The flying field east of San Antonio, near Schertz, was named for one of those aviators: Capt. Randolph Field (now Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph) was known as “the West Point of the Air” for its mission of training military pilots. One reason you may have had trouble finding details of the crash you remember is that, sadly, there were so many in those years. As best we recall, there were fatalities. My sister and I recall it coming right over our apartment prior to crashing. I have not been able to find anything about a plane crash near the Taj Mahal at Randolph in the early 1950s when my father was stationed there. This check-up too, is just another means of instilling that all-important “teamwork.” Courtesy /US Air Force (USAF) Show More Show Less After the mission is underway, operation of the aircraft leaves little time for a crew member to worry about whether he brought along all the equipment he should have. Men in the rear rank (right) are instructors. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram Tim Fischer, Photo editor / Midland Reporter-Telegram Show More Show Less 8 of8Ī last minute equipment check is only one of the many phases of combat crew training given this 11-man Boeing B-29 Superfortress crew at Randolph AFB, prior to flying a training mission. (AP Photo,File) AP Show More Show Less 7 of8įifi, the last flying B-29 Bomber flies by as a P-51 Mustang flies "cover" Saturday during the 2011 AirSho at Midland International Airport. With a wingspan of 141 feet and a tail that stands 29 feet high, the B-29 was the heaviest, most advanced bomber of its time. Army B-29 Superfortress bomber plane, with its bomb bay doors open, is seen mid-flight on Jduring World War II. ** FOR USE WITH AP WEEKLY FEATURES ** A U.S. Randolph Field (Texas) Show More Show Less 6 of8 Air Force Show More Show Less 4 of8Īirplanes - Trainer planes - Randolph Field (Texas) Show More Show Less 5 of8 Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph's most iconic structure, commonly referred to as the "Taj Mahal," was finished in 1931 at what was then Randolph Field for $252,000 - equating to $3.8 million today. AP (Associated Press) Show More Show Less 3 of8 These cadets are checking a modern two speed supercharger radial engine, the same type used in Uncle Sam's four motored armed bombers.
'Trouble-shooting' an air giant - It's a game of hide-and-seek for these flying cadets at Randolph Field, Texas, as they study a huge 900 horsepower plane motor. (Texas) Randolph Field Public Relations Show More Show Less 2 of8 A good idea of the intricate construction of a modern fighting plane can be obtained here. Uncle Sam is going to train 7,000 pilots annually for his Air Corps and 3,600 bombardiers and navigators.
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From the bomb bay looking up - Inside a full scale cutaway model of a giant twin motored plane, used at Randolph Field, Texas, for ground instruction, a group of Flying Cadets experiment with the controls.