The Phoenix Lights (sometimes called the " Lights Over Phoenix ") were a series of widely sighted unidentified flying objects observed in the skies over the southwestern U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada on March 13, 1997.
82-472: Lights of varying descriptions were seen between 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm MST , in a space of about 300 miles (480 km), from the Nevada line, through Phoenix , to the edge of Tucson . Some witnesses described seeing what appeared to be a huge carpenter's square -shaped UFO containing five spherical lights. There were two distinct events involved in the incident: a triangular formation of lights seen to pass over
164-452: A press conference , joking that "they found who was responsible" and revealing an aide dressed in an alien costume. Later, in 2007, Symington reportedly told a UFO investigator he'd had a personal close encounter with an alien spacecraft but remained silent "because he didn't want to panic the populace". According to Symington, "I'm a pilot and I know just about every machine that flies. It was bigger than anything that I've ever seen. It remains
246-499: A GSU under AFRC's 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick 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. The 924th 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
328-619: A great mystery. Other people saw it, responsible people... I don't know why people would ridicule it". Lights were reported by observers and recorded by the local Fox News television station on February 6, 2007. According to military officials and the FAA, these were flares dropped by F-16 "Fighting Falcon" aircraft training at Luke Air Force Base . On April 21, 2008, lights were reported over Phoenix by local residents. These lights reportedly appeared to change from square to triangular formation over time. A valley resident reported that shortly after
410-554: A halt on 14 August 1945, when the Japanese surrendered. Davis–Monthan played a post-war role by housing German POWs 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
492-647: A large “flying triangle” by witnesses, began at approximately 8:00 pm, and was due to five A-10 jets from Operation Snowbird following an assigned air traffic corridor and flying under visual flight rules . Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules concerning private and commercial aircraft do not apply to military aircraft, so the A-10 formation displayed steady formation lights rather than blinking collision lights. The formation flew over Phoenix and on to Tucson, landing at Davis-Monthan AFB about 8:45 pm. The second incident, described as "a row of brilliant lights hovering in
574-463: A military aircraft accident completing a training mission on December 28, 1921, while a passenger in a Curtiss JN-6HG at Carlstrom Field , near Arcadia, Florida . One other person, William C. Sinclair, was also killed. They were hunting ducks at the time; Sinclair was piloting and Davis was shooting. After a funeral at the home of his parents, Davis was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson. He
656-552: 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. Charles Lindbergh , fresh from his nonstop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, flew his Spirit of St. Louis to Tucson in 1927 to dedicate the airport at Davis–Monthan Field, then the largest municipal airport in the United States. Military presence at
738-432: A series of lights appearing at a regular interval, remaining illuminated for several moments, and then going out. The images were later determined to be the result of mountains not visible by night that partially obstructed the view of aircraft flares from certain angles to create the illusion of an arc of lights appearing and disappearing one by one. Shortly after the 1997 incident, Arizona Governor Fife Symington III held
820-476: A suburb northwest of Phoenix, saw the light formation pass overhead at an altitude high enough to become obscured by the thin clouds. Amateur astronomer Mitch Stanley in Scottsdale, Arizona , also observed the high altitude lights "flying in formation" through a telescope. According to Stanley, they were quite clearly individual airplanes. At approximately 10:00 pm that same evening, a large number of people in
902-603: A witness in Henderson, Nevada , reported seeing a large, V-shaped object traveling southeast. At 8:15 pm, an unidentified former police officer in Paulden, Arizona , reported seeing a cluster of reddish-orange lights disappear over the southern horizon. Shortly afterward, there were reports of lights seen over the Prescott Valley, Arizona . Tim Ley and his wife Bobbi, his son Hal and his grandson Damien Turnidge first saw
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#1732779788089984-650: Is generically called Mountain Time ( MT ). Specifically, it is Mountain Standard Time ( MST ) when observing standard time, and Mountain Daylight Time ( MDT ) when observing daylight saving time. The term refers to the Rocky Mountains , which range from British Columbia to New Mexico . In Mexico, this time zone is known as the tiempo de la montaña or zona Pacífico ("Pacific Zone"). In
1066-564: Is in effect, and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time ( UTC−06:00 ). The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time at the 105th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory . In the United States, the exact specification for the location of time zones and the dividing lines between zones is set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations at 49 CFR 71. In the United States and Canada, this time zone
