This is the primary flight training base where Tom was assigned in September, 1943.

Thunderbird Field (#1) was established just before the outbreak of WWII in Glendale, Arizona, outside of Phoenix. Southwest Airlines used this field to train Army aviation cadets. To expand its capacity, Thunderbird Field #2 was constructed in nearby Scottsdale, and by July of 1942, it was training pilots.

Thunderbird Field #3 was built in nearby Mesa, Arizona, but was renamed “Falcon Field” as a courtesy to the British. This 3rd field was to be used primarily to train British pilots, and a request to name the field in honor of a British bird, the falcon, was honored.

By October of 1944, Thunderbird #2 had graduated 5500 student pilots and was deactivated. The Army Air Force at that point had more pilots, fully trained and in the training pipeline, than they would ever be able to use. So this training site, along with many others, were closed.

After the war, Thunderbird #2 was acquired by Arizona State University and much later, in 1966, it was purchased by the city of Scottsdale to serve as the Scottsdale Airport (SDL).