Picture: Three of the many Convair B-36 Peacemaker bombers in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB during the mid to late 1950s. Having had their engines removed a long line of propellors can be seen stacked along side each other in the bottom left corner of the picture. Photo from AMARC Public Affairs Office.
June 1st, 1956 to August 1st, 1959
| 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
| 6,993 | 4,204 | 2,234 | 2,024 |
1957
- The retiremnent of the North American T-6 Texan continued with over 100 examples, mainly T-6G but also some T-6D, arriving from the various pilot training establishments throughout the U.S.
- Due to Erding Air Base in West Germany changing its mission to a personnel training role and eventually returning to Luftwaffe control, 17 Lockheed RF-90A Shooting Star were sent to storage.
- Seventy Three Convair B-36 Peacemakers retired, including B-36D from 95th Bombardment (Heavy) Wing, Biggs AFB, TX., B-36D/GRB-36D from 92nd Bombardment (Heavy) Wing, Fairchild AFB, WA. and RB-36E/D models from 72nd Bombardment (Heavy) Wing, Ramey AFB, PR. As with the earlier arrivals these aircraft were quickly handed over for reclamation of spare parts.
- A further 65+ North American B-26B, B-26C, RB-26C and TB-26B Invaders were retired. A sizeable number (~70) of these, as well as previously retired B-26C models would leave DMAFB with a few months to be overhauled by Fairchild Engine & Aircraft Corp., Hagerstown, MD. before delivery to France and various South American countries (inc. Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Cuba) under the Military Assistance Program.
- Numbers of aircraft regenerations during the second half of the year soared. Over 160 North American T-6G Texans were supplied to a number of foreign countries under the Military Assistance Program. These countries included France, Italy, Japan, South Vietnam and Chile. France was the largest recipient with well over 120 examples being delivered. Work is still under progress to establish many of the recipient countries, the website database will be updated as and when any progress is made.
- Two Boeing B-50D Superfortresss were delivered to Lockheed Air Services, AF Plant, CA. for comversion to WB-50D. These entered service with 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, CA.
- Twenty Five Boeing B-50D Superfortresss were delivered to Birmingham Modification Center, Birmingham, AL. for comversion to KB-50 air refueling models. Completed aircraft returned to service at a number of bases including England AFB, LA., Turner AFB, GA., Langley AFB, VA., Yokota AFB, Japan and RAF Sculthorpe, UK.
- Around 80 Republic F-84 Thunderjets, previously operated by 3600th Combat Crew Training Wing, Luke AFB, AZ. before retirement in 1955, were trucked out to Southern California Aircraft Corp., Ontario, CA., a company that had been heavily involved in the rebuilding and modification of Republic F-84 Thunderjet aircraft during the 1950s. A number of these aircraft were overhauled and returned back into Air National Guard service, the vast majority were handed over for reclamation to serve as parts donors for ongoing F-84E repair and maintenance.
- By the end of 1956 over 550 stored aircraft had departed for regeneration back into service, if not with the U.S. services, with friendly foreign nations.
1957
1958
1959
- Between February and April the Douglas C-74 Globemaster fleet, which had been held in airworthy storage at Brookley AFB, AL since November 1955, were retired to DMAFB. On July 11, 1956 all were turned over for reclamation. Of the eleven arrivals four were re-generated for sale on the civilian market, the rest were scrapped during 1965.
>> 2704th Air Force Storage and Disposition Group