TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — KGUN 9’s work to cover neighborhood news includes the unique neighborhood of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DM). You will be seeing different aircraft there, as the base evolves away from its main role as a base for the A-10 and into its new mission as a Special Operations Wing.
The base means a lot to the local economy and the good news there is the base population is expected to actually grow from the new mission with more people and their families. Craig Smith and Pat Parris will be live from Davis-Monthan Thursday evening as we continue to take our show on the road to a neighborhood near you. Watch live here at 5 & 6 p.
m. For more than 50 years the A-10 has been the symbol of Davis-Monthan, lovingly called the warthog for its ugly looks but beautiful abilities to punish bad guys and protect troops on the ground. But DM and Tucson have grown up together for nearly the last hundred years.
“I like to say that there's really no difference between Tucson and Davis-Monthan and I mean, I think that that Davis-Monthan is Tucson and Tucson is Davis-Monthan.” Jay Bickley is a retired Air Force Colonel. He served at DM and serves now as President of DM50, an organization that works to keep DM an active part of Tucson life.
Southern Arizona leaders worried for years that when the Air Force retired the A-10 , DM’s impact would shrink from the 16,000 jobs and $2.6 Billion it adds to the regional economy now. But the Air Force says in its proposed new rol.
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