Big Spring, Texas [Hanger 25 Museum + Vietnam Memorial]

[viking73]

Over the holidays visiting my in-laws I decided to drive out to Big Spring, TX since I was close to check out the Hanger 25 Museum (located at the site of the former Webb AFB) and also the Vietnam Memorial there.

The Vietnam Memorial is well done and has a Cobra, Huey, and F-4E all nicely mounted on poles.






The Hanger 25 Museum was nearly closed when I arrived but I’m glad that I made it on time. The aircraft (while closely-parked) and nice selection of related Webb AFB artifacts on display pleasantly surprised me. The high light for me (and also the local school children I was told, LOL) was the B-52G cockpit section that is open so you can get in and crawl around inside. The T-37 was saved from a pole I was told and so that's the reason for the dolly instead of its own gear.





















The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly, and as I was talking to them they mentioned two other aircraft about a mile away at the main airport terminal that also belong to the museum. I short drive later and I was happy to see another T-Bird and also this nice looking F-100F.







If you are ever near the Big Spring area, I'd recommend a visit to the Hanger 25 Museum! While small in size, it was well worth the stop.

And finally, right off I-20 in Stanton there is this UH-1F/P Huey mounted on a pole at Sam’s Surplus Store. The interior has netting all secured in place to keep out birds since the chin bubbles and doors are missing. I didn’t see any s/n anywhere on this Huey, and so I don’t suppose anyone would know her identity?





I also had a great visit at the CAF Headquarters as well on the same day.

Next time I’m visiting the in-laws, I think I need to drive to Slaton to visit the Texas Air Museum, Caprock Chapter...

-Derek

[Taylor Stevenson]

Thats a heck of a throttle quadrant on the B-52! I'd hate to have to take one of those apart!

[viking73]

Thats a heck of a throttle quadrant on the B-52! I'd hate to have to take one of those apart!

I thought that too. B-52 pilots must all have big hands!!!

[mattsb2000]

Awesome pictures. I want to go inside a B-52

[RMAllnutt]

That's a cool looking T-33 in desert camo. Never seen one look like that before... is it an appropriate scheme? Regardless, it looks great! Thanks for posting the photos.

Cheers,
Richard

[viking73]

That's a cool looking T-33 in desert camo. Never seen one look like that before... is it an appropriate scheme?

Well it's not an accurate USAF paint scheme, that's for sure It's a civil owned T-Bird (N5848F) on long term loan to the museum so I guess the owner just painted it as he liked.

[cozmo]

Nice pictures. You didn't feel like climbing that big hill behind the memorial to get a panorama either?

[viking73]

Nice pictures. You didn't feel like climbing that big hill behind the memorial to get a panorama either?

Thanks cozmo. No, I wasn't up to a climb/hike that day, but maybe next time. Plus it was late in the day so I think the sun might have spoiled it!

[mlenoch]

Viking:
Isn't the 'brown' T-33 a flyer? It is not grounded or such?
Thx,
VL

[Andy Marden]

Derek,
Thanks for posting the interesting report, the F-100 looks like it has been recently restored, it has gained an England tailcode since I last saw a report of it.
The museum should also have airworthy AT-11 (41-9503)/TC-929/N88KD (on loan from its owner) and AV-8C 159238 - did you see either of those?
Finally, can any Buff experts confirm the serial of the B-52 cockpit, which came from Goodfellow AFB. I see that one of the seats is from B-52G 58-0232, which was scrapped at AMARC in 1995. Did its cockpit survive maybe?
Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

[viking73]

Derek,
Thanks for posting the interesting report, the F-100 looks like it has been recently restored, it has gained an England tailcode since I last saw a report of it.
The museum should also have airworthy AT-11 (41-9503)/TC-929/N88KD (on loan from its owner) and AV-8C 159238 - did you see either of those?
Finally, can any Buff experts confirm the serial of the B-52 cockpit, which came from Goodfellow AFB. I see that one of the seats is from B-52G 58-0232, which was scrapped at AMARC in 1995. Did its cockpit survive maybe?
Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

Hi Andy,

Glad you liked the photos. I had a blast going there. Yes, the AT-11 is there but due to the space and the sun coming through the windows I couldn't get a good shot of her. He's one:





The Harrier was outside of the hanger doors and is there. I regret that I didn't take the time to get any pics of her before the museum closed but I got there like 30 minutes before closing time and was in a hurry. Plus I think I was still dizzy from my B-52 cockpit visit I'll have to visit again in the near future and get some Harrier shots for you Andy, I promise!

Several of the other seats were also marked with 58-0232. This was on the left side of the nose, does it mean anything? The docent there told me that the nose section came from a "wrecked" B-52 at Goodfellow AFB so that much checks out.





I e-mailed the museum today to ask them what the serials are on the T-28 and T-38 there (or maybe you already know them?), shall I send them another one and see if they can confirm the I.D. of the "G" nose?

-Derek

[retroaviation]

Viking:
Isn't the 'brown' T-33 a flyer? It is not grounded or such?
Thx,
VL

The brown T-33, the T-28A, and the AT-11 all belong to Russell Madden, of Denton, TX. The airplanes are just on loan to the Hangar 25 Museum. The are indeed all flyable, although they're out of annual.

Gary

[JBoyle]

Goodfellow is the USAF firefighter traing base. That's why they had a B-52 nose there. I've been to the Museum and the B-52 was used as a atraing aid to get crew out of smoke-filled cockpit.
Goodfellow does not have an active runway, and San Angelo's Mathis Field is too short for a B-52 (maybe landing with a bit of luck), but its a fair guess to say it was trucked there.

The T-37 doesn't have gear becasue it was last mounted on a pylon at Williams. I was told that the lower fuselage was filled with cement.

[Chris]

Is this museum anywhere Connie Edwards place?

[warbird1]

In these 2 pictures, the name struck out at me. It says Lt. Col. George A. Holland II.

Could it be the same as the infamous Lt. Col "Bud" Holland who crashed the Fairchild B-52 back in 1994? That is one of the most famous case studies of a lack of leadership and CRM failure in the Air Force. It is taught at many of the USAF Leadership schools of what NOT to do.

Here is a quick primer on what happened:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Fairc ... B-52_crash


Here is video of the B-52 crash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUEhNKBi4DY

Anyone know if it's the same Lt. Col. Holland?