Picture: Rows of U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms freshly moved to the AMARC reclamation area awaiting their fate at the hands of local scrapmen. Some of these aircraft had been stored for many years in protective 'bags', hence the lack of the white spraylat on the canopies and over the jet exhausts. Photo by Phil Kovaric.
October 1st, 1985 to May 1st, 2007
A rename from MASDC to Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) occurred on October 1, 1985, marking a significant expansion in scope for the facility. Driving factors for this event included the facility's growing role beyond mere storage and disposition. In the 1980s, amid Cold War tensions, AMARC began handling intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for dismantling under arms control treaties or repurposing for satellite launches.
This shift reflected broader aerospace responsibilities, including aircraft regeneration for operational reuse, parts reclamation ("cannibalization"), overhaul, refurbishing, conversion to aerial drones, destruction per international agreements like the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, and storage of production tooling.
The name change from "Military Aircraft" to "Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration" emphasized this new multifaceted mission, aligning with technological advancements and post-Vietnam military needs for efficient resource management. Details on the change of command for the 1985 rename were primarily administrative, with no major personnel re-organization. MASDC operated under the Air Force Logistics Command, and the transition to AMARC maintained this structure without relocating or reassigning the facility.
It remained a direct-reporting unit focused on industrial operations, supporting global readiness by regenerating aircraft for conflicts and other U.S. military operations including Gulf War preparations.
1980s
1990s
2000s
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>> 309th Aerospace Maintenance & Regeneration Group (AMARG)