Garrity Field

Garrity Field
Name	Garrity Field
Caption	Aerial view of Garrity Field
Type	Airfield
Operator	United States Air Force/Civil Aviation Authorities
Location	Tucson, Arizona
Built	1941
Used	1941–present
Occupants	United States Army Air Forces; Arizona Air National Guard; civilian aviation

Garrity Field is an airfield and aviation complex established in 1941 that has served United States Army Air Forces training, United States Air Force operations, Arizona Air National Guard deployments, and civilian aviation in the Tucson region. It has been associated with multiple World War II training programs, Cold War readiness activities, and contemporary joint-use agreements involving federal, state, and municipal authorities. The field's history intersects with notable figures and events from Douglas MacArthur to the Berlin Airlift era, and it has hosted squadrons connected to campaigns such as the Battle of Midway and the Korean War.

History

Originally constructed as a training base during World War II, Garrity Field was commissioned by the United States Army Air Forces in response to expanding pilot and aircrew requirements driven by the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into World War II. During the 1940s it supported programs tied to Army Air Forces Training Command and cooperated with nearby installations like Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca. Postwar realignment saw Garrity Field transition through United States Air Force jurisdiction during the Cold War, participating in readiness activities connected to NATO commitments and contingency plans developed during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. In the 1970s and 1980s the field hosted Air National Guard units mobilized for the Vietnam War drawdown and later operations related to Operation Desert Storm. Civilian conversion and joint-use agreements in the 1990s linked the field with municipal authorities influenced by models from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and McCarran International Airport. More recent history includes support for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom through deployment processing and logistics staging.

Facilities and Layout

Garrity Field's facilities have evolved from wartime runways and hangars to a modern complex comprising parallel runways, maintenance hangars, air traffic control towers, and apron areas. The airfield's control structure has integrated procedures used at Federal Aviation Administration-regulated installations and conforms to International Civil Aviation Organization standards for joint military-civil operations. Support infrastructure includes fuel farms similar to those at Edwards Air Force Base and ordnance storage configured under standards comparable to Nellis Air Force Base. The layout supports rapid deployment with taxiways and ramps designed for aircraft types operated by units such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules operators and fighter squadrons historically affiliated with F-16 Fighting Falcon training units. On-site technical schools once paralleled curricula from the Air Force Institute of Technology and hosted transient training linked to Civil Air Patrol and Experimental Aircraft Association events.

Operations and Tenants

Tenants over time have included active-duty units, reserve components, and civilian operators. Historically, Garrity Field accommodated squadrons assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force and support elements collaborating with Air Mobility Command mission sets. The Arizona Air National Guard established detachments for airlift and tactical missions, while civilian fixed-base operators provided services similar to those at Boeing Field and Teterboro Airport. Training rotations and exercises included exercises coordinated with United States Southern Command and United States Northern Command elements, as well as multinational drills involving contingents from Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Australian Defence Force units. Aviation services contractors from companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing conducted maintenance, alongside logistics partners such as DynCorp International and KBR during surge operations.

Aircraft and Equipment

Garrity Field has hosted a wide assortment of aircraft across eras: piston-engine trainers of the North American T-6 Texan era, World War II-era bombers related to the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator programs, Cold War fighters including the F-86 Sabre and later the F-4 Phantom II, and modern airlift platforms such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Rotary-wing assets like the Bell UH-1 Iroquois and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk have supported medevac and utility roles. Avionics and ground support equipment have been updated to standards seen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and incorporated systems from suppliers like Honeywell International and Rockwell Collins. Historic flyovers have featured heritage aircraft from organizations such as the Commemorative Air Force and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Accidents and Incidents

Over its operational lifetime Garrity Field has been the scene of aviation accidents and safety incidents that prompted investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board and military accident boards. Notable mishaps included training accidents involving T-6 Texan and C-130 Hercules airframes during intensive wartime and postwar flight training cycles, incidents that influenced safety reforms similar to changes enacted after the Palomares incident and lessons incorporated from the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels safety practices. Emergency responses have coordinated with local agencies such as the Pima County Sheriff's Department and medical facilities like Banner – University Medical Center Tucson.

Environmental and Community Impact

Environmental stewardship and community relations have been recurring themes, with Garrity Field addressing issues such as soil contamination, noise abatement, and land use planning in partnership with entities like the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental agencies. Mitigation measures mirrored programs at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and included groundwater monitoring, remediation projects contracted through firms like Jacobs Engineering Group, and implementation of noise contours comparable to models used at Los Angeles International Airport. Community engagement included public hearings with stakeholders from City of Tucson, regional planning commissions, and veterans' organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Cultural References and Memorials

Garrity Field has been referenced in local histories, veterans' memoirs, and aviation literature alongside sites like Mesa Aerospace Museum and Pima Air & Space Museum. Memorials on or near the field honor aircrews and support personnel connected to campaigns such as World War II and Korean War, with commemorations involving organizations including the National WWII Museum and local chapters of Disabled American Veterans. Cultural events have included airshows featuring performers associated with the Commemorative Air Force and fly-ins organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, while plaques and monuments recall notable units and leaders who trained or served at the installation.

Category:Airfields in Arizona