March Air Force Base

by William J. Butler

Book Overview

During World War I, March Air Force Base quickly established its reputation as a major flight-training institution. The base came to define the "Golden Age" of aviation as its roster of training expanded to include aerial pursuit, fighter, and bomber units. Later March would play host to a number of historic firsts, including Bob Hope's first USO show and aerial feats that helped make the U.S. Air Force the undisputed leader in combat aviation today...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738571598
• ISBN13: 9780738571591
• Release Date: December 2009
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.7" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A strong pick for California history and military history collections alike

William J. Butler's MARCH AIR FORCE BASE is a strong pick for California history and military history collections alike, chronicling a Riverside, California base that became a major flight-training institution. This joins others in the Images of America series, offering a visual history of the base's origins, growth, and development and using vintage photos with captions to trace this history.

Hap Arnold would be pleased

There has always been something special about March Field. I suppose that it has something to do with nearby Hollywood and Bob Hope's first broadcast of a show for GIs that originated from there. That event is commemorated by a plaque on the wall of the former gym where the show took place. The building is still there and in use, according to this terrific look at the base. It was very interesting to learn that a base commander in the 1980s strove to restore the base to its 1930s appearance with great success. That appearance is based on the architecture of the nearby Riverside Inn. March Field became March Air Force Base in 1948. The Strategic Air Command took it over and bombers and tankers roared over he Inland Empire for decades. The base was eventually closed and turned over to the Air Force Reserve becoming March Air Reserve Base, with Air Force Reserve tankers in residence, soon to be joined by Air National Guard unmanned Predators. The Armed Forces Radio and Television Service moved from Los Angels to March after it became a reserve base. It is quite a place. And this fine book does its subject justice. Hap Arnold, who took an interest in the development of March Field and who is on the cover with Tooey Spaatz and movie star Bebe Daniels, would be pleased--with the base today and with this book. Another terrific Images of America book on a classic California air base is Hamilton Field.