1148-692: 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. Davis–Monthan
1230-633: Is the 355th Wing (355 WG) assigned to Twelfth Air Force (12AF), part of Air Combat Command (ACC). The base is best known as the location of the Air Force Materiel Command 's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG), the aircraft boneyard for all excess military and U.S. government aircraft and aerospace vehicles. Davis–Monthan Air Force Base is a key ACC installation. The 355th Wing (355 WG) provides A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support and OA-10 forward air controllers to ground forces worldwide. The 355 WG
1312-588: 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 Force A-10 and OA-10 pilots, to include those in the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). The 355th is ACC's executive agent for INF and START treaty compliance. In October 2018,
1394-549: The 390th 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 in Sahuarita, Arizona , it was saved from demolition and turned over to the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, a nonprofit organization which also administers
1476-564: The 563rd Rescue Group , previously a geographically separated unit of the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB , Georgia, was transferred to the 355th Wing, along with its HC-130J COMBAT KING II and HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft. One of the wing's tenant units, the 55th Electronic Combat Group (55 ECG), is a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 55th Wing (55 WG) at Offutt 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,
1558-451: The 868th Tactical Missile Training Group (866 TMTG). The 868th was the only U.S.-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 602d Tactical Air Control Wing (TAIRCW) and its subordinate 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), a unit responsible for
1640-509: 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 1 October 1976, the base was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) after 30 years under SAC, with SAC's 390th Strategic Missile Wing becoming a tenant command of the base. It was also that year the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing accepted the first A-10 Thunderbolt II . Since 1979, D–M has been
1722-513: The Barry Goldwater Range in southwest Arizona. Fife Symington , governor of Arizona at the time, years later recounted witnessing the incident, describing it as "otherworldly." Reports of similar lights arose in 2007 and 2008 and were attributed to military flares dropped by fighter aircraft at Luke Air Force Base, and flares attached to helium balloons released by a civilian, respectively. On March 13, 1997, at 7:55 pm MST ,
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#17327797880891804-690: The Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range in western Pima County, Arizona . The flares would have been visible in Phoenix and appeared to hover due to rising heat from the burning flares creating a "balloon" effect on their parachutes, which slowed the descent. The lights then appeared to wink out as they fell behind the Sierra Estrella mountain range to the southwest of Phoenix. The lights likely appeared to block out background stars because of their brightness, making it harder to see dim objects like stars in
1886-679: 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 Davis–Monthan when SAC units on the base converted to
1968-412: 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 (37,742 km) in 94 hours and 1 minute (249.45 mph). 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,
2050-691: The Pima Air and Space Museum immediately south of Davis–Monthan AFB. With a variety of items on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force , including an inert Titan II missile, Site 571-7 is now known as the Titan Missile Museum and is one of two remaining examples of a Titan II missile site in existence (the other being located at Vandenberg Space Force Base , California; site 395-C). In 1994,
2132-640: The United States Air Force as independent service four months earlier, the facility was renamed Davis–Monthan Air Force Base . On 30 June 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 refueling unit in history. On 2 March 1949,
2214-678: The University of Arizona in Tucson . After enlisting in the military in 1917, he was briefly assigned to Fort Hauchuca in Arizona before being transferred to College Station, Texas , to complete his academic studies. He returned to the military after graduation in 1918, assembling airplanes at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas . He trained pilots during the first World War , including some pilots who took down German planes. He reached
2296-423: 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 the 47th 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 from Barksdale AFB , Louisiana. The 924th
2378-428: 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 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
2460-979: The 355th Wing again realigned and now falls under the 15th Air Force Headquarters at Shaw AFB, SC . 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 the EC-130H Compass Call and HC-130J Combat King II . The host wing at Davis–Monthan is the 355th Wing , which includes: The 355 OG consists of six squadrons and over 450 personnel employing A-10 aircraft and an AN/TPS-75 radar system. It provides war-fighters with forces for close 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
