U-2 Dragon Lady poster art.

Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 8 miles east of the city of Marysville, California (The Golden Coast). In 1848, Charles Covillaud discovered riches in the gold fields near Marysville. A sign on the roadside as one enters Marysville carries the slogan: “Gateway to The Gold Fields”. The host unit at Beale is the 9th Reconnaissance Wing assigned to the Air Combat Command and part of Twelfth Air Force. The 9 RW collects intelligence essential for Presidential and Congressional decisions critical to the national defense. (Knowledge is Golden) To accomplish this mission, the wing is equipped with the nation’s fleet of U-2 “Dragon Lady” aircraft.