13]

Davis returned to the Army Air Service in August 1921.^[12][10] He died in a military aircraft accident completing a training mission on December 28, 1921, while a passenger in a Curtiss JN-6HG atCarlstrom Field, nearArcadia, Florida.^[15] One other person, William C. Sinclair, was also killed.^[16][17][4] They were hunting ducks at the time; Sinclair was piloting and Davis was shooting.^[18] After a funeral at the home of his parents, Davis was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson.^[19] He was survived by his widow, his parents, and a brother, Wilton.^[20]

Davis's father was in attendance at the 1925 dedication of the base, as wasGovernor G.W.P. Hunt, who spoke at the dedication.^[21][22][15]

In 1919, the Tucson Chamber of Commerce aviation committee established the nation's first municipally owned airfield at the current site of the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. The rapid increase in aviation activities meant a move in 1927 to the site which is now Davis–Monthan Air Force Base. The City of Tucson acquired land southeast of town for a runway and dedicated the field in 1925.^[15][21][22]Charles Lindbergh, fresh from his nonstop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, flew hisSpirit of St. Louis to Tucson in 1927 to dedicate the airport at Davis–Monthan Field,^[23] then the largest municipal airport in the United States.

Military presence at the field began when Sergeant Simpson relocated his fuel and service operation to the site on 6 October 1927. He kept a log containing names of the field's customers, including Lindbergh,Amelia Earhart,Benjamin Foulois, andJimmy Doolittle. Doolittle, awarded theMedal of Honor for his 1942Tokyo raid, was the first military customer at the field on 9 October 1927. The combination of civil and military operations worked well until the early 1940s, when military requirements began to require the relocation of civil aviation activities.

Davis–Monthan Airport became Tucson Army Air Field in 1940, as the United States prepared forWorld War II. The first assignedU.S. Army Air Corps units were the 1st Bomb Wing, 41st Bomb Group and 31st Air Base Group, activating on 30 April 1941 with Lieutenant Colonel Ames S. Albro Sr. as commanding officer.^[24] In its military role, the base became known asDavis–Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941.U.S. Army Air Forces leaders then utilized the airfield for heavy bomber operation, sendingDouglas B-18 Bolo,Consolidated B-24 Liberator, andBoeing B-29 Superfortress bombers, for training and observation missions.

Among the bombardment groups trained at the base during the war:

Training at the airfield came to a halt on 14 August 1945, when the Japanese surrendered. Davis–Monthan played a post-war role by housing GermanPOWs from June 1945 to March 1946. It also served as a separation center, which brought the base populace to a high of 11,614 in September 1945.

With the end of the war, operations at the base came to a virtual standstill. It was then that the base was selected as a storage site for hundreds of decommissioned aircraft, with the activation of the4105th Army Air Force Unit. The 4105th oversaw the storage of excess B-29s andC-47 "Gooney Birds." Tucson's low humidity andalkali soil made it an ideal location for aircraft storage and preservation, awaiting cannibalization or possible reuse—a mission that has continued to this day.

TheCold War era was ushered in at Davis–Monthan on 21 March 1946, with the installation placed under the claimancy of the recently establishedStrategic Air Command (SAC). SAC's presence at the base began in the form of the 40th and 444th Bombardment Groups, both equipped with B-29s. As part of the postwar austerity, these groups were later inactivated, with the personnel and equipment being consolidated into the43d Bombardment Group in October. On 11 January 1948, with the establishment of theUnited States Air Force as independent service four months earlier, the facility was renamedDavis–Monthan Air Force Base. On 30 June 1948, the Air Force activated the 43rd Air Refueling Squadron, whose KB-29Ms were newly equipped withaerial refueling equipment purchased from the British firm FRL. The 43rd ARS, along with the 509th ARS atWalker AFB,New Mexico, was the first dedicated air refueling unit in history.

