Castle Air Museum, Atwater California 2019
Taken By: James Lupas, Tracy Cal
Saturday 12th of January 2019
A tour of the Castle Air Museum (Atwater, California) - Outdoor Section
This video shows the outdoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
When the closure of Castle Air Force Base was announced in 1994, a group of dedicated enthusiasts in the Atwater-Merced area formed a non-profit organization called the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Their purpose was to assume custody of the collection of aircraft. It was their dream to build a museum in which faithfully restored historic aircraft could be exhibited for public enjoyment.
Castle Air Museum represents history in a way the whole family can share with our awe-inspiring majestic warbirds. To stand under the wing of the Convair RB-36H Peacemaker or the Boeing B-52, you can imagine the sky around the bombers filled with enemy fighters!
Then there's the B-25 Mitchell, similar to the planes Jimmy Doolittle led off the carrier U.S.S. Hornet during this country's first desperate attempt to bomb Tokyo. The B-29 is here too... the bomber that ended World War II in the Pacific.
On the other end of the spectrum are the B-47 Stratojet and the British Avro Vulcan B.2... this nuclear bomber was the first of it's type to be put on display in the United States... and from our closest allie and northern neighbour Canada, comes the Avro Canada (A.V. Roe Canada, Ltd.) CF-100 Canuck Mk V... the first straight-winged aircraft to ever break the sound barrier!
Website
Opening Times
Summer/Fall: April 1 - September 30 -- 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Fall/Winter: October 1 - March 31 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Prices
Adults: $10.00
Seniors (60+): $8.00
Youths (6-17): $8.00
Children 5 & under (with paid adult): FREE
Active duty military personnel (with I.D.): FREE
A tour of the Castle Air Museum (Atwater, California) - Indoor Section
This video shows the indoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
When the closure of Castle Air Force Base was announced in 1994, a group of dedicated enthusiasts in the Atwater-Merced area formed a non-profit organization called the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Their purpose was to assume custody of the collection of aircraft. It was their dream to build a museum in which faithfully restored historic aircraft could be exhibited for public enjoyment.
Castle Air Museum represents history in a way the whole family can share with our awe-inspiring majestic warbirds. To stand under the wing of the Convair RB-36H Peacemaker or the Boeing B-52, you can imagine the sky around the bombers filled with enemy fighters!
Then there's the B-25 Mitchell, similar to the planes Jimmy Doolittle led off the carrier U.S.S. Hornet during this country's first desperate attempt to bomb Tokyo. The B-29 is here too... the bomber that ended World War II in the Pacific.
On the other end of the spectrum are the B-47 Stratojet and the British Avro Vulcan B.2... this nuclear bomber was the first of it's type to be put on display in the United States... and from our closest allie and northern neighbour Canada, comes the Avro Canada (A.V. Roe Canada, Ltd.) CF-100 Canuck Mk V... the first straight-winged aircraft to ever break the sound barrier!
Website
Opening Times
Summer/Fall: April 1 - September 30 -- 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Fall/Winter: October 1 - March 31 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Prices
Adults: $10.00
Seniors (60+): $8.00
Youths (6-17): $8.00
Children 5 & under (with paid adult): FREE
Active duty military personnel (with I.D.): FREE
A tour of the indoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
This video shows the indoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
When the closure of Castle Air Force Base was announced in 1994, a group of dedicated enthusiasts in the Atwater-Merced area formed a non-profit organization called the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Their purpose was to assume custody of the collection of aircraft. It was their dream to build a museum in which faithfully restored historic aircraft could be exhibited for public enjoyment.
Castle Air Museum represents history in a way the whole family can share with our awe-inspiring majestic warbirds. To stand under the wing of the Convair RB-36H Peacemaker or the Boeing B-52, you can imagine the sky around the bombers filled with enemy fighters!
Then there's the B-25 Mitchell, similar to the planes Jimmy Doolittle led off the carrier U.S.S. Hornet during this country's first desperate attempt to bomb Tokyo. The B-29 is here too... the bomber that ended World War II in the Pacific.
On the other end of the spectrum are the B-47 Stratojet and the British Avro Vulcan B.2... this nuclear bomber was the first of it's type to be put on display in the United States... and from our closest allie and northern neighbour Canada, comes the Avro Canada (A.V. Roe Canada, Ltd.) CF-100 Canuck Mk V... the first straight-winged aircraft to ever break the sound barrier!
Website
Opening Times
Summer/Fall: April 1 - September 30 -- 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Fall/Winter: October 1 - March 31 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Prices
Adults: $10.00
Seniors (60+): $8.00
Youths (6-17): $8.00
Children 5 & under (with paid adult): FREE
Active duty military personnel (with I.D.): FREE
Open Cockpit Day - Castle Air Museum - Castle Air Force Base
Yesterday, Castle Air Museum formally known as Castle Air Force Base hosted their annual Open Cockpit Day in Atwater, California.
The Open Cockpit Day is a chance for the general public to get a closer look inside the World War 2 and Cold War Era War Planes. Each plane is staffed with a volunteer who is on hand to give tours of each aircraft.
