After World War II more than 7000 retired Army bombers, fighters, and training planes were left standing row to row at the old Kingman Army Airfield 5 miles east of Kingman Arizona, now storage depot 41 of the war assets Corporation.
It was the worlds greatest concentration of aircraft in one area at one time, covering five square miles. Kingman Army airfield was a gunnery base which once had an Army population of 17,000 officers and men.
5437 of the planes, offered for competitive bidding with the provisions that day would not be used for flight purposes since they were not adaptable for civilian use. They were purchased for $2,780,000 by Martin Wunderlich, of Jefferson City, Missouri, a contractor.
It is rumored that the fuel from these aircraft was sold for more than the purchase price of the planes.
At one time the Kingman storage records showed 2567 B-24 Liberators, 1832 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 478 of the P-38 Lightning, another 200 of the P-38 photo planes, 37 of the B-29 Super Fortress not to mention 141 B-25 Billy Mitchell medium bombers and hundreds of P-47 Thunderbolt's, P-40s of Flying Tiger fame then America's newest and fastest medium bombers were also at Kingman Army Airfield.
the depot sold be seven teens at $13,750 and the 25 does at $8,250. Prices asked on the other types of aircraft included the 826 at $2000 each, P60 wands at $6,000 each, P40 sevenths at $3500 each to you for days at $1250 each and a 24 is at $1650 each.
No one but American citizens could purchase the planes at Kingman, and before being offered for sale the airplanes were stripped of all confidential equipment such as Bomb Sites, Radar and some Radio installations.