Susan Weaver Johnson

When the Silver Screen Took Flight

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, a famous Hollywood agent and an exceptional test pilot teamed to create a primary flight school in the Arizona desert. Overseen by the US Army Air Corps, it was known as the “Country Club” of the civilian run air fields. Having been designed by a famous artist, it looked like a mythical Thunderbird from the air. Since America was “neutral” at this time and there was no government funding, a significant amount of the original investment came from a group of well-known silver screen stars. To help recruit pilots, a full length color movie was also partially filmed on this location. During the war years, the organization grew to four training locations across the Phoenix Valley, completing the training of over 16,000 cadet pilots from 29 different countries. Thunderbird Field was “frequently termed one of the Army’s most efficient training bases.” Today, parts of the original Thunderbird Field, including the Control Tower, are still standing. While conserving these buildings, the goal is to preserve the stories of the men and women from around the world who served on this facility. Come hear some of these stories and see the beautiful Thunderbird Field in multimedia.