The Castle Air Museum is open to the public 7 days a week. On an average day the public is allowed access to the indoor museum and is able to view the outside of the aircraft.
To find out more information about the Castle Air Museum check out their website at: castleairmuseum.org .
Castle Air Force Base (1941--1995) is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located northeast of Atwater, northwest of Merced and about 123 miles (198 km) east southeast of San Francisco, California.
The base, located in unincorporated Merced County, was closed after the end of the Cold War in 1995. It is now known as the Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center.
Castle AFB was named in honor of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle (1908--1944) on 17 January 1946. When on Christmas Eve 1944 near Liege, Belgium, seven Messerschmitts set General Castle's B-17 Flying Fortress afire, he remained at the controls while his crew bailed out. He bravely refused to release his bombs over territory occupied by friendly forces, and died with the pilot when the aircraft exploded. General Castle received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
The facility was officially renamed Castle Air Force Base on 13 January 1948 as part of the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate military service.
The end of the Cold War brought many changes to the Air Force, and Castle AFB was selected for closure under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 during Round II Base Closure Commission deliberations (BRAC 91).
On 1 June 1992 the 93d was relieved from assignment to SAC and was reassigned to the newly-formed Air Combat Command (ACC). It was then redesignated as the 93d Bomb Wing and its B-52G aircraft given the ACC tail code of CA and carried blue tail stripes. The 328d Bomb Squadron was inactivated 3 May 1994, and the wing was placed on non-operational status.
However, the 93d continued to supervise the closure of Castle AFB. The 93d Bomb Wing was inactivated on 30 September 1995 with the closure of Castle AFB.
Just four months later, however, it was redesignated as the 93d Air Control Wing and was reactivated at Robins AFB, Georgia on 29 January 1996. It was equipped with the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) and it accepted its first production aircraft on 11 June 1996.
As of 2008, local government plans to convert the dormant facility to civilian commercial use has become an active political issue.[citation needed] It has been identified as the preferred location for the central maintenance facility of the proposed California High-Speed Rail system.
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Castle Air Force Museum Base Open Cockpit Day Castle Air Museum Castle Air Force Base Open Cockpit Day Atwater California Merced County Castle Air Museum information information interview news story report news story Castle Air Museum hours Castle Air Museum location location special event airplanes air show airplane show world war 2 planes air museum California Museum Atwater California Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle
Castle Air Museums Open Cockpit Day ,Memorial Day Weekend 2017
Over Memorial Day 2017 ,Castle Air Museum Had 1 of Their Twice a Year Open Cockpit Days for their Collection ,which includes these aircraft and More ,SR-71,B 25, B 17 , B 24 , Arvo Vulcan, B 52, B 36 , F-15 , F-16 , F-14 , F-4 ,AND MORE.
Castle AFB Newcomer video
Castle AFB was my first duty assignment. I arrived in December 1991 and stayed until the base closed. I worked within the Support Group while there and most likely acquired this tape during my stint working in the Support Group Commander's office or from my association with the Airman's Attic. I didn't keep the tape for any particular reason. I carried the VHS tape around over my 20 year AF career and finally got around to making this digital copy.
It makes me very happy to share this video with everyone who has a connection to Castle.
Manuel Dichner revisits B-24 bomber at Atwater museum
World War II veteran Manuel Dichner, 91, who served aboard a B-24 bomber as navigator, revisits a similar plane at Castle Air Museum in Atwater. Dichner will take part in an Honor Flight to Washington DC in June.
Highly anticipated aircraft arrives at Castle Air Museum
An F-16 Fighting Falcon that served with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard out of Fresno arrived at Castle Air Museum in Atwater on Monday after a journey from Tucson, Ariz.
California: Drive Through Former Castle AFB, Atwater, 6/2/15
A drive through the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California, on June 2, 2015.
In 1946, the base was named Castle Army Air Field to honor Brigadier General Frederick Castle, who had been killed in action in 1944. In 1995, when the AFB was officially closed, and after the more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel moved away, it left Atwater, Merced, and the other surrounding areas with a huge economic downfall. I remember many houses with either for sale or rent signs, and many apartment buildings with vacancies offering move-in incentives (i.e. sign a 1 year lease, get the first two months free, etc.). It had been common to see military personnel walking around town in their uniforms and flight suits, and to hear the planes overhead. It was odd when all of that was gone.
I was not in the military, but had been on the base several times as a guest. For many years after it was closed, the buildings went unoccupied. Slowly, private companies moved in and set up shop. The airfield is still used, but for private planes.
For those of you who were stationed at Castle AFB and are curious as to what it looks like now, here you go!
Just a side note, the valley is suffering from a severe drought and most people and businesses are conserving water by not watering.
Enjoy!
DASH CAM: Garmin 20 with GPS, 1080p (
Air Museum in Atwater, California
Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.
Did you know that you can actually explore a retired Air Force One plane that piloted Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton? YUP! And the best news is it’s right here in the great state of California! This expansive museum displays a plethora of military planes that were actually used by the military and each one has its own rich history. The docents are extremely knowledgeable as most of them were in the military themselves and you will see what a passion they have for each of these vessels and the ability to preserve the planes and tell their stories.
