Memories of UPT and Reese AFB, TX

[Ken]

Something got me thinking about my pilot training experience at Reese AFB, Sep 91- Oct 92. Although I'll eventually scan my own photos to share, I thought you guys might enjoy seeing some images I've found around the web over the years. A few are USAF photos but there is no way to properly credit them all.

I would've said this is a T-37 initiating a pullup to the closed pattern, however gauging by how far he is from 35R, I'm guessing he's just showing off for the camera. Note the emergency canopy breaker tool stowed in the canopy bow.


Although this is an Edwards T-38, it could easily stand in for a Reese jet. The view was this good when working alongside the runway in the RSU (Runway Supervisory Unit).


I actually flew a sortie in this Tweet on 1/24/92.


1996 aerial view of Reese.


The dreaded sim building ... here's a T-37.


Here are two T-37s on initial (left break) for runway 17L.


Hangars that probably once held T-6s and B-25s as well.


The main tower which typically only controlled 17C. IPs in RSUs took care of 17L/R.


A couple fun patches.




The inscription says "Do it slow and she'll scream." How appropriate. Always wished I could get one of these patches but they were understandably in short supply.


Dust storm rolling in from NM. Yes, this is real.


IPs view from the back of the T-38. Students flew instrument training sorties from the back and covered the canopy with a white fabric "bag". The half-round clips on the canopy bow are what the bag bungees fixed to so the bag could be slid forward or aft. AOA indicator is on the center of the glareshield and the fin behind the front-seater's head is the canopy piercing blade on his ejection seat - just in case his canopy doesn't go as advertised.

[Ztex]

When I was at Parsons Elementary School my mother came and got me out early one Friday afternoon and we sat at the Hurlwood gas station and watched these guys...



Boeing Photo

My 8 year old mind was thoroughly blown!

I was out there a couple of years ago and there was not one airplane on the field.

[Ken]

Check out the fin on #4 - back when it was more of a badge of honor to have a soot-stained tail from flying the slot.

[Randy Haskin]

I heard Reese was one of the better bases after Willy closed.

[mattsb2000]

Cool pictures, thanks for sharing.

[Ken]

I heard Reese was one of the better bases

Of course I'm partial to Reese ... but in truth, we had a great base, plenty of airfield, convenient MOAs, little civil traffic, and a very supportive local community. We've all heard about "Happiness is Lubbock in your rearview mirror". I admit I was wrapped up 6 days a week being a student so Lubbock only had to entertain me 1 day a week, but I loved it there. College town. Low prices. Friendly people. Wide open spaces. BBQ. My table-mate and I had several weekends where we'd pick a little town we'd seen out in the MOAs and drive out to see what it was like. We met some of the nicest folks and ate some of the best meals - times I'll never forget. Anyone here ever been to Ropesville, Muleshoe, or Quitaque? Good times.

[Ztex]

You are a foreigner...the natives call it "Ropes"

My grandparents lived in Meadow (Meda) and the in-laws lived in Ropes.

I lived in Lubbock until I was 14...terrible place to be in the winter and spring and summer. Don't get me wrong, there's lots of good things about Lubbock but the cold, heat and dust are not good.

Great people...if you like rednecks like me.

[Stoney]

terrible place to be in the winter and spring and summer. Don't get me wrong, there's lots of good things about Lubbock but the cold, heat and dust are not good.


Try Amarillo, its worst, 53' to 58'

[Ken]

Check out the cool pix and matchbook covers here:

http://www.w9fz.com/reeseafb/page82.html

[Fouga23]

I wonder how many variations there are of the F-15 patch. I have one that says "Fouga driver".

[cco23i]

I remember when the other ATC bases didn't make their sortie goal we would surge for a week and catch up. (I was at Willie)

Scott

[Ken]

Neat link to T-6 & B-25 days:

http://lmstandish.home3.org/Old-times/p ... aining.htm

[A26 Special K]

Neat link to T-6 & B-25 days:

http://lmstandish.home3.org/Old-times/p ... aining.htm

Wow, that story goes back aways. Thanks Ken. An old friend of mine from Amarillo went thru B-25 multi training at Reese back in the 50's. This sounds very much like the stories he used to tell. Interesting that the B-25 in the picture is my old ride... Pacific Prowler. He was very right about the difficulty to taxi. If you could taxi the thing, the flying was easy and it was an easy checkride. Anyway, my old friend Bill went on the crew of a B-36 at Carswell and his was one of the airplanes used in making the Jimmy Stewart movie about "Strategic Air Command". Bill later checked out in B-47's followed by KC-135's. During a particularly hard time in the VN conflict, he was "volunteered" to fly EC-47's when the AF put out the call for pilots who had round engine time. Almost got blown out of the sky during the battle of Dak To. After this, he was assigned to the EC-135 to finish out his career. He recently passed away in Amarillo. He was a true Southern gentleman. We will miss him. JR

[A26 Special K]

Speakin of Reese birds, this was "Dade 52" on a very special day for me. Sorry about it being a picture of a picture on my wall. It was so sad to see this tail number sitting in the boneyard at DM many years later after Reese was closed. I suppose we should have known the base would be closed. They undertook a major renovation and construction of new buildings not too long before the bad news came. Same thing at Bergstrom AFB. The last WWII building had been demolished and the base was looking good. Poof, gone. When Ellsworth AFB announced a major construction project for a new AF financial center, I thought sure it was a goner, but it has held on. Not sure how much longer the B-1's will be around though so there ya go. I was in PHX when Willie closed. Gotta wonder with Barry Goldwater gone if Luke can hold out. There are lot of developers who are eyeballing all that wide open land around the base just waiting for somebody to get rich off selling houses. The price of peace is higher than we thought??? JR

[Ken]

JR, Thanks for sharing! I kept detailed logs in those days and, unfortunately, I did not fly 662 ... I did fly one formation hop in 661; close but no cigar.

Ken