2542-402: The 55 ECG unit employs its Lockheed 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 the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). The 943rd Rescue Group (structured as
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2624-704: 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. 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
2706-478: The Air Force's tactical air control system west of the Mississippi River transferred from Bergstrom Air Force Base , Texas, and 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
2788-461: The Davis–Monthan until 1976, when the 100 SRW was inactivated, its DC-130s transferred to Tactical Air Command 's 432d Tactical Drone Group, and its U-2s transferred 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. On 15 June 1964, Davis–Monthan's 303d Bombardment Wing
2870-606: The Maryland ANG. A history of the Maryland ANG published in 2000 asserted that the squadron, the 104th Fighter Squadron , was responsible for the incident. The first reports that members of the Maryland ANG were responsible for the incident were published in The Arizona Republic in July 1997. Later comparisons with known military flare drops were reported on local television stations, showing similarities between
2952-745: The Mountain Time Zone is Phoenix, Arizona ; the Phoenix metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan area in the zone. One province and two territories are fully contained in the Mountain Time Zone: On September 24, 2020, Yukon switched to the Mountain Standard Time year-round. Therefore, clocks in Yukon and Alberta are the same in the winter, and Alberta is one hour ahead in summer. Previously,
3034-420: The Mountain Time Zone. Cities in bold do not observe daylight saving time: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Davis–Monthan Air Force Base ( DM AFB ) ( IATA : DMA , ICAO : KDMA , FAA LID : DMA ) is a United States Air Force base 5 miles (4 nmi; 8 km) southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona . It was established in 1925 as Davis–Monthan Landing Field . The host unit for Davis–Monthan AFB
3116-463: The Phoenix area reported seeing "a row of brilliant lights hovering in the sky, or slowly falling". A number of photographs and videos were taken, prompting author Robert Sheaffer to describe it as "perhaps the most widely witnessed UFO event in history". According to Sheaffer, what became known as "the Phoenix Lights" incident of 1997 "consists of two unrelated incidents, although both were
3198-742: The United States and Canada, the Mountain Time Zone is to the east of the Pacific Time Zone and to the west of the Central Time Zone . In some areas, starting in 2007, the local time changes from MST to MDT at 2 am MST to 3 am MDT on the second Sunday in March and returns at 2 am MDT to 1 am MST on the first Sunday in November. Baja California Sur , Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico, and most of Arizona in
3280-417: The United States, England, and Korea . During this period, the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing deployed Airborne Forward Air Controllers in their OA-10 aircraft to Operation Desert Storm , providing nearly 100 percent of this capability to the war. On 1 October 1991, the 355 TTW was redesignated as the 355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) in tune with the Air Force's Objective Wing philosophy. The 355th Fighter Wing
3362-561: The United States, do not observe daylight saving time (DST), and during the spring, summer, and autumn months they are on the same time as Pacific Daylight Time . The Navajo Nation , most of which lies within Arizona but extends into Utah and New Mexico (which do observe DST), does observe DST, although the Hopi Reservation , as well as some Arizona state offices lying within the Navajo Nation, do not. The largest city in
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3444-421: The activation of the 4105th Army Air Force Unit . The 4105th oversaw the storage of excess B-29s and C-47 "Gooney Birds." Tucson's low humidity and alkali soil made it an ideal location for aircraft storage and preservation, awaiting cannibalization or possible reuse—a mission that has continued to this day. The Cold War era was ushered in at Davis–Monthan on 21 March 1946, with the installation placed under
3526-533: The activation of the 563rd 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 the 23rd Wing (23 WG) at Moody 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
3608-454: The appearance of a silent hovering object, which seemed to pass over their heads and went through a V opening in the peaks of the mountain range towards Piestewa Peak Mountain and toward the direction of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport . Actor Kurt Russell , an amateur pilot, then reported seeing the lights to air traffic control. Between 8:30 and 8:45 pm, witnesses in Glendale ,
3690-492: The areas they laid out. A Maryland ANG pilot, Lt. Col. Ed Jones, responding to a March 2007 media query, confirmed that he had flown one of the aircraft in the formation that dropped flares on the night in question. The squadron to which he belonged was at Davis-Monthan AFB on a training exercise at the time, and flew training sorties to the Goldwater Air Force Range on the night in question, according to
3772-462: The base 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 Lockheed 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
3854-411: The base became known as Davis–Monthan Army Air Field on 3 December 1941. U.S. Army Air Forces leaders then utilized the airfield for heavy bomber operation, sending Douglas B-18 Bolo , Consolidated B-24 Liberator , and Boeing 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
