Sheppard AFB static displays (pics)
Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:05 pm
I rode the motorcyle down to Wichita Falls (and like to froze to death... Global warming my butt) and took some pictures of the static displays for yalls viewing pleasure.
There is about thirty or forty other Herks, KC-135s, various fighters and trainers that are used for the various training schools that go on down there. I didn't take pictures of any of them except this B-52. That I only took because I thought the paint job was interesting.
There are props from a P-47 and a P-40 on display:
These planes are on what I'm assuming is the scrap pile (note the Herk wings laying on the ground), or possibly just waiting to be moved somewhere else.
The rest of the planes in no particular order.
There is about thirty or forty other Herks, KC-135s, various fighters and trainers that are used for the various training schools that go on down there. I didn't take pictures of any of them except this B-52. That I only took because I thought the paint job was interesting.
There are props from a P-47 and a P-40 on display:
These planes are on what I'm assuming is the scrap pile (note the Herk wings laying on the ground), or possibly just waiting to be moved somewhere else.
The rest of the planes in no particular order.
Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:18 pm
NO HERC PICTURES!!! 
That place has a lot of memories for the start of many AF mechanics careers... Thanks for posting.
That place has a lot of memories for the start of many AF mechanics careers... Thanks for posting.
Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:38 pm
Nice pictures, thanks. Is Sheppard one of the bases that is now off limits to civilians?
Also, if you are looking for something else around those parts, there is an Army aviation museum at Fort Sill. I don't know what kind of shape it is in these days. But they were redoing the artillery museum last year.
Also, if you are looking for something else around those parts, there is an Army aviation museum at Fort Sill. I don't know what kind of shape it is in these days. But they were redoing the artillery museum last year.
Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 pm
Isn't that first B-52 the H that NASA replaced 008 with?
Scott
Scott
Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:57 pm
Good pic Brad, thanks for sharing them!
-Derek
-Derek
Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:39 pm
AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!! Flashbacks!!!!! 
Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:58 pm
Great to see these birds!
I tried to get on base last year to see the statics and was told...no way...
Carswell, Randolph, Dyess, Sheppard, Kirtland, Tinker, Lackland...etc. Since 2001 I have asked at all of these bases...at the gate, on the phone...and by letter for a few...all have said ... NO!
I'm not a military guy. My next door neigbor and his wife go to Carswell (Navy Ft. Worth) all the time...he's been out of the Air Force since 1972...
Don't get me wrong...I understand security...its just that I used to be able to drive to the display areas of these bases and see the statics. (should have brought the camera more often back then)
Heck, I even walked on the ramp at Randolph in the 1980's
Is Sheppard one of the bases that is now off limits to civilians?
I tried to get on base last year to see the statics and was told...no way...
Carswell, Randolph, Dyess, Sheppard, Kirtland, Tinker, Lackland...etc. Since 2001 I have asked at all of these bases...at the gate, on the phone...and by letter for a few...all have said ... NO!
I'm not a military guy. My next door neigbor and his wife go to Carswell (Navy Ft. Worth) all the time...he's been out of the Air Force since 1972...
Don't get me wrong...I understand security...its just that I used to be able to drive to the display areas of these bases and see the statics. (should have brought the camera more often back then)
Heck, I even walked on the ramp at Randolph in the 1980's
Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:52 pm
The B-52F, FB-111 and C-131 were all active trainers when I was there(Sept-Oct 78)
Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:42 pm
Interesting story about the T-38 on the pole... up it's keaster.... way back in the mid-80's when I was in 38's it was on a touch and go when it hit a flock of birds... both the student and the instructor punched.... and the airplane landed on the access road to the freeway just west of the base.... no major damage.... but they didn't return it to service... stuck it on that pole instead (previous accidents that year had been a bird strike flameout and a final turn stall that killed both the pilots).
gunny
gunny
Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:23 pm
Second Air Force wrote:Isn't that first B-52 the H that NASA replaced 008 with?
Scott
Yup, sure is..and the first -H to be retired.
As for seeing the base "petting zoos", if any of y'all happen to be down this way, I can sign you in as a guest to Goodfellow to see the MiGs and other assorted stuff here.
Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:16 am
The F-105 is in front of my old dorm, back when I was stationed there in the early part of 1984.
It was the only one of the birds I remember that had working nav lights, after the sun went down.
I have many of the same pictures from back then, too.
Interesting!
and thanks for the memories.
Leon
It was the only one of the birds I remember that had working nav lights, after the sun went down.
I have many of the same pictures from back then, too.
Interesting!
and thanks for the memories.
Leon