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Before the arrival of the B-36, and after its retirement, Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, played an important role in the Air Force's bomber program.
The site of the base was originally selected in 1941 as a Consolidated Vultee factory for the production of B-24 Liberator bombers. A separate contract was awarded for the Tarrant Field Airdrome, to be built to support the aircraft factory.
 Map of the former Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas
Courtesy of Google Maps |
The construction of an air force base on the east side of Tarrant Field was authorized after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Tarrant Field Airdrome was assigned to the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command in July 1942.
The base was named after Medal of Honor recipient Major Horace S. Carswell, Jr. (1916–1944), a B-24 pilot.
In the coming years, Carswell would be home to not only the B-36, but also the B-29 Superfortress, the B-58 Hustler, the B-52 Stratofortress, and other aircraft. Carswell AFB was selected for closure under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990.
The 7th Bomb Wing (Triangle J tail code) and the 11th Bomb Wing (Triangle U tail code) operated the B-36 at Carswell.
For most of its existence, the base's mission was to train and support heavy strategic bombing groups and wings.
The base was realigned and renamed the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Carswell Field (NAS Fort Worth JRB) on October 1, 1994, when the U.S. Navy assumed control of the property.
The west side of the base still serves as Plant #4 and employs several thousand personnel, primarily Lockheed Martin employees. Various Air Guard and Air Reserve components are also stationed there.
Bombers on display at Carswell AFB: B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress and a B-36 Peacemaker
(Air Force Photo) |
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Convair B-36D, S/N 49-2652, at Carswell AFB (U.S. Air Force photo) |
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Convair B-36J-75-CF, S/N 52-2827, the last production B-36J,
now restored and on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson (U.S. Air Force photo) |
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Night maintenance on B-36 Peacemakers at Carswell Air Force Base
(U.S. Air Force Photo) |
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Historic postcard of the Convair plant in Fort Worth across the runway from Carswell AFB |
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Historic postcard showing the Convair plant in Fort Worth |
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Carswell Air Force Base NCO CLub, circa late 1950s, Fort Worth, Texas |
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