Huey on a pole, new display in Mineral Wells, TX

[ZRX61]

We have a facebook group for all units based at lane AHP:

129th AHC. Bulldogs/Cobras
61st AHC LuckyStars/StarBlazers
174th AHC. Sharks
498th DustOff,
180th ASHC, Big Windy
161st AHC. Pelicans/Scorpions
196th ASHC, Flippers
7/17th Air Cav,
237th Med Det,
394th Maint Det,
922nd Signal Det,
616th Transportation Det,
193rd Med Det,
364th Aviation Support Detachment (Tower Control)
296th Sig/avionics Det,
433rd Med Det,
176th AHC, Muskets/Minutemen
134th AHC Demons
D Trp/1st/10th Cav

& possibly others...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LaneAHP/

Last edited by ZRX61 on Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[StangStung]

Hi,

I'd sure like to see those photos if you can find them Enemy Ace.

I visited the grounds of the former Fort Wolters a few weeks ago. It is a bit sobering when you think of all of the helicopter pilots that trained there and went to Vietnam. My grandparents were married during WWII, so I have a small attachment to the place. There are still lots of things to see there. I think a lot of it hasn't changed much over the last 70+ years. I bought a class picture from WWII on eBay taken there of an infantry platoon in 1941 and the barracks in the background of the photo look the same today as they did then! I explored the old Beach Army Hospital during my visit, but that's another story for another forum:)

I think it's great that the city has maintained the arch at the main gate. It looks almost like it did when the post was active. Here's some photos of it including the gate guards.

-Derek

Just to be clear, the City did not maintain the gate. In fact, the original gate was taken down many moons ago. I'm not sure if the original was restored, or if this is a recreation, but it was only put in place in this condition in the last few years. Moreover, those helos are restos done in the last few years as well. My folks live out there, so I pass them every time I go out. Someone here knows the restorer and probably more about the history of the gate, I'm sure. But just know that it hasn't been this way since the shut down of the base. It's a fairly recent occurrence.

[viking73]

Just to be clear, the City did not maintain the gate. In fact, the original gate was taken down many moons ago. I'm not sure if the original was restored, or if this is a recreation, but it was only put in place in this condition in the last few years. Moreover, those helos are restos done in the last few years as well. My folks live out there, so I pass them every time I go out. Someone here knows the restorer and probably more about the history of the gate, I'm sure. But just know that it hasn't been this way since the shut down of the base. It's a fairly recent occurrence.

Thanks for the info. I have a postcard of the gate from the late 60s (?) and it is not the same as you can see. So I'm sure it's just a recreation. But that's much better than nothing I think.



I'd like to hear more about the history of the gate. Maybe I need to visit the Mineral Wells Library

-Derek