Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Arizona is most famous for being the site of “The Boneyard”, a massive aircraft storage facility with more than 4,000 individual planes. This facility is run by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, but Davis-Monthan AFB is also home to the 355th Fighter Wing and its’ associated agencies including the 355th Medical Group and a variety of tenant units.
Davis Monthan Air Force Base is located in the city limits of Tucson, the largest city in Arizona after Phoenix. Tucson is said to have 350 days of sunshine a year, and is rated #67 in a U.S. News and World Report survey of the 125 Best Places To Live.
Find information about Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and inprocessing.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Mission & Units
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base falls under Air Force Air Combat Command. The 355th Fighter Wing there trains and deploys A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots, and the base is home to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, better known as The Boneyard or the Aircraft Boneyard.
Davis-Monthan AFB’s mission also includes the following groups and squadrons:
- 355th Maintenance Group
- 924th Maintenance Squadron
- 924th Fighter Group
- 47th Fighter Squadron
- 68th Rescue Squadron 1
- 923d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 55th Electronic Combat Group
Tenant units include
- 12th Air Force
- 563rd Rescue Group
- 55th Electronic Combat Group
- 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group
- 25th Operational Weather Squadron
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base History
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was dedicated in 1927 by none other than Charles Lindbergh, in honor of two World War One aviators from Tucson who died in separate airplane crashes; Lieutenants Samuel H. Davis and Oscar Monthan.
Two years prior, the Tucson City Council had purchased more than 1200 acres of land to relocate a municipal airport in hopes that the government would become interested in running flight operations there. In 1927, soon after Charles Lindbergh dedicated the airport, the first military presence there was established thanks to the transfer of a military refueling and maintenance mission from an old location.
This was a two-person operation until 1940 when the military decided to expand the mission to full operations due to increased mission needs for World War Two. The base, then known as Army Airbase Tucson Arizona, was used to train B-17 and B-24 crews, and later added the B-29 Superfortress bomber in 1944.
After World War Two
When the war ended, it was the (temporary) end of 24-hour a day flightline operations; the mission shifted to military out-processing and aircraft storage. Housing the U.S. military’s mothballed aircraft at “The Boneyard” became one of the best-known activities at the base. The Boneyard today houses more than four thousand aircraft and tours of the facility are possible thanks to a partnership with Pima Air And Space Museum.
In 1946, 24-7 flightline operations resumed with the Cold War and the takeover of base operations by Strategic Air Command. Up to now, the entire operation was under the jurisdiction of the Army, but in 1947 the Air Force was designated a separate branch of service and much what had been Army Air Force operations were suddenly Air Force missions. The base was redesignated Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Over the subsequent decades many changes in units,Base has participated in all of the Air Force’s major missions including deploying an Air Expeditionary Force in the 1990s, and the Global War on Terror’s three missions, Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Contacts
Main Base Address And Phone Numbers
5355 E. Granite Street, Building 2441
Tucson, AZ 85707-3526
- Phone 520-228-5690
- Phone (DSN) 312-228-5690
- Fax 520-228-5622
- Fax (DSN) 312-228-5622
Important Davis-Monthan AFB Contact Phone Numbers
- Airman and Family Readiness Center – EFMP Family Support (520) 228-5690
- Airman and Family Readiness Center -Davis-Monthan Career Focus Program (Spouse Employment) (520) 228-5690
- Civilian Personnel Office (520) 228-3712
- Davis-Monthan Family Advocacy (520) 228-2104
- Family Center (520) 228-5690
- Davis-Monthan Family Child Care (520) 228-2201
- Chapels (520) 228-5411
- Civilian Personnel Office (520) 228-3712
- Hospital/Medical Treatment Facility (520) 228-2669
- ID/CAC Card Processing (520) 228-1818
- Information and Referral Services (520) 228-5690
- Legal Services/JAG (520) 228-3168
- Personnel Support Office (520) 228-4425
- VA Facilities (520) 792-1450
- Welcome/Visitors Center (520) 228-4886
- Finance Office (520) 228-5111
- Housing Office/Government Housing (520) 228-3687
- Temporary Lodging/Billeting (520) 228-3230
- Barracks/Single Service Member Housing (520) 228-5089
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Surrounding Area
Tucson, Arizona has many natural wonders including the Sonoran Desert and the Tucson Botanical Garden; those interested in caving will appreciate Colossal Cave Mountain Park and Kartchner Caverns State Park.
Among the local attractions, Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory are listed as must-visits. You can also learn about Spanish and Tohono O’odham cultures at the Mission San Xavier del Bac or experience 300 different types of aircraft on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Inprocessing and Check-In
Those arriving PCS or TDY to Davis-Monthan during normal duty hours are directed to check in with the gaining unit; the Unit Commander’s Support Staff will set up your in-processing appointments.
In-processing is Wednesdays at 7:30 AM at the Professional Development Center, Bldg 2441, to the right of the Base Exchange. Those PCSing to Davis-Monthan AFB are required to attend in-processing within two days of arrival.
Those who arrive after normal duty hours are required to check in at the 24-hour arrival point, located at the Inn of Davis-Monthan, Bldg 2350, on Tenth Street.
