Altus, Oklahoma - RFC/War Assets boneyard

Folks,

This is one of those longshot enquiries but does anyone know of, or have a written history or pictures of stories of the boneyard in Altus, OK? E.g. how many a/c/ were stored there prior to being smelted? How many escpapees were there (didn't Memphis Belle come from there?). I am researching the history of a 44BG B-24 that was "rescued" from there and flown to Joplin, Missouri (see earlier post) where it was exhibited for a while before being so badly vandalized it was scrapped.

Also while we're on the subject (nearly) has anyone considered how many bombers, figthers etc were rescued from the smelter, exhibited in towns and then scrapped because the town couldn't look after them? Searching thro' this forum I found four or five more that I'd never heard of. Do any escapees (apart from the Belle) survive now? There's a book in there somewhere.

Rob / Kansan

[Tulio]

There are several books that cover the subject:

Forgotten Fields of America (several volumes)

B-17: The final Count (or is it Tally?)

There are one or two books on Boneyards, mostly regarding Davis Monthan / AMAARC, but if I recall correctly, there are photos and data related to the aircraft that went through each of the major disposal locations.

I also recall a title: The Aerial Armada that came home to die, for sure related to the subject.

I cannot provide you the titles or ISBN numbers at this time, since -as usual- I am not home, where my books are.

Saludos,


Tulio

[RMAllnutt]

There's an awesome book out there by Kevin Grantham, Nick Veronico and Scott Thompson called "Military Aircraft Boneyards" which deals extremely well with this subject. It covers the WWII-era scrapping very well, unlike the others mentioned. You can find it on Amazon.com here...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760308209/104-9428272-2328759?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Check it out... you won't be sorry. It's the best book on the subject.

Cheers,
Richard

[Tulio]

Yup, that's a good book.

I have it, and contains lots of useful information.

I am sure that also there must be either a former military historical society, or a City of Altus historian, capable of providing additional information.

It has worked in the past; it may be a slow process, but you can obtain sometimes personal and detailed information on the subject that you research.

Saludos,


Tulio

[ww2John]

on a similar subject...

Scott Thompson's "must-have" guide Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors (get the "Revised & Updated Edition" at his web site: http://www.aerovintage.com/catalog.htm).

Worth the very easy effort and very reasonable cost to get your own.

Thanks for the replies. I have the "Final Cut" book already - this is a magnificent work and I can't praise the research highly enough.

Now the Grantham / Veronico / Thompson (him again!!) "Military Aircraft Boneyards" sounds good. Time to take the plastic for a walk down Amazon way, I think!!

Any other places for pics of B-24s in boneyards?

Re the City of Altus - I was thinking this myself as my Day Job involves working in a Library I also remember reading some posts here from guys who said they were stationed at Altus - was the boneyard also a base or vice versa?

[Edit - a search inside Military Aircraft Boneyards on Amazon says: "The field was activated as the Altus Army Air Field on January 16, 1943, as an Advanced Flying School, and the first training class began shortly afterward..") - my question answered. And yes, Memphis Belle was recovered from there.


Rob / Kansan

This isn't Altus - but someone may be interested in this:

http://www.walnutridge-aaf.com/

Follow the link to Walnut Ridge Army Flying Museum

http://www.walnutridge-aaf.com/military1.html
http://www.walnutridge-aaf.com/military2.html

Miltary 2 has lots of pictures of the Walnut Ridge Boneyard

[later edit Altus AFB's website has some material about the Memphis Belle - including newspaper cuttings relating to its original move to Memphis
http://www.altus.af.mil/History/history.htm ]

Rob / Kansan