AMARG: America's Strategic Military Aircraft Reserve

309th AMARG Aircraft and Missile Storage and Maintenance Facility — The iconic overhead image of B-52s lying broken in the desert is a result of America complying with terms of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START). In order to count the B-52Gs as deployed strategic delivery vehicles under START USAF teams cut up the 39 aircraft between October 2011 and December 2013. Each cut section was placed on a cradle 30 degrees off center, and at least six feet apart, enabling it to be viewed and counted by Russian satellites. (photo via AMARG)

New AMARG Book Marks 75^th Anniversary of the Boneyard

Noted aviation authors Jim Dunn and Nicholas A. Veronico have released a new book on the military aircraft storage operation in Tucson, Arizona – just in time for the facility’s 75^th anniversary. Named for the unit which operates it, AMARG is the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group and is home to more than 3,000 air- and rotor-craft stored on behalf of the U.S. military and a variety of customers.

A brief recap of the facility’s first 75 years leads readers into a photographic look at some of the more interesting aircraft in storage. Beginning with “The Business of Aircraft Regeneration,” the book features more than 175 color photos separated by bombers and patrol aircraft; attack, fighters and MiG killers; helicopters, tankers, trainers, and transports; and special use aircraft. There is a separate chapter showcasing the Centennial of Naval Aviation paint scheme airplanes at are now in storage, as well as a “What Happened to ____?” chapter that examines the fates of the YAL-1 Airborne Laser Test Bed 747, Blue Angels F/A-18 No. 7, and the XC-99 cargo version of the B-36 Peacemaker.

The 80th and final F-14A that was ordered by the Shah of Iran in 1974 never made it outside of the United States. Held before delivery when the Shah was forced to leave Iran, F-14A 160378 was sent to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage pending resolution of ownership. When ownership was passed to the US Navy the Tomcat was converted into NF-14A 160378/220 for assignment to the Naval Weapons Test Squadron at NAS Pt. Mugu. It would be retired back to AMARG on August 21, 2000, and is now one of the ten Tomcats remaining in storage. (photo by Jim Dunn)

AMARG: America’s Strategic Military Aircraft Reserve is softbound, six by nine inches, 98 pages, and retails for $24.95. Available from Casemate Publishers

The front and rear cover pages from Jim Dunn and Nicholas A. Veronico’s newly-published book celebrating the 75th anniversary of the ‘Boneyard’. (image via Nickolas A. Veronico)