Victoria, TX (VCT) warbirds on ramp

[RickH]

I saw it at EFD prior to its move to Victoria. I figured it was still there. but I didn't see it when we had the Huey down there as part of the bomber tour last year.

[gilt]

I've seen Nursery Field from the air many times, enroute to and from Victoria from San Marcos, and always wondered what it was. Thanks! Now I know! I'll have to ask Sandy Sansing about these fields and see if he landed on any of them back in WWII.

The Aloe lay-out reminded me of the old coastal defense base to the south of Victoria, between the bay and the gulf. I flew over it for the first time in 20 years last Sunday, and it sure has changed. There were no buildings there then, just a burned out hulk of a T-28 that had been stolen from the 149th at Kelly AFB (I was told by the owner of the property then). Now there are a lot of buildings scattered on the ramp and some runways, but not the main one that everyone used. Looks like they still do, judging by the way the grass is worn away on it.

The two multi-runway Matagorda Island airports were for range support not coast defense.

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Air ... #matagorda

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Air ... ordapenaaf

Tom-

[bluehawk15]

The "madagordapenaaf" base is the one I've landed at a long time ago, and flew over a few days ago. One trip there in the late 80's I met a guy who said he (or his family?) owned the land. It was returned to them after the base was no longer needed (after WWII). He told me it was a "coastal defense base". You could see a lot of concrete foundations from the old buildings.

Madagorda AFB was to the south, and it was to support the Madagorda Bombing Range. I friend of mine recalled several bombing runs he made there. I'm not sure why there would be another base just to the north of the cut, to support a range to the south of the other base.

Perhaps, with the parallel runways, it was mainly used as an auxilary field for Foster Field during WWII?

[gilt]

The "madagordapenaaf" base is the one I've landed at a long time ago, and flew over a few days ago. One trip there in the late 80's I met a guy who said he (or his family?) owned the land. It was returned to them after the base was no longer needed (after WWII). He told me it was a "coastal defense base". You could see a lot of concrete foundations from the old buildings.

Madagorda AFB was to the south, and it was to support the Madagorda Bombing Range. I friend of mine recalled several bombing runs he made there. I'm not sure why there would be another base just to the north of the cut, to support a range to the south of the other base.

Perhaps, with the parallel runways, it was mainly used as an auxilary field for Foster Field during WWII?

The use of both fields for range support is well documented, there were a number of ranges with 5-6 support fields.

Tom-

[Holedigger]

I know you can still see some of the target rings on Google maps out there on Matagorda. Were there any target zones set up over off of the Port Arthur area? I found a .50 cal slug in some dredged shells in a parking lot in Bridge City years ago. Figured there had to be a range over there somewhere, or just floating targets?

[Tom Crawford]

My late Uncle, who spent the war working in the Hughes Tool Aircraft Strut Plant in Houston, along with some buddies, used to have a fishing camp on the I.C.W. at Port O'Conner. They wade fished a lot around Matagorda Island, especially in the Army Hole (Crash Basin) right next to the base during the forties. He said he remembered observing airmen fishing and filling a 55 gal oil drums with Speckle Trout and Red Fish. They would load them on a C-47 and fly them back to Kelly and Randolph in San Antonio for officer's evening mess. Oh for the good old days.
Tom

[RickH]

Tom, my grandfather was a shift foreman at the Hughes Tool plant making B-26 struts. They said that during the war he kept a cot at the plant and many nights just slept there.

The Army Hole at Matagorda was where the docks where for the barges carrying in the raw materials used to make the concrete that made up the huge ramp. The crash basin is the current docking area for personal boats and the TPWD Ferry before they shut it down.

I've only been out on the big runway at Matagorda, it is primarily asphalt, maybe there is concrete under parts of it. There were clandestine carryings on there as late as the Sandinista thing during Reagan's time.

[bluehawk15]

Just spoke with the airport manager at Victoria. I asked about the F-101. He said it's been gone for years, at least three years before he got there (not sure how long he's been there). He had no idea where it went.

I was talking with him because of a fly-in he is having at KVCT on 4-5 APR 09. This is taking the place of the Collins birds annual visit. They always made the stop during the week, but the Victoria people were wanting something on the weekend. I guess that's why the CF is bringing their planes (B-17, -24, P-51 and Huey?) to San Marcos this year. The CenTex Wing, CAF will host them.

The CAF B-24 "Ol' 927" and B-25 "Yellow Rose" will be there doing the ride program (unless TSA shuts it down before then!), as well as the B-17 "Thunderbird" and some other aircraft. It should be a fun time, and hopefully profitable for the big birds!

[bluehawk15]

Sorry for the double post, computer isn't acting right today!

[bluehawk15]

Victoria is going to have a nice fly-in this year. The Collings Foundation made an annual stop there, but it was during the week. The locals told the airport manager they wanted something on the weekend, but CF didn't want to do that, so the airport manger decided to put together an event.

He has invited a lot of current inventory aircraft and is trying to get some retired warbird types as well. The downside, he doesn't have a lot to offer. However, the CAF B-24 "Ol' 927" and B-25 "Yellow Rose" will be there, and possibly the C-47 "Bluebonnet Belle" as well. The CenTex Wing is going to try to get as many of our planes there as well. I'm bringing the U-11A. They are wanting a PT-17 type, if anyone knows of someone who might like to show up.

[RickH]

It wasn't that CF didn't want to do Victoria on a weekend. The weekends were already commited elsewhere for that time frame. We'll be doing Sugarland, Hooks, and Austin. All have been very strong weekends in the past.

[bluehawk15]

Sorry, I should have said that CF wasn't able to stop in Victoria on a weekend this year.

[the330thbg]

My brother was just in Victoria on Saturday, driving to his fishing cabin, and saw what looked like a cannibilzed C-54? Does anyone know what this is? who it belonged to?

Thanks

will get photos up momentarily

[the330thbg]

C-54?? ish

She is looking worse for wear here. Poor girl!!!!


C-131

[skymstr02]

C-131

Not a Convair. its a Martin 404, N404CG