What was life like at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells back in the day? Here's a training film shot at Fort Wolters and Fort Rucker that will give you a taste.
I remember seeing squadrons of those training helicopters flying over our house when I was a kid in the 60's. It was cool watching them swoop in low on the horizon late at night over Lake Bridgeport. Between them and the B-52's out of Carswell, we had a constant airshow in the late 60's.
It's a long video and Fort Wolters is only featured early on, but it's worth checking it out if you're a history buff.
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The stars at night are big and bright...
The stars at night are big and bright...
2 comments:
I was out there a couple of months ago, on South Oak - heard a Chinook that must've been 1-1/2 to 2 miles away - it was still pretty noticeable.
Recently I did a bit of research on Ft. Wolters and the surrounding support fields - I think I remember reading that they were cranking out 600 helo drivers a month at their peak - Mineral Wells must've been buzzing like a beehive in the late '60s.
It is interesting how much of my history is wrapped around Wolters.
I trained there since I was a young un in the Guard. I remember at least one drill in a year had to be so hot we thought we would die and another had to be so cold we would chop trees down and build literal bonfires.
Audie Murphy did his basic there.
It is very beautiful in the remote parts- there are rocky valleys and spring fed creeks.
After my clinicals at PPGH I would force open a window and lie around, read and then nap until my guys got there on Friday nights for MUTA 5 drills.
My best friend at work was a Vietnamese AF pilot who did his training at Wolters. Interestingly my church had adopted him all those years ago and elders I knew had brought him home for the weekend and Thanksgiving etc.
My children's great uncle was from Paradise. During part of his training a buddy argued with him about there location during a night navigation exercise. He settled it when he said, "I know where we're at dumb butt- my mom left the porch light on for my sisters!"
Thanks for the memories. I did not expect that this morning.
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