On 2 March 1949, theLucky Lady II, aB-50A of the 43d Bombardment Wing, completed the first nonstop round-the-world flight, having covered 23,452 miles (37,742 km) in 94 hours and 1 minute (249.45 mph).Lucky Lady II was refueled four times in the air byKB-29 tankers of the 43d Air Refueling Squadron, which had made only one operational air refueling contact before the mission. For this outstanding flight, theLucky Lady II's crew received theMackay Trophy, given annually by theNational Aeronautic Association for the outstanding flight of the year, and the Air Age Trophy, anAir 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 Davis–Monthan when SAC units on the base converted to the newBoeing B-47 Stratojet. The303d Bombardment Wing, Medium, was initially established on 27 August 1951, and activated at Davis–Monthan AFB on 4 September 1951. The wing operated B-29s until January 1952, when it was equipped with KB-29s. On 20 January 1953, the 303d transitioned to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet for its three bomb squadrons, while an additional air refueling squadron equipped with KC-97s was assigned to the wing between 18 February 1953, and 1 February 1956. A standard SAC Alert Area ramp was constructed in the southeast corner of the base adjacent to the runway and the 303d assumed nuclear alert responsibilities when final conversion and checkout in the B-47 was complete.

In April 1953, theAir Defense Command's (ADC)15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated withF-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 receivedNorthrop F-89J interceptors which it flew for only a year when it transitioned intoMcDonnell F-101Bs. On 24 December 1964, the 15th FIS was inactivated.

In 1962, theStrategic Air Command's390th Strategic Missile Wing (390 SMW) and its 18Titan IIICBM sites around Tucson were activated. The 390 SMW was one of only three Titan II missile wings in SAC and represented the heaviest land-based missile and the largest single warhead ever fielded by U.S. strategic deterrent forces.

In July 1963, the4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Wing, equipped withU-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, began flying global missions from Davis–Monthan. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963, the4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing atLaughlin AFB, Texas, relocated to the base and assumed responsibility for all U-2 operations, emphasizing long-range strategic reconnaissance and intelligence collection. As aStrategic Air Command (SAC) unit, the 4080th was later redesignated the100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and also acquiredLockheed DC-130 Hercules aircraft for launch and control of Firebee reconnaissance drones that were the precursors of contemporary unmanned aerial systems. The DC-130s and U-2s remained at the Davis–Monthan until 1976, when the 100 SRW was inactivated, its DC-130s transferred toTactical Air Command's 432d Tactical Drone Group, and its U-2s transferred to SAC's9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) atBeale Air Force Base,California, where U-2 Dragon Lady operations were consolidated withSR-71 Blackbird operations.

On 15 June 1964, Davis–Monthan's303d Bombardment Wing was inactivated as part of the retirement of the B-47 Stratojet from active service. The year 1964 brought back the combat crew training mission of the World War II years with the4453d Combat Crew Training Wing of theTactical Air Command equipped with the Air Force's newest and most sophisticated fighter, theMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. In July 1971, the355th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying theA-7 Corsair II aircraft, was activated at the base and the previously assigned F-4s were moved toLuke AFB, nearPhoenix, Arizona.

On 1 October 1976, the base was transferred toTactical Air Command (TAC) after 30 years under SAC, with SAC's390th Strategic Missile Wing becoming a tenant command of the base. It was also that year the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing accepted the firstA-10 Thunderbolt II. Since 1979, D–M has been the training location for pilots in the A-10; the base was redesignated the355th Tactical Training Wing on 1 September 1979. The organization was later redesignated the355th 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 the836th Air Division, which was activated 1 January 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 asRed Flag and Celtic Echo.

The41st Electronic Combat Squadron equipped with theEC-130H Compass Call aircraft, arrived on 1 July 1980, and reported to the552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing. In 1981 D–M welcomed the868th Tactical Missile Training Group (866 TMTG). The 868th was the only U.S.-basedGround Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) unit and the source of the crews that staffed the forward deployed GLCM wings inNATO in 1982.

On 1 September 1982, the headquarters of the 602d Tactical Air Control Wing (TAIRCW) and its subordinate23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), a unit responsible for the Air Force's tactical air control system west of theMississippi River transferred fromBergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, and stood up at D–M, bringing 16OA-37B aircraft and numerous new personnel to the base. The 23rd TASS became the Air Force's firstO/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".

In 1984, as a result of the first series of Strategic Arms Reduction TreatiesSTART I between the United States and the Soviet Union, SAC began to decommission its Titan II missile system. In 1982, the 390 SMW began removing its 18 missiles and inactivating the associated sites in preparation for eventual demolition.

In October 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced that, as part of the strategic modernization program, Titan II systems were to be retired by 1 October 1987. Deactivation began at Davis–Monthan on 1 October 1982. During the operation, titled "Rivet Cap", the missiles were removed and shipped toNorton AFB, California for refurbishment and storage. Explosive demolition began at the headworks of missile complex 570–7 on 30 November 1983. In May 1984, the 390 SMW's last Titan II at Davis–Monthan came off alert status. SAC subsequently inactivated the390th Strategic Missile Wing on 30 June 1984.

One site under the 390 SMW, known both as Titan II Site 571-7 and as Air Force Facility Missile Site 8, was initially decommissioned in 1982. Located approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of Tucson inSahuarita, Arizona, it was saved from demolition and turned over to the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, a nonprofit organization which also administers thePima Air and Space Museum immediately south of Davis–Monthan AFB. With a variety of items on loan from theNational Museum of the United States Air Force, including an inertTitan II missile, Site 571-7 is now known as theTitan Missile Museum and is one of two remaining examples of a Titan II missile site in existence (the other being located atVandenberg Space Force Base, California; site 395-C). In 1994, the site was declared aNational Historic Landmark.

In 1987, the71st Special Operations Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit flying HH-3 Jolly Green Giants, was activated at the base. While it served after theinvasion of Kuwait in Desert Shield/Storm,^[25] it did not survive the end of the Cold War drawdown, and disbanded in 1992.

In the 1990s, the 355 TTW continued to train A-10 crews for assignments to units in the United States, England, andKorea. During this period, the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing deployed Airborne Forward Air Controllers in their OA-10 aircraft toOperation Desert Storm, providing nearly 100 percent of this capability to the war.

On 1 October 1991, the 355 TTW was redesignated as the355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) in tune with the Air Force's Objective Wing philosophy. The 355th Fighter Wing was composed of the 355th Operations Group (355 OG), the 355th Maintenance Group (355 MG), the 355th Medical Group (355 MDG), and the 355th Mission Support Group (355 MSG).

In May 1992, the41st and43d Electronic Combat Squadrons, flyingEC-130H 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 the55th Wing atOffutt AFB,Nebraska, but operate out of Davis–Monthan. In addition, the 42d Airborne Command and Control Squadron arrived fromKeesler AFB,Mississippi 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 (the later on 15 June 1992) while the 41 ECS and 43 ECS came under control of the 355 FW. With the mission diversified, the 355th Fighter Wing was re-designated as the355th Wing (355 WG).

On 1 June 1992, Tactical Air Command was inactivated and all aircraft, personnel and installations previously under TAC were transferred to the newly establishedAir Combat Command (ACC) on the same date. Following Operation Desert Storm, the 355 WG supportedOperation 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 CaptainCraig D. Button took off from Davis–Monthan Air Force Base on 12 April 1997.

The attacks on 11 September 2001, led to the initiation of three ongoing missions:Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), andOperation Noble Eagle (ONE). After Operation Enduring Freedom, eight A-10s from the 355 WG were called toBagram Airfield,Afghanistan, to fly close air support missions supporting multinational ground forces.

In September 2002, the48th,55th, and the79th Rescue Squadron's (RQS) transferred under control of the 355 WG, equipped with HC-130 aircraft and HH-60 helicopters. At the same time, the 41st and 43d Electronic Combat Squadrons were realigned under the control of the55th Electronic Combat Group (55 ECG). While personnel and aircraft remained on Davis–Monthan AFB, operational control of the 55 ECG was assumed by the55th Wing atOffutt AFB,Nebraska. Another major wing realignment occurred on 1 October 2003, with the activation of the563rd Rescue Group (563 RQG) on Davis–Monthan AFB. Control of the 48th, 55th, and 79th Rescue Squadrons (RQS) was passed to the new group with the23rd Wing (23 WG) atMoody Air Force Base, Georgia assuming operational command of the unit.

In 2003 and 2005, the 354th Fighter Squadron (354 FS) "Bulldogs" deployed on five-month deployments to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. During these deployments, they provided 24-hour presence to reassure the Afghan population as it struggled with itsemergent 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. Returning to Afghanistan in April 2007 for another six-month deployment, the 345th again 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.

On 26 April 2007, the 355th Wing was re-designated as the355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) with only A-10 fighter aircraft assigned. Also in 2007, the 214th Reconnaissance Group (214 RG), an Arizona Air National Guard unit, was activated. As of October 2020, the 355 FW is composed of four groups: the 355th Operations Group (355 OG), the 355th Maintenance Group (355 MG), the 355th Mission Support Group (355 MSG), and the 355th Medical Group (355 MDG). Along with their tenant organizations, they make up the 6,100 airmen and 1,700 civilian personnel at Davis–Monthan AFB.^[26] The 355th Fighter Wing was re-designated355th Wing on January 2, 2019.^[27] On 20 August 2020, the 355th Wing again realigned and now falls under the 15th Air Force Headquarters atShaw AFB, SC.^[28]

On 1 October 2021, the 418th Test and Evaluation Squadron was activated at David-Monthan to provide test and evaluation of new tactics, techniques and procedures for theEC-130H Compass Call andHC-130J Combat King II.^[29]

The host wing at Davis–Monthan is the355th Wing, which includes:

• 355th Operations Group (355 OG)

The 355 OG consists of six squadrons and over 450 personnel employing A-10 aircraft and anAN/TPS-75 radar system. It provides war-fighters with forces forclose air support (CAS),air interdiction (AI),forward air control (FAC),combat search and rescue (CSAR), ground-based tactical air control, and airbase operations. It also conducts all formal course directed aircraft initial qualification/ re-qualification training. All active duty aircraft assigned to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base carry the tail code "DM".

• 354th Fighter Squadron (A-10C) "Bulldogs", blue tail flash
• 357th Fighter Squadron (A-10C) "Dragons", yellow tail flash
• 358th Fighter Squadron (A-10C) "Lobos", black tail flash (inactivated 21 February 2014)^[30]
• 355th Operations Support Squadron
• 355th Training Squadron
• 607th Air Control Squadron
• 355th Mission Support Group (355 MSG) – The 355 MSG consists of about 2,000 military and civilian personnel in six diverse squadrons that train, equip and provide agile combat mission support, including civil engineering, communications, contracting, transportation, fuels, supply, deployment readiness, personnel, security forces, and services for immediate worldwide deployment of combat support elements. The group also provides an effective in-garrison support infrastructure and quality of life services for 26 wing and 32 associate units spanning a 60,000-person, 10,763-acre (43.56 km²) community, one of the largest in Air Combat Command.
• 355th Maintenance Group (355 MXG) – The 355 MXG supports eight flying squadrons, providing organizational and intermediate field level/back shop maintenance for 110 A-10C, and intermediate field level/back shop maintenance for an additional 14 EC-130H, 1 TC-130H, 8 HH-60H, and 6 HC-130J combat-ready aircraft. The 355 MXG has over 1,700 assigned personnel, ensures quality of on- and off-equipment aircraft maintenance, and executes an annual O&M budget of $72.2M.^[31]
  • 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 355th Component Maintenance Squadron
  • 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
• 355th Medical Group (355 MDG) – The 355th Medical Group was established in 1955 as the 355th USAF Infirmary atMcGhee Tyson AFB, Tennessee. After several redesignations, it was activated at Davis–Monthan AFB as the 355th Medical Group in 1992. The 355th Medical Group ensures combat medical readiness of all operational and support units home-based at Davis–Monthan AFB for global contingencies. With an authorized staff of 407 and a resource allocation totaling $26 million, the 355 MDG ensures that warriors at Davis–Monthan AFB are medically fit-to-fight. In addition to training and equipping/manning 25 mobility teams, the 355 MDG also promotes the health and wellness of the Davis–Monthan AFB community by meeting the health care needs of over 54,000 eligible DoD beneficiaries in southern Arizona.

The563rd Rescue Group is part of the 355th Wing. It includes the following squadrons:

• 48th Rescue Squadron (Pararescue)
• 55th Rescue Squadron (HH-60G Pavehawk)
• 79th Rescue Squadron (HC-130J)
• 563rd Operations Support Squadron
• 563rd Maintenance Squadron
• 923rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

The 924 FG of theAir Force Reserve Command (AFRC) was reactivated in 2011 and initially assigned to Davis–Monthan AFB as an "associate" unit to the 355 FW flying the A-10 aircraft. As part of the Air Force Reserve Command, it is also a geographically separated unit (GSU) of AFRC's944th Fighter Wing (944 FW) atLuke AFB, Arizona. Like the 355 FW, the 924 FG currently flies the same Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft. The 924 FG consists of the47th Fighter Squadron (A-10C), 924th Maintenance Squadron, 924th Operational Support Flight.

