#Castle AFB

[crownedstoat]

1950 Nash at the 456th Change of Command at Castle Air Force Base, CA. 1963

[usafphantom2]

Where are all the Blackbirds? List of A-12’s and SR-71’s locations. A total of 50 of these high-flying, bullet-speed aircraft were

produced by the Lockheed “Skunk Works”, 12 were lost in

accidents.

Of the remaining 38, two were transferred to NASA for

high-altitude testing and 29 are on display for public viewing

around the USA and one at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford,

England.

M-21 #06940 Drone-carrying Blackbird on display at the

Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington.

Alabama:

A-12 #06930 - U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL.

A-12 #06937 - Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, AL.

A-12 #06938 - USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, AL.

Arizona:

SR-71A #17951 - On display at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, AZ.

California:

A-12 #06924 - Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale, CA.

A-12 #06927 - California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA.

California (Cont’d.):

A-12 #06933 - San Diego Aerospace Museum, in San Diego, CA.

SR-71A #17955 - AFFTC Museum, Edwards AFB, CA.

SR-71A #17960 - Castle Air Museum near Atwater, CA.

SR-71A #17963 - Beale AFB, CA.

SR-71A #17973 - Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA.

SR-71A #17975 - March Field Museum, March AFB, CA.

SR-71A #17980 - NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center as #844.

Florida:

SR-71A #17959 - USAF Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FL.

Georgia:

SR-71A #17958 - Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, GA.

Kansas:

SR-71A #17961 - Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson, KS.

Louisiana:

SR-71A #17967 - 8th Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA.

Michigan:

SR-71B #17956 - Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, MI.

Nebraska:

SR-71A #17964 - Strategic Air and Space Museum, near Ashland, NE.

New York:

A-12 #06925 - USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in the New York City

Harbor.

Ohio:

YF-12A #06935 - National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson

AFB, OH.

SR-71A #17976 - National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson

AFB, OH.

Oregon:

SR-71A #17971 - Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, OR.

Texas:

SR-71A #17979 - USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX.

Utah:

SR-71C #17981 - Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, UT.

Virginia:

A-12 #06931 - CIA Headquarters, Langley, VA

SR-71A #17968 - Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA.

SR-71A #17972 - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy

Center in Chantilly, VA.

Washington:

M-21 #06940 - Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA.

United Kingdom:

SR-71A #17962 - Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England.

#Habubrats

@Habubrats71 via X

[redarmyscreaming]

1950 Nash Rambler in service with the 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Here performing some ceremonial change of command, Castle AFB (CA), 1963.

[newsfromsomewhere]

Nash Rambler in USAF service at 456 Fighter-Interceptor Command, Castle AFB, California, 1963.

Designed in the US with a monocoque body (and also badged as a Hudson) the Rambler was sold between 1953-1962 and variously marketed as a second, woman's and shopping car.

What was by US standards a very compact vehicle, it was built by Austin in the UK (where a few were sold as Metropolitans) because manufacturing costs were lower and exporting the vehicle across the Atlantic helped the UK's always ailing economy.

cars

[dangerousthingobservation]

Aviation Photo #1045869: Northrop YA-9A - USA - Air Force

In the storage yard at Edwards AFB. Previously on display at Castle AFB. - Photo taken at Edwards - AFB (EDW / KEDW) in California, USA on April 7, 2006.

[luannirene]

26 June adventure continues from Ripon cheese shop to Castle AFB SR-71 (windy and hot)

[eviesessays]

39. How has your life turned out differently than you imagined it would?

There was a time in my life when I fervently believed I would get to be a princess one day and live in a castle.  My Dad did nothing to dissuade me from this delusion.  I thought I could dance like Shirley Temple and sing, “On the good ship Lollipop”.  I was certain my hair could be trained to have ringlets that bounced when I tap danced. Nothing could have been further removed from reality.  My hair was stick straight and sat atop my head like a pile of unruly hay. My tap dancing was anything but rhythmic and certainly not gracious.  Since leaving early childhood I have been too much of a realist to have great fantasies but I know I always wanted to travel and experience other cultures.  

