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.
Great picture! Wish it was there when I was stationed there.
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.
Is the base still operational? It was a B52 training base when I was there.
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.
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.
So is it being used as some sort of museum now, open to the general public?
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.
Do you have a shot of the B-36 showing the back of the wing & the props?
Thanks!
Thanks, I'll have to try and get back out there one of these days.
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.
Neat photos. I like how you even captured the old fire cart in the first photo. Those things are major collector's items now.
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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