The March Air Force Base, now more properly known as the March Air Reserve Base, has had a long and colorful history. Appropriations were set aside for a base to build up America's flight capabilities in 1917, as the United States prepared to enter World War I. In February of 1918, Sgt. Charles Garlick, with a crew of four servicemen and some local muleskinners, began construction near Riverside, California. Within 60 days, the field was ready--12 hangers, barracks for nearly 1,000 men, mess halls, machine shop, PX, hospital, supply depot, repair building, bachelor officer's quarters and a residence for the commanding officer. The first troops arrived in April, and the first "Jenny" took off on May 15.

By the time of the Second World War, the base supported up to 75,000 troops. The primary mission was training fighter pilots. After the war, March became a Tactical Air Command base and then part of the Strategic Air Command.

Jet Planes Arrive at March Field

B-47 jet bombers became the focus of March Field after the Korean conflict. With their refueling tankers, the KC-97s, these planes, flown by crews from March, began breaking records for altitude and distance. During the Vietnam era, these bombers and tankers served in Southeast Asia, and the site received returning POWs after the conflict ended.

The history of March and its contributions can be seen at the March Field Air Museum. There are more than 60 historic and record-breaking aircraft on display, and thousands of exhibitions are collected there. They even have a G-force flight simulator, for those with strong stomachs!