CAF Airbase Arizona

CAF Airbase Arizona The official page of the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona.

The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through Flight, Exhibition and Remembrance. The CAF was founded to acquire, restore and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans

. More than just a collection of airworthy warplanes from the past, the CAF's fleet of historic aircraft, known as the CAF Ghost Squadron, recreate, remind and reinforce the lessons learned from the defining moments in American military aviation history.

They're *everywhere*! 🫠 📸 Shirley Sukkel
08/28/2026

They're *everywhere*! 🫠



📸 Shirley Sukkel

You may be familiar with the “Cheyenne tail,” the broader, more rounded tail-gun position found on later B-17G Flying Fo...
08/27/2026

You may be familiar with the “Cheyenne tail,” the broader, more rounded tail-gun position found on later B-17G Flying Fortresses. It replaced the earlier narrow “stinger” installation and gave the tail gunner larger windows, better visibility, and an improved field of fire.

The name came from the United Air Lines Modification Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Beginning operations on January 2, 1942, the center eventually processed 5,736 B-17s before closing on July 31, 1945. At its wartime peak, approximately 1,600 workers were modifying and dispatching an average of six Flying Fortresses each day.

On February 15, 1944, workers at Cheyenne began installing the new tail arrangement, reportedly beginning with Boeing-built B-17G serial number 42-97261. The redesign moved the twin .50-caliber machine guns closer to the gunner and enclosed their mounting beneath a distinctive semicircular cover.

The tail was only one part of Cheyenne’s work. Its crews incorporated a steady stream of engineering changes developed from combat experience, like the "cheek guns" on either side of the nose, helping turn newly manufactured bombers into aircraft ready for overseas service.

However, the name has created a persistent misconception. Not every B-17 with a Cheyenne tail passed through Wyoming. Boeing incorporated the design into production with the B-17G-80-BO block in June 1944, followed by Douglas with the B-17G-50-DL and Vega with the B-17G-55-VE. Most later examples received the tail at the factory.

Cheyenne was not the only modification center. The Army Air Forces operated roughly two dozen modification centers overall, but most handled other aircraft types. There were five B-17-specialist modification centers in total:

Dallas Love Field, Texas: Lockheed Aircraft
Denver, Colorado: Continental Air Lines
Long Beach, California: Douglas Aircraft
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Douglas Aircraft
Cheyenne, Wyoming: United Air Lines

Now, who knows without looking if SJ has a stinger or a Cheyenne tail?

Boomer has become a doggone amazing fan, so we knew he just had to be our poster pup to celebrate !Do you have a specia...
08/26/2026

Boomer has become a doggone amazing fan, so we knew he just had to be our poster pup to celebrate !

Do you have a special canine in your life?!

📷 Greg Pipilo

Sunrises are beautiful, B-17s are beautiful, but put the two of them together? 🥰📷
08/25/2026

Sunrises are beautiful, B-17s are beautiful, but put the two of them together? 🥰

📷

This outstanding and unique angle on Sentimental Journey's landing was captured by photographer Brennan Tse in Atlanta. ...
08/24/2026

This outstanding and unique angle on Sentimental Journey's landing was captured by photographer Brennan Tse in Atlanta. Where are YOU catching up with us? Time's running out on the 2026 tour, so find us fast at azcaf.org/tour

It might be the best seat in the house today, but in WWII, would you have wanted to be sitting there as your aircraft en...
08/21/2026

It might be the best seat in the house today, but in WWII, would you have wanted to be sitting there as your aircraft entered a wall of flak or as enemy fighters dove on your formation?

Many people have strong opinions about which position on a B-17 was most dangerous. A common belief is that the ball turret gunner had the highest casualty rate. In reality, the ball turret was among the safest spots on the aircraft, thanks in part to its mostly steel construction compared to the thinner aluminum skin elsewhere.

Maj. Allan Palmer, USAAF, conducted an official medical study of Eighth Air Force casualties for June to August 1944, breaking them down by crew position. He found the highest casualty incidence among the waist gunners, navigator, and bombardier. The waist gunners’ numbers are partly explained by the fact that there were two of them per aircraft, which doubled the exposure compared to single-crew positions.

The navigator and bombardier worked in the nose, an area that absorbed a heavy concentration of flak. Flak was by far the greatest threat. In Palmer’s sample, 86 percent of all wounds were caused by flak, not by enemy fighters.

So yes, the bombardier’s seat is a prime spot for an unforgettable living-history flight today. But in wartime, it took real fortitude to occupy that position.

📸 Samuel Murr

08/20/2026

Continuing this week's theme of sunrises and sunsets that are improved by the presence of a B-17...

🎥 National Warplane Museum - Geneseo Airshow

Happy National Aviation Day from all of us at CAF Airbase Arizona. Do you know why August 19, specifically, was chosen ...
08/19/2026

Happy National Aviation Day from all of us at CAF Airbase Arizona. Do you know why August 19, specifically, was chosen as the national day to recognize aviation?

Bugs Bunny might have thought he should've made a left turn at Albuquerque, but we're glad we stopped and enjoyed a few ...
08/18/2026

Bugs Bunny might have thought he should've made a left turn at Albuquerque, but we're glad we stopped and enjoyed a few sunrises! Thanks to all who came out to see us.

Now, we make a brief stop back home for some maintenance before heading back on the road to finish off the 2026 tour. Check out our last few stops at https://www.azcaf.org/tour/

08/17/2026

Sentimental Journey arrived home yesterday for a little bit of scheduled maintenance. Then, she'll be back on the road to finish her tour starting September 2. So, come say hi this weekend while you can!

Find her last few tour stops at https://www.azcaf.org/tour/

Address

2017 N Greenfield Road
Mesa, AZ
85215

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(480) 924-1940

Website

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