3936-610: The base. The base was named in honor of World War I pilots Lieutenants Samuel H. Davis (1896–1921) and Chief Engineer Oscar Monthan (1885–1924), both Tucson natives. 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 a Martin B2 bomber in Hawaii on March 27, 1924. First Lieutenant Samuel Howard Davis (November 20, 1896 – December 28, 1921)
4018-454: The claimancy of the recently established Strategic 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 the 43d Bombardment Group in October. On 11 January 1948, with the establishment of
4100-445: 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 for World War II . The first assigned U.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. In its military role,
4182-552: 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 , and Jimmy Doolittle . Doolittle, awarded the Medal of Honor for his 1942 Tokyo raid , was the first military customer at the field on 9 October 1927. The combination of civil and military operations worked well until
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#17327797880894264-426: 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 Offutt AFB , Nebraska , but operate out of Davis–Monthan. In addition, the 42d Airborne Command and Control Squadron arrived from Keesler AFB , Mississippi on 19 July 1994. On 1 May 1992, senior Air Force leaders implemented
4346-439: The initiation of three ongoing missions: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation Noble Eagle (ONE). After Operation Enduring Freedom, eight A-10s from the 355 WG were called to Bagram Airfield , Afghanistan , to fly close air support missions supporting multinational ground forces. In September 2002, the 48th , 55th , and the 79th Rescue Squadron 's (RQS) transferred under control of
4428-444: The known military flare drops and the Phoenix Lights. An analysis of the luminosity of LUU-2B/B illumination flares, the type which would have been in use by A-10 aircraft at the time, determined that the luminosity of such flares at a range of approximately 50–70 miles (80–113 km) would fall well within the range of the lights viewed from Phoenix. During the Phoenix event, numerous still photographs and videotapes were made showing
4510-827: The lights appeared, three jets were seen heading west in the direction of the lights. An official from Luke AFB stated that there was no U.S. Air Force activity in the area. The next day, a resident of Phoenix told a newspaper that the lights were nothing more than his neighbor releasing helium balloons with flares attached. This was confirmed by a police helicopter. The following day, a Phoenix resident, who declined to be identified in news reports, stated that he had attached flares to helium balloons and released them from his back yard. Mountain Time Zone The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) when standard time ( UTC−07:00 )
4592-405: The lights when they were about 65 miles (105 km) away from them. At first, the lights appeared to them as five separate and distinct lights in an arc shape, as if they were on top of a balloon, but they soon realized that the lights appeared to be moving towards them. Over the next ten or so minutes, the lights appeared to come closer, the distance between the lights increased, and they took on
4674-482: The most prominent tenant is the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG) of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC). As the main location for the 309 AMARG, Davis–Monthan AFB is the sole aircraft boneyard for excess military and U.S. government aircraft and other aerospace vehicles such as ballistic missiles. Tucson's dry climate and alkali soil make it an ideal location to store and preserve aircraft; more than 4,000 military aircraft are parked on
4756-486: The new Boeing B-47 Stratojet . The 303d 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
4838-568: The newly established Air Combat Command (ACC) on the same date. Following Operation Desert Storm, the 355 WG 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 12 April 1997. The attacks on 11 September 2001, led to
4920-414: 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 the 355th Wing (355 WG). On 1 June 1992, Tactical Air Command was inactivated and all aircraft, personnel and installations previously under TAC were transferred to
5002-633: The rank of Second Lieutenant . Davis was honorably discharged from the military about 1919 with the rank of First Lieutenant in the reserve corps . For a time he worked commercial aviation as a manager with the Arizona Aviation Company, where he piloted Orioles and standard manufacture airplanes. Davis married Marjorie Cameron of San Antonio in 1920. Davis returned to the Army Air Service in August 1921. He died in
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#17327797880895084-456: The result of activities of the same organization: Operation Snowbird, a pilot training program operated in the winter by the Air National Guard , out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona ." Tucson astronomer and retired Air Force pilot James McGaha said he also investigated the two separate sightings and traced them both to A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying in formation at high altitude. The first incident, often perceived as
