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Photos: D-M air shows through the years
- Rick Wiley
- Updated
The Davis-Monthan AFB open house and air show through the years. It's been known as Aerospace and Arizona Days and Thunder and Lightning over Arizona.
Davis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
During the Aerospace and Arizona Days parade on February 3, 1961, a Boeing Bomarc anti-aircraft missile makes its way north on Stone Avenue in front of The Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Daily Citizen building. The downtown parade displayed units from Davis-Monthan Air Force base where the remainder of the celebration took place over the weekend.
Tucson Citizen fileDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
An Atlas missile on display at Davis-Monthan Aerospace Days, Feb. 10, 1963.
Dick WisdomDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Some of the estimated 122,000 visitors watch aircraft land at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970.
Tucson Citizen fileDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
A couple boys have fun with the wheels on the wingtips of a B-52 bomber which were used to prevent the wings from hitting the ground. They were a part of the estimated 122,000 visitors that watched the displays and aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
One of the estimated 122,000 visitors at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base takes a unique approach, and at the same time keeps from getting a stiff neck, while watching the flying aircraft during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970. The visitors were able to check out the B-52 bombers and watch as the famous Thunderbirds flew across the skies. Tucson Citizen file
Tucson Citizen fileDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Some of the estimated 122,000 visitors find some shade as they walk around a transport plane at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Some of the estimated 122,000 visitors check out the interior of a transport plane at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 15, 1970.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
A group of boys stand near the famed Thunderbirds pilots in McDonnell-Douglas F-4E Phantom jets at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 17, 1972.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Thousands of spectators use any means to watch some of the activities at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 17, 1972.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
A group of people find the spacious area underneath one of the many aircraft a nice place to rest and get out of the sun while at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the annual Aerospace and Arizona Days at the base on March 17, 1972.
Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Some 25,000 spectators watch the famed Thunderbirds perform on November 30, 1969 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The team, which was established in 1953, was led by Lt Col Joe Moore as they flew their Phantom II jets across the sky. The members were veterans of the Vietnam War. Dan Tortorell / Tucson Citizen
Dan Tortorell / Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
The Air Force Thunderbirds, flying T-38 Talons, fly above the old air traffic control tower at Davis-Monthan AFB as they arrive in Tucson for Aerospace and Arizona Days on March 18, 1977.
Manuel Miera / Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Kids take over the cockpit of a Boeing KC-135 air refueling tanker during Aerospace and Arizona Days at Davis-Monthan AFB in April, 1979.
H. Darr Beiser / Tucson CitizenDavis-Monthan AFB Air Shows
Just a few years into it's new mission at Davis-Monthan AFB, an A-10 Thunderbolt sits on static display at Aerospace and Arizona Days in April, 1979.
H. Darr Beiser / Tucson Citizen
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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