Historic Aircraft @ Castle Airbase, Atwater CA: This is a B-24M on display at Castle Airbase in Atwater, CA. It is one of about 50 aircraft recovered and displayed at the museum. Photo...

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Historic Aircraft @ Castle Airbase, Atwater CA

Mar 13, 2012 18:43:07 #

Stosh Loc: Fresno, CA

This is a B-24M on display at Castle Airbase in Atwater, CA. It is one of about 50 aircraft recovered and displayed at the museum. Photo taken w/ Canon Rebel t3, 18-55mm zoom lens, full auot mode. The power lines and other distracting objects have been edited out using Paint Shop Pro.

Mar 13, 2012 18:49:36 #

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Very nice.

Mar 13, 2012 18:52:22 #

DakotaJW Loc: N. Dakota

Great picture! Wish it was there when I was stationed there.

Mar 13, 2012 19:25:30 #

Stosh Loc: Fresno, CA

Thanks. Their collection is quite impressive. It includes everything from a North American TA-6 "Texan" to a Consolidated-Vultee RB-36H "Peacemaker" which is one of the largest aircraft ever built. It was designed for one purpose: to carry the MK-17 thermo-nuclear bomb, and it is the only aircraft that is capable of doing so.

Mar 13, 2012 20:35:07 #

DakotaJW Loc: N. Dakota

Is the base still operational? It was a B52 training base when I was there.

Mar 13, 2012 22:36:24 #

Stosh Loc: Fresno, CA

No, unfortunately it was closed in 1995, I believe. I was flying south in a Cessna 172 between the runway and the Sierra mountains while a B-52 was northbound on final approach. Talk about a flea on an elephant's behind! I have included a shot of the B-52 and a couple of other aircraft here that are on display.

Mar 14, 2012 07:16:17 #

dfalk Loc: Chugiak, Alaska

Back when I was flying the B-24 and B-17 for the Collings Foundation we did a stop at Castle. It was kind of lonely standing out on that huge aircraft ramp with no noise other than the wind howling through the blast deflectors.

Mar 14, 2012 09:01:36 #

DakotaJW Loc: N. Dakota

So is it being used as some sort of museum now, open to the general public?

Mar 14, 2012 11:54:49 #

Stosh Loc: Fresno, CA

Yes, it is now a museum, open to the public daily, and once a year they open the larger aircraft to the public so you can go inside.

Mar 14, 2012 14:15:20 #

twowindsbear

Do you have a shot of the B-36 showing the back of the wing & the props?

Thanks!

Mar 14, 2012 20:10:00 #

DakotaJW Loc: N. Dakota

Thanks, I'll have to try and get back out there one of these days.

Mar 14, 2012 22:48:34 #

Stosh Loc: Fresno, CA

twowindsbear wrote:

Do you have a shot of the B-36 showing the back of the wing & the props?

Thanks!

No, unfortunately I was with a group and they were getting impatient. I could have spent a whole day shooting there if I had been alone.

Mar 14, 2012 23:45:23 #

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Neat photos. I like how you even captured the old fire cart in the first photo. Those things are major collector's items now.

Mar 15, 2012 00:21:09 #

twowindsbear

Stosh wrote:

twowindsbear wrote:

Do you have a shot of the B-36 showing the back of the wing & the props?

Thanks!

No, unfortunately I was with a group and they were getting impatient. I could have spent a whole day shooting there if I had been alone.

Darn!! Seeing a B-36 reminded me of the Jimmy Stewart movie 'Strategic Air Command.'

I hope to be going to Wright-Pat soon, to the Doolittle Raiders Reunion. This will be the last one. . .

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