A tour of the outdoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
This video shows the outdoor section of the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA!
When the closure of Castle Air Force Base was announced in 1994, a group of dedicated enthusiasts in the Atwater-Merced area formed a non-profit organization called the Castle Air Museum Foundation, Inc. Their purpose was to assume custody of the collection of aircraft. It was their dream to build a museum in which faithfully restored historic aircraft could be exhibited for public enjoyment.
Castle Air Museum represents history in a way the whole family can share with our awe-inspiring majestic warbirds. To stand under the wing of the Convair RB-36H Peacemaker or the Boeing B-52, you can imagine the sky around the bombers filled with enemy fighters!
Then there's the B-25 Mitchell, similar to the planes Jimmy Doolittle led off the carrier U.S.S. Hornet during this country's first desperate attempt to bomb Tokyo. The B-29 is here too... the bomber that ended World War II in the Pacific.
On the other end of the spectrum are the B-47 Stratojet and the British Avro Vulcan B.2... this nuclear bomber was the first of it's type to be put on display in the United States... and from our closest allie and northern neighbour Canada, comes the Avro Canada (A.V. Roe Canada, Ltd.) CF-100 Canuck Mk V... the first straight-winged aircraft to ever break the sound barrier!
Website
Opening Times
Summer/Fall: April 1 - September 30 -- 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Fall/Winter: October 1 - March 31 -- 10:00am - 4:00pm
Prices
Adults: $10.00
Seniors (60+): $8.00
Youths (6-17): $8.00
Children 5 & under (with paid adult): FREE
Active duty military personnel (with I.D.): FREE
Castle Air Museum
Peek into the past and get insight on the evolution of aviation with a visit to Castle Air Museum in Atwater!
Castle AFB Atwater CA, Merced County
William Joel's sojourn - Castle AFB, is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located northeast of Atwater, northwest of Merced and about 123 Miles east southeast of San Francisco, California.
The base, located in unincorporated Merced County, was closed after the end of the Cold War in 1995. It is now known as the Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center. With the end of the war 444th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) arrived on 15 November 1945 from West Field, Tinian with four squadrons (344th, 676th, 677th, and 678th) of wartime B-29s. The 444th operated from Merced for about six months with the 678th BS being redesignated as the 10th Recon Squadron and its aircraft being converted to the RB-29 configuration.
The three B-29 squadrons inactivated at Merced on 6 May 1946 with the 10th RS relocating to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona where turned in its RB-29 aircraft. The 444th was inactivated on 16 Nov 1947. The end of the Cold War brought many changes to the Air Force, and Castle AFB was selected for closure under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 during Round II Base Closure Commission deliberations (BRAC 91).
On 1 June 1992 the 93d was relieved from assignment to SAC and was reassigned to the newly-formed Air Combat Command (ACC). It was then redesignated as the 93d Bomb Wing and its B-52G aircraft given the ACC tail code of CA and carried blue tail stripes. The 328d Bomb Squadron was inactivated 3 May 1994, and the wing was placed on non-operational status.
However, the 93d continued to supervise the closure of Castle AFB. The 93d Bomb Wing was inactivated on 30 September 1995 with the closure of Castle AFB.
Just four months later, however, it was redesignated as the 93d Air Control Wing and was reactivated at Robins AFB, Georgia on 29 January 1996. It was equipped with the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) and it accepted its first production aircraft on 11 June 1996.
As of 2008, local government plans to convert the dormant facility to civilian commercial use has become an active political issue.
MARCH AFB MUSEUM-the grand tour in HD!
All the good stuff is here. Come on in.
Castle Air Museum
Flew the Cessna 172 from Sacramento Executive to Castle Air Museum
SAC to MER
a walk through the outdoor exhibits, then back to SAC
passenger worked with STRATUX and Garmin Pilot
A History of Castle Air Force Base: 1941 - 1995
I worked at Castle AFB in the 1990s. Their Public Affairs officer (93d BW/PA) gave me a VHS version of this video that they prepared to illustrate the base's history. It is in the public domain as far as I know and is unclassified. I digitized it and uploaded it onto YouTube as a way of sharing an Air Force history story that is not well known but deserves to be.
Revisiting Atwater, California
In June 2009, I took a trip to see my hometown of Atwater, California. I lived there between 1985 and 1994 as my family was stationed at Castle Air Force Base, which shut down in 1995. I had not been back in 15 years and spent three days riding around town on a skateboard. Footage includes Castle AFB, Castle Air Museum, Ralston Park, Shaffer Elementary, Bloss House, etc. Music by Jesu.
Castle Air Museum Tour (All Aircraft)
Castle Air Museum is a military aviation museum located in Atwater, California adjacent to Castle Airport, a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base which was closed in 1995, after the end of the Cold War. It is one of the largest aerospace museums displaying vintage aircraft in the western United States.
The museum includes an Air Force One - a VC-9C that served Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush.