Davis–Monthan Air Force Base

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is located five miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona. Established in 1925 as Davis–Monthan Landing Field, it was named for World War I pilots Samuel H. Davis and Oscar Monthan. The site became Tucson Army Air Field in 1940 and was renamed Davis–Monthan Army Air Field in 1941. During World War II, the installation served as a training center for heavy bomber units operating B-18, B-24, and B-29 aircraft. In 1945, the base was selected as a storage location for decommissioned aircraft. It transitioned to the Strategic Air Command in 1946 and was redesignated Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in 1948. During the Cold War, it hosted B-47 bombers, Titan II ICBM wings, and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Jurisdiction transferred to Tactical Air Command in 1976 and Air Combat Command in 1992.

The 355th Wing is the host unit, assigned to the Twelfth Air Force under Air Combat Command. Its primary missions include close air support, air interdiction, and combat search and rescue. The wing conducts training for A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots. The base also serves as the headquarters for the Twelfth Air Force and the 612th Air and Space Operations Center. Tenant units include the 55th Electronic Combat Group, which operates EC-130H Compass Call and EA-37B aircraft, and the 563rd Rescue Group, which employs HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft. The 943rd Rescue Group of the Air Force Reserve Command also operates HH-60G helicopters. The 214th Attack Group of the Arizona Air National Guard conducts MQ-9 Reaper operations from the base.

The installation houses the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), which manages the Department of Defense’s aircraft storage and preservation facility. The site contains thousands of retired military aircraft and aerospace vehicles. Infrastructure supports squadrons of A-10C, EC-130H, HC-130J, and HH-60G aircraft. Testing and evaluation for EC-130H and HC-130J tactics are conducted by the 418th Test and Evaluation Squadron. The 25th Operational Weather Squadron provides regional forecasting from the base. Other resident agencies include U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Navy Operational Support Center Tucson.