Most of the time you will find me out at the San Marcos airport in the CAF Hanger working on WWII aircraft, maintaining the hanger electrical system that is as old as I am, and trying to keep all the old AGE equipment running, for you Navy guys that is GSE. I will be there on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. When you walk into the hanger is just like walking into a hanger in WWII. We have on display a B-25, P-39 (the only one in the world that is currently flying, P-63, 2 T-6 Texans, T-34, replica of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter ( "Zeke" ) that was used in the movie Tora Tora Tora (a T-6 Texan airframe was modified to look like a A6M Zero Fighter,) a replica of a NakajimaB5N1/2 Kate (This is a modified T-6 with a BT-13 tail section), that was used in Tora Tora Tora and in the movie Pearl Harbor, an L-4 Laison plane, T-33, and three Nanchang CJ-6s.
The Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force
1841 Airport Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666 Phone (512) 396-1943
The Commemorative Air Force ( CAF) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and flying the combat aircraft flown by the Allies during World War II (1939 - 1945).The Commemorative Air Force was founded to acquire, restore and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans. The CAF is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and flying the combat aircraft flown by the Allies during WWII (1939-1945). The original name of the CAF was the Confederate Air Force.
The Central Texas (Centex) Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is located at the San Marcos Municipal Airport, in the only remaining 1943 vintage wooden hangar on the airport. Visitors are invited to tour the WW II Artifacts Exhibit and the display dedicated to the Doolittle Raiders. The Stokes Memorial Library contains the personal aircraft memorabilia collection of John Stokes, founder of the Centex Wing. We do flyovers ballgames, parades, and other activities. We perform Missing Man formations for Warriors that have gone West and perform at air shows. Hank Potter who was Doolittle's Navigator on the raid was also one of out founding members.
Museum and Hanger Operating Hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday
09:00 to 16:00
Other Comments:
If you are passing through San Marcos, give me a call and I will get you into see the aircraft and WWII museum. That is on the off days.
BAF
Before the Air Force
Hawkins Field, Jackson, MS
(known as Jackson Army Air Force Base
during WWII which was closed shortly
after the War.)
&
John Bell Williams Field, Raymond, MS
1955 - 1965
1. Lockheed Super Constellations (Connies) I worked on the service crew at Hawkins Field, in those days in Jackson.
2. Douglas DC-3s Delta and Southern Air Line (service crew) My first airplane ride was on a Southern DC-3, the girl I was dating at this time father was the Station Manager for Southern in Jackson.
3. Lockheed C-60 Lodestar (This aircraft was being used as a Mirex bomber fighting the fire ant problem in Mississippi.
4. Ryan L-17 Navion
5. Aero 500 Aero Commander
6. Lockheed/Vega Aircraft Company division PV-1/B-34 In the 50s and 60 Howard Aero in San Antonio, TX made conversions and called them Super Venturas, I think the aircraft I worked on belonged to Miller Enterprises in Jackson.
7. PT-17 Stearman, at a crop dusters in Rapides Parish south of Alexandra, LA.
8. Douglas DC-4s, DC-6s and DC-7s Delta Air Lines. Working on the service crew.
9. Beechcraft C-45; The Beechcraft Model 18, or "Twin Beech", as it was better known, is a 6-11 place, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft that was manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. This model saw military service during and after World War II in a number of versions including the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, AT-11 Kansan; and for the United States Navy (USN), UC-45J Navigator and the SNB-1 Kansan.
Aircraft that I have worked on since retiring from the USAF.
Texas Instruments, INC McKinney, TX & Robins AFB, GA
1. I worked on the TFR portion of the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) on the F-111 & EF-111. Worked in McKinney as an Engineering Tech conducting environmental test on the DFLT (Flight Test Set). Moved to Robins as a Logistic Rep and supported the system during the 1st Gulf War. Moved back to McKinney in 1992.
Central Texas Wing
of the
Commemorative Air Force
San Marcos, Texas
1. North American B-25J Mitchel Bomber "Yellow Rose"
2. Bell P-39Q Aerocobra "Miss Connie"
3. Bell P-63 Kingcobra
4. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
5. North American T-6A Texan. This aircraft is configured as one of the AT-6s used in Korea as a FAC, it carried 2.75 Willy P tipped rockets (smoke rockets) that was used to mark the target for the fighters and bombers. They were given the nickname of "Mosquito Bomber."
7. Beechcraft T-34 Mentor.
8. Mitsubishi A6M Zero replica This is a modified T-6 that was built for the movie "Tora,Tora,Tora".
9. Nakajima B5N1 Kate replica This is a modified T-6 with a BT-13 tail section, this aircraft was also modified for the movie "Tora,Tora,Tora and was used in the movie "Pearl Harbor" also.
10. Nanchang CJ-6 A common, but erroneous, belief is that the CJ-6 is a Chinese version of the Russian Yak-18A. It's predecessor, the Nanchang CJ-5, was a Yak-18 design built under license in China. The Nanchang CJ-6 is an aircraft designed and built in China for use by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a basic trainer.
11. Piper L-4 Grasshopper The J-3/L-4 (Piper Cub) not only introduced uncounted thousands of aspiring military aviators the basics of flying. It also became versatile workhorse of the battlefields of WWII. Remember Henry Fonda looking for the German Tanks during the Battle of the Burgle in The Longest Day, he was in an L-4.
Best Friends SMsgt Bert Ketchum was out expediter in AMS on Mid Shift and we both rented a bungalow from the same lady in town. I lived in the bungalow behind his bungalow. Him and I made a few trips into the jungles while we were there. Bert and I knew each other at Hurlburt Fld and England AFB while with the Air Commandos, needless to say when we went into the jungles we were prepared. We also went on boat rides that took us even deeper into the jungles.
