Published January 15, 2021

Historic Photo Installation Honors Falcon Field Airport WWII Role

Written by Shanna Day Team

Historic Photo Installation Honors Falcon Field Airport WWII Role header image.

With eyes to the sky, Oswaldo Interiano towers over Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport, more than half a century since he trained at the former World War II pilot training base.

A giant photographic portrait of the pilot known as "Ozzie" to his cadet buddies and simply as "Skipper" to his Lancaster Crew was installed on the air traffic control tower at Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport. His photograph is the latest project in the Airport’s Historic Zone honoring Falcon Field’s and Mesa’s history as well as the important role they played in World War II pilot training.

An undertaking as monumental of as portrait they want to install given the daunting task of enlarging a grainy 3-inch tall by 1-inch wide photo, the project involved hours of computer processing and technical advisory via email, call or personal contact. The project team was composed of representatives of the City of Mesa, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), CORE Construction, A&M Graphics, and Mark Velasquez Photography with expert advice coming from the digital photo-imagery professionals and specialists.

A brief ceremony was held on Feb. 25, Monday on the lawn east of the terminal building on the north side of the tower for the dedication of his photo as well as the celebration of the installation of nine more historical photos around the airfield. The ceremony also featured flyovers by historic World War II-era aircraft from the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum and static aircraft displays by the Warbirds Unlimited Foundation Inc.

Below is a quick video of the application of Oswaldo Interiano 's gigantic photograph to the air traffic control tower.