From a very young age I knew I wanted to be a nurse.  Actually, there were very few professions welcoming women in that era.  There was no financial possibility to be an engineer or go to law school. I had no regrets.  I always wanted to be a nurse and have never regretted that choice. My career has afforded me many opportunities and the ability to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.  My profession allowed me to financially support myself and my children when the need arose.  I had never in my younger years thought this would be my destiny but when the need arose I was glad to meet the challenge. 

In retrospect I should have spent more time thinking about the qualities I wanted in a husband.  I can honestly say I did not give it the time it deserved.  I  wanted a husband who was well mannered, well read and well spoken.  James Wemyss Joss could pass that test.  He qualified in all areas.  He had not finished his degree having spent only a year at Georgia Tech after graduating from Sylacauga High School in Sylacauga, Alabama.  He was 16 years old at the time.  His parents had been divorced in Scotland.  Jay and his brother, Allan Dinsmore Joss moved to London with their mother,Kitty.  It was there she met John Lee Rarden, a merchant marine with a glib tongue, unrealistic dreams and an almost absent work ethic.  They were married and Kitty was pregnant.  John Lee went to sea. Kitty delivered twins, John Lee and David Lynn.  When the twins were fifteen months old the family sailed for America on an oil tanker headed to New Orleans.  They landed late at night amid a rain storm that Jay described as a bleak and despairing experience.  They were met by John Lee’s father who was called Didi who drove them home to Mount Olive,Alabama.  They all moved in with Didi and his acerbic wife, Dearie.  John Lee’s uncle Ollie and aunt Lorraine also lived in the home. This was a very far cry from the Joss family who had been in Scotland for more than 400 years and lived in some of the finest homes in Glasgow. Jay was placed in the senior class at Sylacauga High School and graduated at the age of 15.  He worked at Woolworths for a year to save money for college but that was exhausted after his first year and he joined the  Air Force.    His alcohol was already a problem for him at that time.  This was a fact I did not know until long after we were married.  I can honestly say that Jay’s drinking was the cause of our marriage failure.  The car accidents and the resulting financial disasters resulting from his alcoholism took its toll.  It was not the marriage of which I had dreamed.

 I met Philip Miller Pahl at church.  He sang in the choir and served on the vestry.  He was a Major in the Air Force and had graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis.  He was stationed at the Pentagon and has assured me this was his final tour of duty before he retired.  This was important because I had a great and well paid job in Washington. Heather and Jaylyn were in High School and did not want to move. Despite all that just after we were married a year Phil was transferred to Hanscom AFB in Bedford, MA. Phil went on to his assignment and I stayed behind til the end of the school year.  In July we moved into a very nice home on Wildwood Drive in Bedford.  Then I began my search for a job working days only so I could be home in the evening knowing what my children were up to.  It was most depressing to be returning to work  full time at 70% of my previous salary.  I was sitting in a pediatrician’s office at an interview when President Nixon resigned.  It seemed fitting.  Heather was crushed by the move and completed her grade 12 along with grade 11 and could not wait to return to Maryland.  There were very good times in Boston.  There are endless historical places to be visited.  Jaylyn, Robin and Peter all finished Hgh School and went off to college.   Phil retired from the Air Force and began looking for property in NH. We bought a beautiful farm in Warner, NH and moved in June 1985.  we were busy getting the house in order as Jaylyn and Merton were to be married in October and the reception was to be in a tent by the pool.  Heather and John were married in Concord and then the grandchildren began to arrive.  There was plenty to distract us from the reality that our marriage was long over.  Phil admitted to me that he had a long standing affair with a “friend” from our church in Bedford.  It would be easy to blame Phil for this betrayal but it was more like a thousand little wounds that killed the marriage long before the final blow.  to say this marriage turned out differently than I had imagined would be an understatement of untold proportion.