Between October 2013 and March 2014, the 924 FG transitioned from being a "classic" associate unit when it gained 28 A-10 aircraft of its own fromBarksdale AFB, Louisiana. The 924th is now part of the Total Force Enterprise, and is the only unit-equipped both active and classic associate fighter group in Air Force Reserve Command's inventory. With oversight of the 47th Fighter Squadron, 924th MS, and 924th OSF, the group is charged with working with the Regular Air Force's 355th Fighter Wing to functionally integrate with the 355th Operations Group and 355th Maintenance Group to conduct A-10 pilot training at Davis–Monthan AFB.^[32]

Davis–Monthan is headquarters of Air Combat Command'sTwelfth Air Force and the 612th Air and Space Operations Center which operatesAFSOUTH's Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC). Other Direct Report Units include the 612th Air Communications Squadron.

55th Electronic Combat Group

• 55th Electronic Combat Group, a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the55th Wing atOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
  • 41st Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "Scorpions", blue tail stripe
  • 42d Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "Raptors", yellow tail stripe
  • 43d Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) "Bats", red tail stripe
  • 755th Operations Support Squadron
  • 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

The309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) is part ofAir Force Materiel Command and is responsible for the base's aircraft "graveyard", the largest in terms of number of planes in the world,^[33] where old military and other aircraft are stationed either to bestored indefinitely, demilitarized for museum or monument display, stripped and pulped/recycled, or restored for service.^[34][35][36]

943rd Rescue Group

• The943rd Rescue Group is anAir Force Reserve Command unit assigned to Davis–Monthan that falls under the920th Rescue Wing (920 RQW) atPatrick Space Force Base, Florida^[37] The group comprises the following units.
  • 305th Rescue Squadron (HH-60G)
  • 306th Rescue Squadron (Pararescue)
  • 943rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron
  • 943rd Operations Support Flight

The base provides additional active duty support to the162d Fighter Wing (162 FW) of theArizona Air National Guard and theAir National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center, both located atTucson Air National Guard Base at nearbyTucson International Airport, and both of which fly theF-16C and F-16D Fighting Falcon, with the latter also operating anA-10 Thunderbolt II detachment in concert with the 355 FW at Davis–Monthan AFB.

The214th Attack Group (214 RG) of theArizona Air National Guard previously operated theMQ-1 Predator and currently flies theMQ-9 Reaper in a split operation, with remote piloting/command & control activities at Davis-Monthan AFB and aircraft launch, recovery and maintenance activities taking place atLibby Army Airfield.^[38]

Also located on base is the25th Operational Weather Squadron25 OWS. The squadron produces forecasts for the Western United States and is part of the1st Weather Group (1 WXG) headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The squadron also serves as a training hub for new weather professionals—both enlisted and officers.

Other military activities and federal agencies using the base include the Navy Operational Support Center Tucson, a detachment of theNaval Air Systems Command, theFederal Aviation Administration, theU.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Tucson Air Branch, and theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base.^{[39][40][41][42][43][44][45]}

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Davis–Monthan, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

• Established as: Davis–Monthan Landing Field, 1 November 1925
• Tucson Municipal Airport, 6 October 1927
• Davis–Monthan Field, 3 December 1941
• Davis–Monthan AFB, 13 January 1948 – present

• Fourth Air Force, 1 February 1942 – 8 February 1943
• Second Air Force, 8 February 1943 – 16 November 1945
• Air Technical Service Command, 16 November 1945 – 31 March 1946
• Strategic Air Command, 31 March 1946 – 1 October 1976
• Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1976 – 1 June 1992
• Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – present

• Arizona World War II Army Airfields
• List of United States Air Force installations
• Pima Air & Space Museum – located adjacent to the base

Notes

 This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
 This article incorporatespublic domain material fromDavis–Monthan Air Force Base.United States Air Force.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related toDavis-Monthan Air Force Base.

• Official website
• Desert Lightning News – base newspaper
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Davis–Monthan Air Force Base
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective May 15, 2025

• Resources for this U.S. military airport:
  • FAAairport information for DMA
  • AirNavairport information for KDMA
  • ASNaccident history for DMA
  • NOAA/NWSlatest weather observations
  • SkyVectoraeronautical chart for KDMA

• Installations of the United States Air Force in Arizona
• Initial United States Air Force installations
• Airports in Pima County, Arizona
• Installations of Strategic Air Command
• Economy of Tucson, Arizona
• Aircraft boneyards
• Transportation in Tucson, Arizona
• Buildings and structures in Tucson, Arizona
• Border guards

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