Barry Fotheringham
barry@barryfotheringham.com
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7360 E. 22nd Street
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Pima Air & Space Museum and Titan II Missle Museum
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (fondly known simply as D-M) became a military base in 1925, but its origins can be traced to the earliest days of civil aviation. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh, fresh from his non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, flew his "Spirit of St. Louis" to Tucson to dedicate Davis-Monthan Field -- then the largest municipal airport in the United States.
From that early time forward, Tucson has had a hand in aviation history. Due to the thousands of Air Force members who have been stationed here, fallen in love with Tucson and vowed to return to retire, there soon was a real interest in placing an air museum here. The dry climate makes for self-preservation of the planes plus a growing number of retired people were eager to volunteer which made it an ideal match.
In 1966, a plan was presented to Pima County for an air museum, and, by 1973 there were 35 planes from the storage area at D-M. On May 8, 1976, as an official Bicentennial event, the Pima Air Museum was dedicated and opened to the public. The collection had grown to 75 aircraft. It continues to grow and now contains more than 200 planes.
The 20,000 square foot "Hangar Number One," completed in 1982, houses some of the fabric-covered planes and displays. In a World War II barracks you will see World War II displays and a large collection of aircraft models. There are other hangers to be seen as well and more hangers and barracks in the future plans.
Not only can you look into the planes both inside and out, there is also a hands on area which is always very popular, especially with the kids. Additionally there is The Challenger Learning Center of the Southwest, which is Southern Arizona's interactive math and science learning laboratory. The learning center also includes the Space gallery, which has many interactive and informative exhibits.
Several years ago Barry & Jacque were hosts for a conference in Tucson and were able to secure one of the hangers for the evening. It was catered and they had a song and dance group from the Tucson area. They put on a terrific show with the clothes and music of World Wars I and II. It was an evening people still talk about.
In May 1986, an addition to the Air Museum opened in Green Valley just south of Tucson. It could not be brought to the museum facility, as it is a missile silo. Titan II Missile Museum is in its underground silo. Guided tours through the complex make it possible for you to view it exactly as it looked when it was being operated by the Air Force 390th Strategic Missile Wing. Fifty-four Titan Missile Sites had been located in the United States with 18 in Arizona. All have been destroyed except for this site which has been preserved as a museum. It stands today, as it stood on alert for 19 years, accurate in every detail except for the empty booster and re-entry vehicle in the silo. (Sometime ask Barry about his Air Force days as the supervisor of the D-M Flight Surgeons office and of his trips out to the silos)
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