My grandchildren are all thriving.  I could not have planned the lives they experience.  Hillary and David will have a new Baby boy in September.  Anne and Dan have a very successful  business.  Diggs  has a lovely woman in his life. Kalote, left teaching for more financially rewarding experience in real estate.  Will has taken up the ukulele and the rest remains to be seen.  

My great grandchildren bring endless joy.  Joan Clementine at 5, is reading books to Laura.  She takes dance lessons and can now play, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” on her ukulele.  Everett Floyd is a busy little boy with many interests.  He sings beautifully and will be a good big brother.  Laura Winter is a very assertive little girl who loves being read to.  she knows all the stories and characters.  Murphy Harriet is a very wise two year old.  She misses nothing,  She plays with her cash register at her pretend cafe and tells the customers  to “please enter your pin number now”.  she predicted the new baby is a boy.  I could never have anticipated so great a joy as grand and great grandchildren.

[classic-ramblers]

1950 Nash used by the 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in an Air Force change of command ceremony in 1963, at Castle Air Force Base, California. This was apparently done as a bit of a jest, and the Nash was decorated by squadron members in a similar livery as the Convair F-106 Delta Dart jets in the background.

[ifbuteverythought]

Sometimes a lazy Sunday turns into something peacefully spectacular. #france #travel #castle #beautiful #AFB

[barbariankingdom]

A U.S. Air Force McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-33-MC Phantom IIs from the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (Bergstrom AFB) flying past Hohenzollern Castle, Germany, circa 1976.

[usafphantom2]

The SR-71 Blackbird used a unique blend of fuel called JP7 with a high flashpoint to prevent it from being ignited by the heat of the airframe. The SR-71 at its cruise speed of Mach 3.2 the gets really hot. So hot that conventional jet fuel could not be used in it.

Because the fuel was not conventional and the airframe was so secret convincing other people in the Air Force was difficult that this fuel was not volatile.

My Dad, Richard “ Butch” Sheffield, told me a story about when the SR 71, 960 had an engine blowout; they ( BEN BOWLS) and ( RICHARD SHEFFIELD) are attempting to land.

‘’As we approached Carswell, ( AFB TEXAS), smoke was pouring out of the right engine. I told Ben that if it was burning when we stopped on the runway and the fuel pools, it might explode. He agreed. I suggested we fly by the tower and ask them if they could see flames, which we did. Tower said no fire, and we landed.

The fire trucks surrounded us once on the runway, and I could see the fire chief making a large circle with his hands and arms, indicating the size of the hole in the engine.

What we didn’t know at the time was the forty-gallon oil tank in the wing was burning, and this was why shutting off the fuel did not put out the fire. Kelly Johnson, developer and manufacturer of the SR-71, said later that this was the only blackbird that ever flew that was structurally unsound because the right wing had warped due to the heat.

Beale had informed us about taxiing the SR into a hanger. Carswell had cleared out a hanger that had a B-52 in it, and we taxied up to the door. The fire chief saw the fuel leaking out of the wings, like it always did on the ground, and …

stopped us from taxing into the hanger by blocking our way with his truck.

We were forced to shut the engine down outside the hanger, and we knew they didn’t have a tow bar to pull us into the hanger, so the SR would have to sit there until someone flew in the tow bar.

After we got out of the aircraft, the fire chief and Ben got into a heated argument. The chief was saying no one pulls into one of our hangers, dripping fuel. Ben was saying that the fuel wouldn’t burn. The chief didn’t believe him. The fuel was PF-1.( JP-7) It was designed to not explode up to temperatures of 400 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Placing the SR 71 in a hanger was very important. This was 1968; little was known about the SR 71 then, and that’s how they wanted it to remain secret. It took months to repair this SR 71.

Dad and Ben receive the distinguished flying cross for saving this airplane. There was trouble with the 960 later on as it had yet another engine flame out; this SR 71 is on display outside at Castle Air Force Base, California.

