Capital Airshow 2018 – 100 Years of Mather Airfield

by Steve Mantegani · Published January 5, 2019

*Lockheed U-2 flanked by Northrop T-38s*

Sorry about incomplete credits: Scott and Steve Mantegani collaborated on this article.

2018 marked the 100^th anniversary of Mather Airfield, and to celebrate it, this year’s air show included a Friday night show. Mather Airfield originally opened as Mills Field in 1918 as a training field. It was established to train new pilots with the entry of the United States into World War I. The base was later renamed from Mills Field to Mather Field after Second Lieutenant Carl Spencer Mather who was killed on January 30, 1918 while on a training flight. After the war, the airfield was closed by the War Department. Sacramento successfully fought to keep the airfield open with aviation events including a visit by Charles Lindberg.

To see video, click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGL1hCXxti0

The Army Air Corps reactivated Mather in 1930 as a support airfield to the other airfields in the Bay Area. In 1941, it became a full training base again in support of World War II. By 1944, victory was imminent so training at the base was terminated, and the base became a part of embarkation of men and aircraft to the Pacific. After the war it was aligned with the Air Training Command to teach new air crews. In 1964 it became the sole navigator training base for the Department of Defense, and qualified aircrews until the base’s closure in 1993.

To see video, click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUGvQ-qFrbc

In 1958, B-52s and KC-135s were moved to the base in support of Strategic Air Command’s (SAC) mission of nuclear deterrence by dispersing bombers to various bases across the nation. In 1993, the training units were moved to Randolph AFB, TX and the SAC aircraft were moved or deactivated. In 1995, Mather reopened as Mather Airport where UPS, Sacramento Sheriff’s Department, and other aviation companies began operations. Today, more companies have moved in, but the airfield is still used for military and private (including Boeing) practice approaches and touch and goes.