5166-681: The same time as Mountain Time Zone: Six states are fully contained in the Mountain Time Zone: Three states are split between the Mountain Time Zone and the Pacific Time Zone . The following locations observe Mountain Time: Five states are split between the Mountain Time Zone and the Central Time Zone . The following locations observe Mountain Time: Alphabetical list of major cities located within
5248-433: The shape of an upside-down V. Eventually when the lights appeared to be a couple of miles away, the family said they could make out a shape that looked like a 60-degree carpenter's square , with the five lights set into it, with one at the front and two on each side. Soon, the object with the embedded lights appeared to be moving toward them, about 100 to 150 feet (30 to 46 m) above them, traveling so slowly that it gave
5330-550: The site was declared a National Historic Landmark . In 1987, the 71st Special Operations Squadron , an Air Force Reserve unit flying HH-3 Jolly Green Giants, was activated at the base. While it served after the invasion of Kuwait in Desert Shield/Storm, 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
5412-499: The sky, or slowly falling" began at approximately 10:00 pm, and was due to a flare drop exercise by different A-10 jets from the Maryland Air National Guard , also operating out of Davis-Monthan AFB as part of from Operation Snowbird. The U.S. Air Force explained the exercise as utilizing slow-falling, long-burning LUU-2B/B illumination flares dropped by a flight of four A-10 aircraft on a training exercise at
5494-789: The state, and a series of stationary lights seen in the Phoenix area. Both sightings were due to aircraft participating in Operation Snowbird, a pilot training program of the Air National Guard based in Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The first light group was later identified as a formation of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying over Phoenix while returning to Davis-Monthan. The second group of lights were identified by Robert Sheaffer as illumination flares dropped by another flight of A-10 aircraft that were on training exercises at
5576-485: 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 to Norton 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
5658-456: The tail code "DM". The 563rd Rescue Group is part of the 355th Wing. It includes the following squadrons: The 924 FG of the Air 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's 944th Fighter Wing (944 FW) at Luke AFB , Arizona. Like
5740-506: The territory had used the Pacific Time Zone with daylight saving time: UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 in summer. One province and one territory are split between the Mountain Time Zone and the Pacific Time Zone : One territory and one province are split between the Mountain Time Zone and the Central Time Zone : As of October 30, 2022, Mexico abandoned daylight savings time , with certain exceptions. The following states have
5822-566: 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 Treaties START 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
5904-430: The training location for pilots in the A-10; the base was redesignated the 355th Tactical Training Wing on 1 September 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
5986-518: 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 McDonnell F-101Bs . On 24 December 1964, the 15th FIS was inactivated. In 1962, the Strategic Air Command 's 390th Strategic Missile Wing (390 SMW) and its 18 Titan II ICBM sites around Tucson were activated. The 390 SMW
6068-483: Was a pilot and United States Army Air Service officer. Born to Sam and Effie Davis in 1896 in Dyer County, Tennessee , Davis was known by his middle name, Howard. He attended public schools in Tucson. As a young man, his hobbies included horseback riding and shooting; he was a good marksman. Davis enrolled at Texas A&M College in 1915 as a student of mechanical engineering, having previously attended
6150-435: 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 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
6232-445: 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. The 355th Fighter Wing was re-designated 355th Wing on January 2, 2019. On 20 August 2020,
6314-547: 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, the Air Defense Command 's (ADC) 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated with F-86A Sabres . A year later,
6396-428: 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, the 41st and 43d Electronic Combat Squadrons , flying EC-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
6478-693: 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 the 4453d Combat Crew Training Wing of the Tactical Air Command equipped with the Air Force's newest and most sophisticated fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II . In July 1971, the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing , flying
6560-647: 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, the 4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Wing , equipped with U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, began flying global missions from Davis–Monthan. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963, the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Laughlin AFB , Texas, relocated to
6642-549: Was survived by his widow, his parents, and a brother, Wilton. Davis's father was in attendance at the 1925 dedication of the base, as was Governor G.W.P. Hunt , who spoke at the dedication. 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
6724-481: 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 the 355th 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,
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