July 10th, Tuesday – Plattsburgh Air Force Base; Goodbye Mom

We awoke this morning to cloudy skies, mild temperatures, and just a bit of a breeze.  I for one had a difficult time sleeping last night, things on my mind and way too much food consumed over the last several days.  It is what it is.

We decided to just take it slow and easy this morning.  I had a book I was reading that I wanted to finish.  I had come to the point where I just wanted to be done with it and find out who did what to who.  Yup, I finished it!  Barbara on the other hand had several things she wanted to finish so she took her time and did just that.

Dave who is the owner of the Iron City Campground had invited me down to the old mine building for a brief tour and a brief history lesson.  This was just my thing.  I learned a number of things which I’ll be sharing in the days to come when I bring you the history of Lyon Mountain during the hey day of the iron ore mines.  Stay tuned, it is fascinating.

Today we are going to the Plattsburg Air Force Museum to learn about the Plattsburg Air Force Base (PAFB) and the Atlas Missiles and the Cold War.  The first site visited was the Clyde L Lewis Air Park.  Regarding Mr. Lewis, he flew two tours in WWII, and later was the commander of the VFW organization. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the base in Plattsburgh in 1952.

Here are some pictures of the park which is located on part of what was the Plattsburgh Air Force Base.

From the park, we went to the Plattsburgh Air Force Museum.

Of course, Benny also went with us on this visit

Our guide during our tour of the museum was a retired Air Force Colonel by the name of Frank.  A good number of his gear from his Air Force days are on display here in the museum

Regarding the history of the base, we learned that PAFB was one of a multitude of bomber, tanker, and missile bases built during the 1950’s and 60’s.  This was a time when nations were rapidly developing atomic weapons.  Nations believed that their survival depended upon either being able to quickly deliver a first strike or being able to bring an attack to a quick end without being destroyed in the process.   To do this long-range, bombers with mid air refueling capabilities were needed as well as long range missiles.  PAFB had the room for all three:  long range bombers, atlas missiles and a fleet of refueling tankers.

PAFB was a city unto itself that existed within the boundaries of Plattsburgh.

We learned that the 380^th Bombardment Wing was stationed at PAFB.

There were two types of bombers that were part of this wing.  The first was the B-47 Stratojet.  It was our country’s first multi-engine swept jet wing bomber. It had two 20 mm cannons in a rear turret and could carry a payload of 25,000 pounds of bombs.  They were at the PAFB from 1956 to 1965.  It remained the mainstay of our country’s nuclear alert force until it was phased out by the B-52.

Back at the Clyde L Lewis Air Park, they are in the process of restoring one of the last – if not the last – remaining B-47 Stratojets.  This is a view just below the cockpit.

Polishing one section of the side to bring back it’s original luster.

Removing the rear gun turret in order to restore.

Looking front to back, one side, a picture of the swept back wing and multiple engines.

This is a picture of the actual bomb bay with the doors removed.

 

Also part of the 380^th Bombardment Wing was another bomber known as the FB-111A.  This bomber was designed to deliver weapons over a 1,000 mile radius without the need for mid air refueling.  It was also optimized for both high and low altitude and can carry up to 24 conventional bombs.

There is a completely restored FB-111A also at the Clyde L Lewis Air Park.  This plane on display was the actual one that Frank took his last flight in before he retired from the Air Force.  He was also the one – and the only one – who had saved the complete paint scheme and colors that were used on the FB-11A.  Using this saved material, they were able to duplicate the paint scheme when they restored and painted the bomber on display.

Learning to fly the FB-111A was no easy task.  A new pilot would spend their first year in what was called the Cardboard Trainer.

They would spend up to a year in this trainer just becoming familiar with the location of all the switches, dials, etc that were part of the cockpit of the plane.  Then another year in an actual flight simulator as well as flights with an instructor before they able to fly on their own.

Here’s Barbara suited up and ready to try her hand in the Cardboard Trainer.

The two bombers, though, were not the only deterrent that were part of the PAFB.  Also stationed here was the 556^th Missile Squadron that was made up of Atlas Missiles.  Though the Squadron was part of the base no missile silos were located on the base.  Rather, the Atlas Missiles were placed in 12 locations in NY and Vermont.

Each location consisted of a missile in its silo, an underground launch center, and above ground support and maintenance buildings.

Here are some pictures of the construction of a typical missile silo, their arrival and  their movement to the sites.

Eventually these missile sites would be decommissioned, the missiles moved, and the silos, buildings, etc. sold off to communities and individuals.

By the way, if anyone is interested, we were told that the missile silo located at Redford, NY is currently for sale by its current owner.  He has constructed a house on the location and a large party room down below in what was the former launch control center.  Asking price?  Around $2 million dollars!

Not only were the missile sites sold off, eventually PAFB would also close. It was a shock to everyone when it happened because plans were underway to expand the base.   This was the base just prior to its closing.

Why did it close?  In a word politics.  The story is told that the deciding vote to close it was cast by a congressman who just happened to own real estate around the McGuire Air Force Base in NJ.  Want to guess what stayed open?  Want to guess where the last refueling wing that was stationed at Plattsburgh went to?  If you said McGuire Air Force Base you were correct on both counts!

All in all it was a fascinating museum that we literally just stumbled upon and were so grateful that we did.  Today, the Plattsburgh Air Base Redevelopment Corporation, or PARC, has been really successful in selling off sections of the base to businesses. They started out with about 3,500 acres to sell, and they’re almost done.  The base is now home to Bombardier, the Plattsburgh International Airport, and it’s considered a huge success story.

Today, my mom left on an early flight back to North Carolina.  She’s now home and bonding again with her cat.  Our time with her was definitely a highlight of our stop here in Lyon Mountain.  We’ll see her again at Christmas.  We still have a few more days to visit with my sister and her husband that we’re looking forward to.  What do people do that don’t have or don’t get along with the members of their families?  Family is definitely everything, if you have that and your health you are the wealthiest person in the world.

So, for today, I’ll bid everyone goodbye until tomorrow.  Thanks again for joining us on our continuing journey of discovery.  As always a closing thought for each of us:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before