Just a Nice Pic

Fatman17 said:
Have you ever visited the boneyard at Davis-Monthan
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Yes sir!!! Many a time. And, as Paul Harvey was famous for saying; "and now, the rest of the story".

Early in my engineering career, was working for a consulting engineering firm in Tucson. We had several contracts with the Air Force. I was tasked to work with the 355th CES which was based at D-M. The ID I had allowed me access to a number of areas because of the projects we were assisting with or overseeing. For the most part, I had general access to the boneyard. There was a few areas there I was NOT permitted access to.

At the time, the US still observed Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays as separate holidays. Those have since been combined to free up a holiday for MLK.

It so happened, an active project was in the boneyard and I needed to go out to pick up some samples as well as take some readings on something else. It's also Monday. Washington's birthday. The base isn't really shut down but a numbers of areas were.

I arrive at the gate to the boneyard and of course, wouldn't you know it, AMARC (they were known by a different name then) is shut down for the holiday. It's only me and two air policeman at the gates. Told them why I was there and needed to get in. Of course, with it being the holiday, I couldn't. So, they looked at each other and then me, and said "how much time have you got?" Me - "guys, it's a holiday, even my own office is off today and this is the only thing I need to do." Them - "park your truck next to mine and hop in mine. I'll give you a hand and give you a tour we don't give the public."

Now mind you, I have access, right but I am limited to where I can go. At the time, D-M had regularly scheduled tours for the public that included the boneyard. So off we go. Am BSing with the airman about his next duty station and what not. We grab my samples and I get my readings and off we go for the tour. Into the areas I don't have access to! We come around the corner and that is where I spot an entire squadron of Phantoms as well as two F-14s. All in IRIAF colors! The F-4s had 4 hours on the air frames. They were in the air bound for Iran the day the Shah was overthrown and were diverted to D-M. At that point they had been there for 7 years. The Tomcats arrived at just about the same time.

We go around another corner and that is the subject of post #531 above. Me being an amateur military historian, I see those and ask "are those what I think they are?" Airman says "yeah, you don't see those." All of them were there and while they were at AMARC, they were mission-ready and could have gone right back out. Also explains why they were under camouflage netting.

Some good times out there my friend. Spent close to 3 years on D-M.
 
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AZ_HighCountry said:
Yes sir!!! Many a time. And, as Paul Harvey was famous for saying; "and now, the rest of the story".

Early in my engineering career, was working for a consulting engineering firm in Tucson. We had several contracts with the Air Force. I was tasked to work with the 355th CES which was based at D-M. The ID I had allowed me access to a number of areas because of the projects we were assisting with or overseeing. For the most part, I had general access to the boneyard. There was a few areas there I was NOT permitted access to.

At the time, the US still observed Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays as separate holidays. Those have since been combined to free up a holiday for MLK.

It so happened, an active project was in the boneyard and I needed to go out to pick up some samples as well as take some readings on something else. It's also Monday. Washington's birthday. The base isn't really shut down but a numbers of areas were.

I arrive at the gate to the boneyard and of course, wouldn't you know it, AMARC (they were known by a different name then) is shut down for the holiday. It's only me and two air policeman at the gates. Told them why I was there and needed to get in. Of course, with it being the holiday, I couldn't. So, they looked at each other and then me, and said "how much time have you got?" Me - "guys, it's a holiday, even my own office is off today and this is the only thing I need to do." Them - "park your truck next to mine and hop in mine. I'll give you a hand and give you a tour we don't give the public."

Now mind you, I have access, right but I am limited to where I can go. At the time, D-M had regularly scheduled tours for the public that included the boneyard. So off we go. Am BSing with the airman about his next duty station and what not. We grab my samples and I get my readings and off we go for the tour. Into the areas I don't have access to! We come around the corner and that is where I spot an entire squadron of Phantoms as well as two F-14s. All in IRIAF colors! The F-4s had 4 hours on the air frames. They were in the air bound for Iran the day the Shah was overthrown and were diverted to D-M. At that point they had been there for 7 years. The Tomcats arrived at just about the same time.

We go around another corner and that is the subject of post #531 above. Me being an amateur military historian, I see those and ask "are those what I think they are?" Airman says "yeah, you don't see those." All of them were there and while they were at AMARC, they were mission-ready and could have gone right back out. Also explains why they were under camouflage netting.

Some good times out there my friend. Spent close to 3 years on D-M.
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Wow amazing 😮 thanks for sharing.
 
No worries. Been almost 40 years since that time so will share this as it is somewhat related to this thread.

Recall this was during the Reagan Presidency; SALT talks with the Soviets, etc. Tucson happened to be surrounded by 18 Titan missile sites. I knew where 17 were. To this day still don't know where that last one was located. One was not far from where I lived. Another, in Green Valley (about 20 miles south of Tucson) was converted into a museum. I've been in it. It really does make you stop and think.

Anyway, during this period, in agreements reached with the Soviets, the Titans were being removed from their silos for deactivation. The missiles were brought into D-M where the Soviets would inspect to confirm the missile as well as its deactivation. Several times I saw Soviet officers there under HEAVY escort. Same when older B-52s were being chopped up. Soviets weren't content with satellite confirmation. They wanted "eyes on" at the time.

Like I said; some good times out there.
 
AZ_HighCountry said:
No worries. Been almost 40 years since that time so will share this as it is somewhat related to this thread.

Recall this was during the Reagan Presidency; SALT talks with the Soviets, etc. Tucson happened to be surrounded by 18 Titan missile sites. I knew where 17 were. To this day still don't know where that last one was located. One was not far from where I lived. Another, in Green Valley (about 20 miles south of Tucson) was converted into a museum. I've been in it. It really does make you stop and think.

Anyway, during this period, in agreements reached with the Soviets, the Titans were being removed from their silos for deactivation. The missiles were brought into D-M where the Soviets would inspect to confirm the missile as well as its deactivation. Several times I saw Soviet officers there under HEAVY escort. Same when older B-52s were being chopped up. Soviets weren't content with satellite confirmation. They wanted "eyes on" at the time.

Like I said; some good times out there.
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You ought to write a book on this subject
 
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