Eagle Field - Warbirds, Vintage Motor Sports, Living History

[rwdfresno]

I was updating our website and thought I would take the opportunity to introduce Eagle Field to those who haven't heard of it before.

Eagle Field was an Army Air Corps primary flight training field built in 1942. At Eagle Field Army pilot cadets were trained to fly by civilian instructors. Following WWII Eagle Field was used as a disposal site for many Army Air Forces training aircraft. Postwar Lloyd Stearman, founder of Stearman Aircraft Corporation and former president of Lockheed came to Eagle Field and made a residence out of the field's former hospital. From there he managed a company that designed and built agricultural equipment. In later years Eagle Field transitioned into the hands of local governments and it became a crop dusting airfield and a home for migrant workers. It deteriorated quite a bit for the next couple of decades until it was found by my father Joe Davis.

My father was looking for a home to store a bunch of B-25 parts that he and his partners Carl Scholl and Tony Ritzman had acquired as part of a new Warbird venture called Aero Trader. Soon after Joe acquired the field an Eagle Field cadet happened to come by to visit his old stomping grounds. My father was so moved by the cadet's stories about his time at what he described as "The Country Club" that he eventually decided to dedicate the rest of his life to preserving the field and help tell those stories for future generations.

We have had many adventures (both good and bad) over the years involving Eagle Field. Among the good were visitors such as Hank Potter, David Hackworth, and the hundreds of other veterans that have stopped by to tell us their stories. We have been involved with the filming of several movies both big and small including the last of the Indiana Jones installments.

Keeping the field from being overcome by mother nature has always been our biggest struggle. It is like the Golden Gate Bridge 9only worse), by the time you are done painting one end the other side is about to fall over. We have some fund raising events each year such as a Fly-In-Dinner-Dance and a few vintage motor sports events that have recently become very popular and were even highlighted in HOT ROD Magazine.

The field is open during events, but otherwise by appointment only during the summer time.

I have posted some pictures both old and new for your enjoyment. If you have an interest take a look at some of the links posted below.

Ryan


Eagle Field Website

HOT ROD Magazine Article highlighting Eagle Field - Old Airfield Drag Racing - Deja Views
How Post-Postwar Hot Rodders Are Rediscovering Abandoned Airfields

History of Eagle Field

Eagle Field Vintage Drag Racing Website



Edited: Put a link to the photos

http://www.eaglefield.net/?p=143

[rwdfresno]

Ok I fixed the pictures. Thanks, Ryan

[Second Air Force]

That works much more better now! I especially like those wartime shots but the rest are pretty nice too.

Scott

[cco23i]

That's one place I know we need to do our ground crew setup at. I just need to be updated on events.

Scott

Last edited by cco23i on Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[lowpass]

I actually have a WWII footlocker from a B-24 gunner that is decaled up with USAAF and Eagle Field decals. Pretty cool to see that the place is still around and seeing use.

[rwdfresno]

That works much more better now! I especially like those wartime shots but the rest are pretty nice too.

Scott

There are more where that came from.
This link will take you to an excerpt from the Eagle Field 44-D year book: http://www.eaglefield.net/?p=46

I actually have a WWII footlocker from a B-24 gunner that is decaled up with USAAF and Eagle Field decals. Pretty cool to see that the place is still around and seeing use.

I'd love to see a picture of the sticker if you can take one.

That's one place I know we need to do our ground crew setup at. I just need to be updated on events.

Scott

Yes, you would fit right in.

Ryan

[The Inspector]

Very clever and innovative use of what otherwise is just another old patch of sun fried asphalt! Except for the modern folding seats, it looks just like my first time @ the drags in 1963 as far as cars and laid back attitudes of everyone.
(I confess, I was just watching the Winternationals on TV)

[Taigh Ramey]

Just to put my two cents in:

Eagle Field is a great place with a lot of history. The dinner dance is a must see event that is magical with a lot of good people, good music and great aircraft. A good time is had by all.

Joe, Ryan and an army of volunteers work countless hours to put on a great event for all of us to enjoy. Thanks to all of the folks who put in the effort to make Eagle Field's dinner dance one of our favorite events.

See you all in June

[bdk]

Hey, I want that Anglia!

[agent86]

You left out one little detail,where is Eagle field?im guessing middle or northern ,Ca. I've been to Falcoln field in Az.

[rwdfresno]

It is in Central CA, not too far off from where Interstate 5 and Hwy 152 intersect. Near the town of Dos Palos.

Map and Directions can be found here: http://www.eaglefield.net/?p=122

Ryan

[cwmc]

You left out one little detail,where is Eagle field?im guessing middle or northern ,Ca. I've been to Falcoln field in Az.

It's in the middle of nowhere. Near Dos Palos, or "The Sticks".
I actually found it in the middle of the night and landed there in the Twin Beech when Tim lived there. He was surprised to see us. We chatted and then Pat and I took off to complete the cargo run.
Left Lumpy's bomber up there for 6 months and spent days getting the mud daubers out of the oil coolers when we went to get it. Never did that again, it could visit for the weekend.
Chris...

[rwdfresno]

It's in the middle of nowhere. Near Dos Palos, or "The Sticks".

I'm not sure I'd classify it as the middle of nowhere being only 15 minutes from a city of 35,000 however, it is far enough from the general population so that you don't get complaints about low flying bombers, the sound of dragsters and you don't have condos in the way when you take pictures of aircraft landing. Dos Palos by the way is "Two Sticks."

Some more modern day pictures.

[agent86]

looks like as much fun as Chino.only thing that is missing is the cow smell

[GARY HILTON]

agent86, if you really need the "cow smell".....not to far south on the I-5 is Harris Ranch.....they serve a mean steak, and plenty of cow smell just north of the restauraunt........you can fly in there too....
G.