VA Central California Health Care System

The P-61B Black Widow flown by the 547th Night Fighter Squadron is one of the 10 aircraft models featured in a special display at the Fresno VA Medical Center.

Did you know the Fresno Yosemite International Airport stands on a land that used to be the Hammer Field, operated by the Army Air Forces?

The airfield was activated at the onset of World War II, as an Army Air Forces Night Fighter School training base. Many Night Fighter Squadrons were either formed or trained at Hammer Field, including the 547th.

As the war came to an end, Hammer Field was inactivated and became the Fresno Air Terminal, which includes both the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and the Fresno Air National Guard Base operated by the California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing.

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David-Elmer Harper wanted to keep the history alive and known, so he envisioned a display case featuring models of aircraft flown from Hammer Field by the Army Air Forces during its existence. With the help of the talented hands of Master Model Maker Don Promnitz, his vision came true and is currently appreciated by Veterans, family members, visitors, employees and volunteers who cross the Fresno VA Medical Center main entrance waiting area every day.

The P-61B Black Widow flown by the 547th Night Fighter Squadron, the P-70 Nighthawk and the A-20 Havoc both flown by the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group are currently represented on display. Models of six other aircrafts flown by the California Air National Guard 144th Fighter Wing, historically and currently, are also on display.

The F-102A Delta Dagger, first flown on October 24, 1953 is also represented on display.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. of Sept. 25 to unveil this special display. The community is invited to come to the Atrium of the Fresno VA Medical Center, located at 2615 E. Clinton Ave., and celebrate the history perpetuated by those aircraft models.

It is also an opportunity for the community to meet Air Force Tech. Sgt. Donald Kitterman – the first enlisted individual assigned to the 547th Night Fighter Squadron stationed at Hammer Field. Kitterman is now 94 years old and his pictures at the Biak Island, Indonesia, during World War II, were added to the display.