Best Moment Yes, it was all worth it! Written for all Maintenance Types by Robert F. Clinton The Letter: Dec 18 19:33:54 1996
Subject: From another Son of Satan's Angels
I don't know if you're called Bob or not. I do know that after having visited every single corner of your web page, I feel like I've known you for decades. I was an F-4 GIB in the 433rd TFS from September of '67 to May of '68. At some point, I must have taken a Phantom into battle which had your fingerprints on it. I have the deepest respect for every one of you marvelous men who sent us into combat with flying machines which, in my case at least, brought us back home all in one piece. I flew 125 missions, including 100 over North Vietnam, and 31 of those into Route Pack VI. It occurs to me that I - and a lot of other aviators like me -owe our lives to you. I want to express to you my profoundest gratitude and best wishes for God's richest blessings. You certainly deserve it. Again, thank you for a long career of devoted service to your country. I hope to hear from you in the near future. -- The Answer:
As I read this letter, the beleaguered events of three decades past flashed vividly through my mind. Then... the tears started to slide down my cheeks as the words slowly etched their way into my brain. I remembered those dark times, the terrible hard work, the endless hours on the flight line, the sacrifices we all made, ...for one thing, ...THE MISSION.
So long ago, were those days, now tucked neatly in to a remote memory bank somewhere within my mind. In a flash, ...all returned, so far away, yet...so real! One can really never truly forget! Things back then moved at a never ending pace and most of us "maintenance troops" seemed lost in the everyday shuffle of the war. The challenge of just keeping up sometimes seemed an insurmountable task in its' self. The 12 plus hour shifts, the heat and sweat, bad food, no sleep, the no days off, the endless frag, day in day out, week in week out, month after month, through it all we just grinned, endured, and did our best to insure a Code1 jet with 100% weapons was ready for the drivers when they came to take charge of their gallant steeds and fly off to the fierce air battles then taking place over the north. We all had a quiet respect and affection for these courageous men and what emanate dangers they faced in the skies beyond. We never shared in their glory, nor did we ask to. Our glory went beyond all that, for we all knew how to tame the beast, cure it's ails, and have it ready to fight again in the next go. We patched her wounds, armed her guns and bombs, fixed that always unfixable radar, poured countless thousands of gallons of JP-4 in to her seemingly always empty tanks, and dripped our sweat upon her skin in the always too hot Asian sun. We didn't ask for medals, nor glory, just seeing the drivers safely step down from the cockpit , with a smile on his face after a successful mission, was enough for us. For then, we all knew we had done our job. I read the letter again and then knew this was not just written just to personally thank me, but to thank all those countless guys and gals that "tamed the beast," not just during the Vietnam war, but every day, and at every air force base through out the world. Ours always has seemed like an endless and thankless job, always has, probably always will be, but still it is our job. A most important job. Our reward, a successfully completed mission, the safe return of the pilots, and the safe return of our precious flying machine so generously loaned out for the days fray in the skies above.
Worst Moment Copy the link below into your browser and it will take you to the 8th TFW's wall. The year I was there and 1969 were two of the deadliest years for the Wolf Pack. View the photos at the bottom of this assignment profile and see the names on the wall.
Copy this link in your browser The 8th TFW Wall http://www.8tfw.com/pages/thewall.htm
Chain of Command Col Jim Young took command of the 8th TFW about halfway through my year there. He had been in a P-51 Accident and his face was in bad shape from the burns he received. One side had been reconstructed and the other had not, so when you had to go see him depending on which side he sat you on you knew weither you were gettin a Ata boy or an ass chewing. Once I got here to San Marcos and the CAF come to find out that one of our members had followed Col Young around in the Air Force and took over the command behind him. He told me some fairly good stories about Col Young.
Other Memories Ubon was a real neat place to be stationed. It had the nickname of Eglin East. You talk about Buck Rogers systems we had Buck Rogers systems. All the magical systems they talk about in the gulf wars, well we had the grandfathers of those systems in the late 60s and early 70s at good old Ubon Ratchathani. Every F-4D, B-57s, AC-130A/E had some type of mod on it. MCAIR had a whole room full of Engineers and Techs, in addition to them we had close to 500 Civilian Tech Reps and Engineers from all the different companies that were testing the different systems at that time. In the Loran shop, part of the Nav shop we had Duwaye Stillwell from LSI (the company that designed and built the ARN-101 DMAS) in this case they built the Computer, and an Engineer from ITT who built the digital receiver in the ARN-92. If you had a problem on an aircraft that did not make any sense, you could go the MCAIR folks and in almost all cases they would come up with an answer or send you to someone that could give you an answer. Some of the systems we had were:The Westinghouse AN/ASQ-152(V)-2 Pave Spike, AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife, AVQ-11 Pave Sword, AVQ-9 Pave Light, Pave Fire. The system I worked on was the ARN-92. AN/ARN-92 LORAN-D equipment was fitted to Pave Phantom F-4Ds. They could be identified by a rather prominent "towel-rail" antenna on the upper rear fuselage behind the rear cockpit. A total of 72 aircraft from blocks 32 and 33 were so equipped. In Vietnam, the primary mission of these Pave Phantom F-4Ds was the seeding of the Ho Chi Minh trail with sensors, which required the precise nighttime navigational capability provided by LORAN. The primary operators of the "towel-rail" F-4Ds were the 25th and 497th TFS of the 8th TFW and the 555th TFS of the 432nd TFW. Subsequently, these planes were passed along to the 457th TFS of the 301st TFW, the 23rd TFS of the 52nd TFW, and the 704th TFS of the 924th TFG.
Copy this link in your browser Ode to the F-4 http://www.8tfw.com/pages/ode.htm
The Central Texas Wing 