Written by Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield and Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats71 via X

[airmanisr]

Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker ‘53130’ “Ole Grandad” by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 17246, l/n 13. Built 1957. US military serial 53-3130. On display at the March Field Museum, Riverside, CA, USA. 28-2-2016 The following extensive history comes from the excellent museum website:- “Manufactured by Boeing, Seattle, Washington and delivered to USAF on 1 August 1957. August 1957 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA March 1958 - To 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA September 1959 - To 924th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA July 1962 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA November 1965 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa January 1966 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA September 1968 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY February 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa April 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY April 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Torrejon Air Base, Spain May 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY May 1970 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX April 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), U-Tapao Air Field, Thailand June 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX August 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Torrejon Air Base, Spain September 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX January 1973 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa April 1973 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX August 1978 - To 43rd Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Andersen AFB, Guam September 1978 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX September 1978 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK November 1978 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX April 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK May 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain May 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK June 1979 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX May 1980 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK June 1980 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX March 1981 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK May 1981 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Hcavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain November 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK January 1983 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX April 1984 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK May 1984 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX December 1984 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK January 1985 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain January 1985 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX June 1985 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK July 1985 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX January 1989 - To 6th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Eielson AFB, AK February 1989 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX January 1990 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK March 1990 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX 1992 - Dropped from Air Force inventory: loss to other organization. Total Flight hours 14,107.5”

[nunoxaviermoreira]

SAC museum, Omaha - B52-B "Stratofortress" by 63842 A last set from our visit here in 1983. The museum moved in 1998 to a new purpose built location near Ashland, Nebraska, providing undercover storage for this wonderful collection. Here we have SAC's big three from the Cold War era, forefront is a Boeing B52-B in the Vietnam camoflage colour scheme, with most of the B36-J behind at left, and the B47-E at right. This example, serial 52-8711 was the first B52 to be delivered to SAC at Castle AFB CA in June 1955. It was retired in September 1965, so may well not have seen service in South East Asia. The museum's website shows this plane now restored in the original SAC natural metal finish. https://flic.kr/p/2ksDMA4

[eviesessays]

38. What is the farthest you have ever traveled?

In 1974, my husband Colonel Philip Pahl was about to be transferred to Hanscom AFB in Bedford, MA.  I was devastated initially as I hoped never to leave my job in Washington.  Easter vacation was approaching and Phil suggested we take advantage of flying on available space for the Easter vacation.  Many more opportunities were available from nearby Andrews AFB than would be at Hanscom.  Heather chose not to go and stayed with a neighbor who had a daughter her age.  Three days before school vacation began we learned that we would be flying to Frankfort, Germany the next day.   We were going with Phil’s son David and my three youngest, Jaylyn, Robin and Peter.  I cautioned them that we were flying free and they were not to utter a word of complaint about accommodations.  As it turned out we were going to Frankfort on an Air Force One backup that was on its way to Vienna to pick up congressmen there for a conference.  It was very comfortable with leather bucket seats and treats replenished by airmen.  Peter came over and whispered to me, “Mom, this isn’t bad at all.”  I guess not.

We rented a car in Frankfort and dared to venture out onto the autoban with no speed limit signs in sight and none seeming to be in use.  Having no command of German we ate some strange meals but what we ate was delicious. We drove along the Rhine and toured a very old castle. We had a tour guide who was glad that there  were Americans and Brits in the group as he did speak English.  However, his strong accent well disguised his bilingualism in Peter’s estimation.  We spent three days in Frankfort and then flew to Madrid, Spain.  We immediately headed to the center to visit the palace but this was Holy Saturday in a very Catholic country.  We were immediately caught up in a sea of people drifting through the streets, dressed in black and praying their rosaries.  We drifted along until we were able to duck into a small cafe that had wonderful pastries and tables to stand at to eat. There we met a Russian visitor with whom Phil struck up a conversation.  Phil had studied Russian at Annapolis and the two of them began quietly singing a little Russian folk song.  at the end he remarked that if people could just get together and sing their folk songs there would be no need for war.  It was a touching moment.

