Marana Army Air Field Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation Fire Department

History Courtesy—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinal_Airpark

Built in 1942 by the Sundt & Del Webb Construction Companies and opened in March 1943, the facility was known as Marana Army Air Field. During World War II, the airfield was under the command of the 389th Army Air Force Base Unit, AAF West Coast Training Center and used as a training base, as part of the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.

Marana conducted basic flight training & the training of transport pilots in instrument flying and navigation, being the home of the 3024th (Pilot School, Basic). Chinese pilots were also trained there. Five satellite air- fields were established for Marana during World War II: The infrastructure installed at Marana during World War II was extensive. This included water, sewer, and gas systems that were still used until some problems developed in the 1990s. There was also a massive storm drain system. The airfield also had a railroad spur line and railroad station.

Marana was closed after World War II and in 1948, after the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as an inde- pendent service, Pinal County accepted a deed to the property, subsequent to the Air Force's disposal of most of the buildings, waterlines, gas lines, and electrical lines. From 1948–51, Pinal County leased the property to multiple tenants, and from 1951–56, Marana was reused as a contractor-operated USAF basic flying school, operated by Darr Aeronautical Technical Company.

Marana became the headquarters of all Central Intelligence Agency air operations during the War years, when it was the primary facility of Intermountain Airlines, a wholly owned CIA "front" company which was used to supply covert operations in and elsewhere. Intermountain was infamous for its thinly veiled CIA special ops which included development and use of the Fulton Skyhook, but its cover was its non-scheduled freight and maintenance operations. Marana was the principal continental United States maintenance base for Southeast Asia CIA operations including and Continental Air Services. is the home of Silverbell Army Heliport (SAHP) and the private companies: Marana Aerospace Solutions, Aircraft Demolition, and Jet Yard.

The Western Aviation Training Site (WAATS) and other numerous Army National Guard units are located inside SAHP. WAATS discontinued training of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter at the site in 2012.[4]

Pinal Airpark also hosts the US Special Operations Command's Parachute Training and Testing Facility.[5] On 28 March 2013, Navy SEAL Brett Shadle was killed during parachute training here and another SEAL was injured.[6] Since the early 2010s, economic development director Jim Petty has opened the facility to the public, giving free tours of the airport and the airplanes stored there.[7] History Courtesy—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinal_Airpark

History Courtesy—2019 Google

History Courtesy—http://www.airfields-freeman.com/AZ/Airfields_AZ_Tucson_N.htm History Courtesy—https://tucson.com/news/blogs/airmen/photos-marana-air-base-in-s-s-s/collection_56619a5e- 0387-5081-b987-5e098e66d23d.html#2 History Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation

Grand Central Aircraft Company modified U.S. Air Force B- Tucson’s version of “Rosie the Riveter.” Women at their B-29 modi- 29 bombers in the three hangars from 1948-1952. Aerial fication stations inside one of the hangars, around 1950. (Courtesy view, looking south, around 1950. (Courtesy of Tucson Air- of Tucson Airport Authority) port Authority)

This is what the three hangars look like today. Note the huge slid- ing doors. View from hangars southeast corner. (Courtesy of Bob Ring)

History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, —courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited History A report—Historic Building Inventory for the Pinal Airpark, Pinal County, Arizona—courtesy Parrish Traweek: Edited 1942 July 15, 1942: 1942 July 15, 1942: 1942 July 16, 1942, September 14, 1942: 1942 July 21, 1942: 1942 August 3, 1942: 1942 September 14, 1942: 1942 September 21, 1942: 1942 September 21 & October 2, 1942: 1943 Januarys 16, 1943: 1943 Januarys 21, 1943: 1943 February 22, 1943, Arizona Daily Star: May 19, 1943, Arizona Daily Star:

May 22, 1943, Arizona Daily Star:

1943 May 15, 1943: 1943 May 22, 1943: 1943 May 22, 1943: 1943 June 3, 1943, Arizona Daily Star:

1943 June 13, 1943, Arizona Daily Star:

1943 June 19, 1943, Arizona Daily Star: June 22, 1943, Arizona Daily Star:

1943 October 1943: 1943 Unknown date but think 1943: 1943 December 3, 1943, Arizona Daily Star: 1944

June 14, 1944, Arizona Daily Star: 1944 September 11 & 12, 1944, Arizona Daily Star:

1944 September 15, 1944, Arizona Daily Star:

October 13, 1944, Arizona Daily Star: 1945

August 2, 1945, Arizona Daily Star: November 18, 1945, Arizona Daily Star:

1946

August 19, 1946, Arizona Daily Star: 1947

November 19, 1947, Arizona Daily Star: 1947 March 18, 1947, Arizona Daily Star:

1947 March 18, 1947, Arizona Daily Star:

1947 March 20, 1947, Arizona Daily Star:

1947 March 20, 1947, Arizona Daily Star:

Greater Tucson Fire Foundation

Thank you for taking an interest in Tucson Fire Department history —

This is one of many sections that contain information, documents, letters, newspaper articles, pictures, etc. They have been collected and arranged in chronological order or by a subject. These items were collected, organized and entered into a computerized database by Dave Rid- ings Retired Assistant Chief Tucson Fire Department, Al Ring friend of the department, Great- er Tucson Fire Foundation and with the help of many friends and fellow firefighters.

All graphics have been improved to make the resolution as good as possible, but the reader should remember that many came from copies of old newspaper articles. This also applies to other items such as documents, letters, etc.

Credit to the source of the documents, photos, etc. is provided whenever it was available. We realize that many items are not identified and regret that we weren’t able to provide this infor- mation. As far as the newspaper articles that are not identified, 99% of them would have to be from one of three possible sources. The Arizona Daily Star, The Tucson Citizen and the Tuc- son Daily Citizen, for which we want to give a special thanks.

Please use this information as a reference tool only. If the reader uses any of the information for any purpose other than a reference tool, they should get permission from the source.

Should the reader have additional information on the above subject we would appreciate you sharing it with us. Please see the names and contact information on the 1st. TFD Archives page right below this paragraph.