Carswell Field — first of three

Carswell Field — first part

32º 45′ 57″ N / 97º 25′ 10″ W

What’s in a name?

Carswell Field is on it’s fourth, or is it fifth, name? Regardless, it has a distinguished history of continuing military service. Notably, it was the primary base for the Convair B-36 and RB-36 Peacemakers of the US Air Force. Conveniently the manufacturing facility, in Ft. Worth Texas, adjoined the field on the western side. Although easily reached by flying into one of five nearby airfields, two served by major airlines, it is a military base — so you must be a member of the military, or escorted by a member, to gain entry to the base.

Once there you will find several static displays of the Texas Air Guard, US Navy, US Air Force, US Army and US Marine Corps aircraft. Except for one, all are located along Rogner Drive/Military Parkway with the single exception of a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk liveried as an aggressor aircraft where 4^th Street/Headquarters Avenue intersects “C” Street/Chenault Avenue.

Alas, five aircraft that can be seen in Google Earth on the east side of Rogner Drive/Military Parkway just beyond the main gate are no longer there (I visited in January 2008).

These are the aircraft positioned just inside the main gate:

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk — photo by Joe May

Sikorsky UH-34 Sea Horse of the USMC — photo by Joe May

Further down the road to the north there were:

North American F-86 Sabre — photo by Joe May

Bell UH-1 Huey — photo by Joe May

Nuclear device (atomic bomb) Mk 17, too large and weighty to be carried by any other aircraft but the Convair B-36 Peacekeeper — photo by Joe May

Please watch for the concluding post for Carswell Field on January 12^th and January 14^th.

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