Altus, Ok 20 Aug

[GARY HILTON]

At the airport NW of town..C-141 Fuselage


B-47 SE side of town

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for those shots of the B-47, Gary! Ellen and I flew over that airplane lots of times on our way to-and-from Midland last year, but have never been able to see it close-up.

The C-141 fuselage was one of two airframes that were used for loadmaster trainers at Altus AFB. One was cut up for scrap and this one was transported to the civlian airport.

Scott

[coastdef]

Another Altus attraction for at least some warbird fans is the "water bird", a dummy Atlas F missile used to test the elevator mechanisms of the silos in the missile field in the area. It's located in a park a few blocks south of the B-47. I can't find one of my pictures, but this site has an excellent shot:

http://www.siloworld.com/577thSMS/PRESE ... __bird.htm

One of the silos in this field, just outside Frederick, OK, actually suffered a catastrophic explosion during a fueling exercise in 1964. Apparently it generated a bit of excitement in a normally sleepy town!

Regards,

Andy

[Brad]

Thanks for those shots of the B-47, Gary! Ellen and I flew over that airplane lots of times on our way to-and-from Midland last year, but have never been able to see it close-up.

The C-141 fuselage was one of two airframes that were used for loadmaster trainers at Altus AFB. One was cut up for scrap and this one was transported to the civlian airport.

Scott

I'll be happy to take all the pictures you want of it pretty soon. I'm moving to that desolate little piece of Oklahoma in November!

[Second Air Force]

Yeah, it is a little barren out in that neck of the (lack of) woods, Brad! Altus was the bright spot on our trips back and forth to MAF, though--it's just about halfway between home and Midland and we had to make a five degree course correction that usually woke me up for a few minutes. I did get a kick out of crossing over the field with three or four big monsters in the pattern below me.

Scott

[Jack Cook]

I'm moving to that desolate little piece of Oklahoma in November!

Brad,
I heard the Prairie Dog is quite lovely sauted to a golden brown and gently laided over a rice pilaf.

[GARY HILTON]

Actually Jack, take a coupla P-dogs, barbque sauce, and some okra..a tasty treat for the p-nut farmers in the area!

[Glen]

Thanks for those shots of the B-47, Gary! Ellen and I flew over that airplane lots of times on our way to-and-from Midland last year, but have never been able to see it close-up.

The C-141 fuselage was one of two airframes that were used for loadmaster trainers at Altus AFB. One was cut up for scrap and this one was transported to the civlian airport.

Scott

I'll be happy to take all the pictures you want of it pretty soon. I'm moving to that desolate little piece of Oklahoma in November!

Well at least you are one step closer to getting back to Texas

[Curtis Block]

I just had the thought of many brightly painted Prairie Dogs scampering around the base.

If you all are lucky, maybe Brad will relate the story.

That's what I want pictures of.

[Brad]

Curt,

Those were "Dak Rats" basically ground squirrells up in North Dakota. Prarie Dogs are a lot bigger. Painting those dang things got me in trouble but it was worth it at the time!

Jack,

Praire dog is a lot like eating Possum or Armadillo. Once you render them down, there isn't much left. What is left is just nasty tasting. Sand Hill Cranes don't taste much better.

Glen,

Getting closer to my ancestrial and tribal home of Snyder By-God Texas is one of my many alterior motives for taking this assignment! Mainly it is to avoid UAVs!

[Curtis Block]

I knew they weren't Prairie Dogs (I couldn't remember exactly what they were) but the thought of colorful, ground dwelling rodents, running around another Air Force base made me laugh.

[EDowning]

Brad,

Although I can't think of much that is great about making that PCS, it is pretty close to STL, so you can always come up and go fly the Spad with me. (P.S.- I already have my own 3350 manuals, but you'll have to bring your own tea set.)

[Curtis Block]

Now you've done it Ed.

You'll never get rid of him.

[Brad]

Brad,

Although I can't think of much that is great about making that PCS, it is pretty close to STL, so you can always come up and go fly the Spad with me. (P.S.- I already have my own 3350 manuals, but you'll have to bring your own tea set.)

Eric,

I'll take you up on the Spad flying!! That's only about 9hrs away...sounds like a nice motorcycle ride is in order! I'll pack tea set carefully in the saddlebags!

Brent Hisey has our old Spad out in OKC. Maybe he'll let me mess with it from time to time.

Brad