We took the train to Segovia to visit Isabella’s castle where she bid Columbus goodbye before he left for America. There was an old looking woman at the castle gate selling trinkets.  She was dressed all in black and wore a hood. She had a long nose with a long hair growing out the end.  We visited the 700 year old aquaduct that was still in use.  On our return, when Peter’s friend from next door asked what we had seen Peter  told him in detail about the lady selling trinkets outside the palace gate.

We visited the Prado and experiences more of Madrid and then took a train and headed south.  We were advised not to go to Torremolinos as it was overrun by Americans. We headed South to Malaga.  There we visited a very old church and picked oranges off a tree.  We then went on to Fuengerola to our three bedroom apartment on the fifth floor.  It had three balconies looking down on the beach.  We watched an impromptu volley ball game going on below.  Our kids soon joined kids from Germany, Scotland, England and Norway.  the activities director spoke to all in English. The burning question  our kids were asked was, “Is Nixon guilty?”  We could not escape that which consumed all our newscasts at home.  It was the height of the Watergate scandal.

We spent five days in this beautiful place in the sun and  then began to wind our way back home.  The train took us past miles of olive orchards and back to Torrejon AFB where we boarded a cargo plane.  We were strapped to the sides of the plane facing an enormous tightly bound mass of cargo.  The roar of the engines prohibited conversation.  We were headed to Dover, Delaware.  There we were met by our neighbor who drove us home.  

It was a splendid vacation. We had flown 4055 miles to Frankfort and 1478 miles to Madrid. It was 331 miles to Malaga and a few more to Fuengerola.  It was the same 331 back to Madrid and 3781 to Washington. We had traveled more than 10,359 miles .  It was a totally wonderful experience.

I have had many vacations to Italy, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, England, Scotland and Ireland.  I have made several trips to the Canadian Rockies. I have seen the Rockies with Jaylyn, Anne and Diggs.  Peter, Jenn, Kalote and I made the trip from Calgary through the Columbia Ice Fields where we walked out onto the Athabasca Glacier which is now rapidly receding. At Jasper, we turned West and headed to Quesnel for the wedding of Peter’s cousin 

Brian Kolody.  If I were able I would do that trip again on a moment’s notice.  

Although not nearly the longest, one of my favorite trip was to Ireland with Anne.  The car rental place was unable to provide our economy car in our contract so we were forced to drive for ten days in a brand new Jaguar.  Anne could not have been happier. We sampled Guinness beer and Jamison whiskey. We drove to Waterford, the Dingle peninsula, past the hills of Mohar, ferried across Galway Bay and on to Kylemore castle.  We wound our way back to Dublin and our flight home.  Ireland is beautiful.  We were both sad at leaving.  It was  not by far, my longest trip but very memorable.

[okinawafaq]

What are some good touristy things to check out on the island?

Okinawa has a rich history filled with castles, art, music, and more. Here is a non-exhaustive list of a few of the more well-known excursions to check out in Central Okinawa. Google Maps will pull them up, and a regular Google search should answer your questions about visiting them.

Yomitan Pottery Village: An artist collective of pottery shops featuring the work of local craftspeople practicing traditional Okinawan pottery and some glass blowing.

Nago Pineapple Park: This theme park is a brightly-colored, delicious pineapple world.

Shuri Castle: There are a truly amazing number of castles scattered across the island, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sights. Shuri Castle is one that's close to Kadena AFB. Unfortunately, the main hall and adjacent buildings were destroyed in a fire in Oct. 2019. However, the surrounding walls are still quite impressive, and the recovery efforts have been turned into an exhibit in themselves while the castle is being restored. Google up 'Okinawa Castles' for a number of others to visit.

Ryukyu Mura: Also known as Ryukyu Village, this theme park showcases traditional Okinawan culture and life.

Southeast Botanical Gardens: These gorgeous botanical gardens boast more than 30,000 specimens of 1,300 native and non-native species of trees and shrubs, according to their website. They also host animal encounters and workshops.

There are plenty of other things to see and do on the island, but this should get you started. Google 'Things to do in Okinawa' or pick up a local guidebook when you need more ideas.