March, CA (United States of America)

Air Show

22-23 April 2023

March Air Reserve Base celebrating 75 years of the United States Air Force Reserve

Located in Riverside County, approximately fifty miles east of Los Angeles - began at a time when the United States was rushing to build up its military forces in anticipation of an entry into World War I. News from the front in Europe to those at home had not been good as it explained the horror and boundless human misery associated with stalemated trench warfare.

Several European news sources reported significant German efforts at this time to build a fleet of flying machines that could well alter the nature of modern warfare and possibly carry the war to the skies. At this time, the War Department announced its intentions to build several new military installations. The Army wasted no time in establishing a new airfield. Sergeant Charles E. Garlick, who had landed at Alessandro Field in a "Jenny" in November 1917, was selected to lead the advance contingent of four men to the new base from Rockwell Field.

On 20 March 1918, Alessandro Flying Training Field became March Field, named in honor of Second Lieutenant Peyton C. March, Jr., son of the Army Chief of Staff, who had been killed in a flying accident in Texas the previous month. By late April 1918, enough progress had been made in the construction of the new field to allow the arrival of the first troops. On 15 May when the first JN-4D "Jenny" took off, March Field seemed to have come into its own as a training installation. In 1921, the decision had been made to phase down all activities at the new base in accordance with sharply reduced military budgets.

In April 1923, March Field closed its doors with one sergeant left in charge. March Field remained quiet for only a short time. In July 1926, Congress created the Army Air Corps and approved the Army's five-year plan which called for an expansion in pilot training and the activation of tactical units. Accordingly, funds were appropriated for the reopening of March Field in March of 1927. In 1931, March Field became an operational base, bringing the Condor B-2 and Keystone B-4 bombers to March. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 quickly brought March Field back into the business of training aircrews.

After the war, March reverted to its operational role and became a Tactical Air Command base. The main unit, the famed 1st Fighter Wing, brought the first jet aircraft, the F-80, to the base. In 1949, March became a part of the relatively new Strategic Air Command. From 1949 to 1953, the B-29 Super fortresses dominated the flightline at March Air Force Base. The March wing converted from the huge propeller-driven B-29s to the sleek B-47 jet bombers and their supporting tankers, the KC-97s. In 1960, the first Reserve unit was assigned to March, flying C-119s. The end of the 1960s saw March Air Force Base preparing to exchange its B-47s and KC-97s for updated bombers and tankers.

Increasing international tensions in Europe and elsewhere by September 16, 1963, brought March its first B-52B bomber. Soon 15 more of the giant bombers appeared on the flightline along with new KC-135 jet "Stratotankers“, both would dominate the skies for the next two decades. The last B-52 was retired on November 9, 1982, and the 22nd Bombardment Wing, which played a key role in March´s long history, would become an air refueling wing with the new KC-10 tanker. Air refueling for March Air Force Base had entered a new age.

Air refueling for March Air Force Base had entered a new age. The California Air National Guard also arrived in 1982, bringing with them the F-4Cs. On 1 April 1996, March officially became March Air Reserve Base. In 2005, the wing retired its C-141 fleet. A year later, the wing began to receive its eight C-17s. Today March is the home of nine C-17 Globemaster IIs, which absolve more than 8.000 flying hours / year and 14 KC-135 Stratotankers with around 7.000 flying hours / year.

The museum was founded in 1979 as March Air Force Base Museum. It moved to a new location at the base's former commissary shop, where it reopened to the public in 1981. The museum moved again in 1993 to its current location west of the runway along Interstate 215. Originally operated by the Air Force, the museum's operation was transferred to a nonprofit organization in 1996. The March Field Air Museum displays nearly 80 historic aircraft spanning nearly 100 years of aviation history. Ten are inside and the rest kept outside where you can walk around to your hearts content.

Famous Fighter jets, cargo transporters and aerobatics teams could be seen at March Air Reserve Base following a five-year break after the Covid pandemic. The Southern California Air Show marks the 75th Birthday of the United States Air Force Reserve and it is the replacement event of the March ARB Air Fest, which was cancelled in 2020 and 2022.
The Air Force Reserve was created as a separate component on April 14, 1948, when the Army Air Corps Reserve was transferred to the Air Force.

One of the main attractions at the Southern California Air Show were the famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, performing a variety of coordinated maneuvers in their F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Patriots Jet Team, flying L-39 trainers, performed both days, along with the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet West Coast Demo Team. The Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster West Coast Demo Team could also be seen that weekend. The C-17s are part of March’s Air Transport fleet and are regularly flying in the skies within the base’s defined airspace and on missions all over the world,supporting the needs of the United States Air Force.

Additional performances were provided by the Canadian SkyHawks Parachute Team and the A-10 Thunderbolt Demo Team. Numerous aircraft from different Air Bases througout the country were on static displays, featuring the F-35 Lightning, F-22 Raptor, the B-1B Lancer bomber or the gigantic C-5M Galaxy transporter, as well as a host of others, both military and civilian. Visitors and enthusiats had a great chance to walk through the static display to explore many rare planes and helicopters of the US Air Force, Army, Navy or even the Customs and Border Protection. The show was a complete success and attracted more than 150.000 visitors over two days.

From the dusty stubble that once was Alessandro Flying Strip to today, March, for more than 100 years, has been a key element in the advancement of aviation and in the growth of the modern Air Force. As the Air Force restructures and prepares for new challenges, March seems destined to remain as an important base for the air operations of tomorrow.

Credits: Dennis Deis, Sebastian Leuchter and Internet

Report from the 22 April

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