In-processing is required prior to going on permissive TDY for house hunting.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Services
Health Care
The base is served by the Davis-Monthan Clinic, which does not provide any emergency services. The following health services are available at the clinic:
- Family Health Clinics
- Pediatrics
- Flight Medicine
- Specialty Care Clinics
- Disease-Health Management
- Women’s Health
- Dental Clinic (AD ONLY)
- Mental Health & ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment)
- Optometry
- Physical Therapy
- Orthopedics Clinic
- Radiology (X-Ray, Mammogram, Ultrasound, & CT Services)
- Laboratory (DOES NOT GIVE OUT TEST RESULTS)
- Pharmacy
- Referral Management Center (RMC)
- Immunizations
- Health Promotions/Nutritional Medicine/BE WELL-FIT
- Disease Management
- Deployment Health Assessment
- Operational Force Medicine
For on-base medical care the service member’s primary care manager does not provide, (urgent, routine, preventative, mental health, and specialty care), a referral is required from the Primary Care Manager.
The Davis-Monthan AFB official site says for urgent after-hours medical services, active duty service members “must have prior referral authorization and should contact the TRICARE Nurse Advice Line” at (800) 874-2273. For emergencies that threaten life, limb or eyesight, prior authorization is not required for emergency room services at authorized treatment centers.
Child Care
Child care at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is handled by two Child Development Centers (CDC); the Finley CDC and the Davis-Monthan CDC. These centers offer full-time care for the children of active duty and DoD civilians assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB.
Preschool, hourly care and special programs for parents are also available depending on demand and space available. Enrollment in the preschool program requires the following:
- AF Form 1181 (Enrollment form);
- Emergency contact and phone number;
- Current immunization record;
- Family Care Plan;
- Current financial information required for calculation of fees;
Child-to-teacher ratios in the Davis-Monthan CDC facilities include:
- Infant: 4 to 1
- Toddler 1: 5 to 1
- Toddler 2: 7 to 1
- Pre-School: 12 to 1
Davis-Monthan AFB also has in-home Family Child Care; these homes are insured, inspected monthly, and are held to Department of Defense requirements.
ID Cards For Retirees and Family Members
Those who need to replace, renew, or get new military IDs, Common Access Cards, Dependent, and Retiree cards are directed to use the RAPIDS appointment system to schedule the services.
Household Goods Shipments
Those coming to Davis-Monthan AFB on permanent change of station orders (PCS) are directed to track and manage their household goods shipment via The Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Schools
- Tucson features nine major school districts. There are more than 100 schools in the area and on-base options include Borman Elementary School, plus the charter school Sonoran Science Academy with classes for children in 6th thru 10th grade.
Tucson school districts include:
- Tucson Unified School District, 520-225-6000
- Vail School District, 520-879-2000
- Sahuarita Unified School District, 520-625-3502
- Marana Unified School District, 520-682-3243
- Sunnyside Unified School District, 520-545-2000
- Catalina Foothills School District, 520-209-7500
- Amphitheater Unified School District, 520-696-5000
- Flowing Wells School District, 520-696-8801
- Tanque Verde School District, 520-749-5751
Registration requires the following which should be submitted same-day:
- Student’s birth certificate (original or certified copy)
- Record of immunization
- Most recent physical within 1 year of date of entry for middle and high school age children interested in team sports.
- Proof of residence which can include a letter from the Davis-Monthan housing office, rental contract, utility bills, or other documents.
- Legal documents such as adoption papers, foster paperwork, etc. where applicable.
- Records from the student’s previous school.
- Kindergarten students must have their 5th birthday on or before September 1st of the enrollment year.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Housing
On-base military family housing is privatized, operated at Davis-Monthan AFB by Actus Lend Lease/Soaring Heights Communities. PCSing military members have the option to either rent or buy homes in the local Tucson housing market or choose privatized on-base housing which requires a lease agreement with Soaring Heights Communities.
Unaccompanied housing is open to enlisted ranks E-1 to E-3 and to E-4s with less than three years of military service. E-4s who have served for more than three years are required to use housing in the local area.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base PCS and TDY Lodging
Temporary lodging is available at The Inn on Davis-Monthan. Many of the base’s temporary quarters for PCS and TDY personnel are near the BX and commissary. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis without regard to military rank but those coming to the base PCS or TDY have priority.
Occupancy levels may determine how far in advance you may make reservations; it’s best to call The Inn at 520-748-1500 when your orders are generated to learn what is available or what may be available at PCS/TDY time. It’s possible to apply for Space-Available reservations; during times where occupancy is listed at 50% or less, military members can make Space-A temporary lodging reservations as far out as 120 days in advance.
The Davis-Monthan AFB official site includes the following details on the number and types of temporary lodging available:
- 171 Visiting Quarters
- 61 VAQ’s
- 12 Business Suites
- 50 Temporary Lodging Facilities listed as being pet-friendly
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Transportation
Tucson public transportation is available to the base via bus, and there is taxi and shuttle bus service from the airport to the base.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Base decals may be required for entry to Davis-Monthan AFB depending on the vehicle, current base security procedures, and other factors. All vehicles entering or departing Davis-Monthan AFB are subject to search and there is a 100% ID-check policy at all gates.
Military members, dependents, guests, and retirees driving vehicles in Arizona are required to comply with emissions testing and standards, carry the minimum required car insurance as required by the State of Arizona, and motorcycle operators must complete a Basic and Intermediate motorcycle course before receiving a base decal.
Those who do not currently have access to the base should stop at the Visitor’s Center which is located at the Craycroft gate.