Castle AFB Newcomer video

Castle AFB was my first duty assignment. I arrived in December 1991 and stayed until the base closed. I worked within the Support Group while there and most likely acquired this tape during my stint working in the Support Group Commander's office or from my association with the Airman's Attic. I didn't keep the tape for any particular reason. I carried the VHS tape around over my 20 year AF career and finally got around to making this digital copy.
It makes me very happy to share this video with everyone who has a connection to Castle.

[@jamesbrown4408]

I PCSd from Aviano AB Italy in October 1981 to the Communications Squadron. I left 15 months later to Sembach AB Germany. Nice to revisit the base. I remember being briefed about local police waiting to bust drivers leaving the NCO club if they were drinking. I lived in base housing right outside the gate.

[@stevenluz8042]

Was stationed there from December 1966 to December 1967, 93rd Combat Defense Sq, (Air Police). Live in Turlock,CA and will drive down to Castle every once in awhile to relive (really) old memories....

[@aviationeli5616]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm a 14-year-old aviation enthusiast also from Turlock. I've come to find information on Castle Air Force base. I'm disappointed that I wasn't born during the time when the site was an active base. My father retold times when he would see low flying B-52s or KC-135s operating around the Visinity of Turlock during Castle's years of operation. The joy I would be having to observe the military traffic like that. Once in a while, I'll see KC-10 or KC-135 (sometimes E-3) traffic out of Travis, but that's mostly it. Otherwise, we have traffic from KSFO and KLAX that pases near that I like to observe.

[@nam1esiw]

My father-in-law was a boom operator when he retired around 1975. I played drums in a band that played the Airman's Club several times in the early 70's.

[@JT-qc9xw]

I was there 88 to 93 in the 693rd OMS. My boss at the time had a friend at Randolph and was told our options when the base closed (Dyess/Altus/Fairchild). I volunteer PCSed early, went to Osan instead. For me, Castle was my favorite assignment.

[@jameswebb4902]

Castle AFB was my first base where I learned the ins and outs of the B-52G. I was there from 91-94. The video brings back some great memories!! Thanks for posting the video!!!

[@sug9351]

Top cop there (93rd SPS) 80-81 straight out of tech school, other than humping those 52 bombers it was skate duty, only remember the main gate entracne and the bx shopping area...love the surrounding communities as well

[@robertburgess1091]

The 1995 closure of Castle left 850 vacant dorm rooms and over 400 vacant visiting officer apartments. Sierra Aviation Academy uses about 150 dorm rooms and about 20 apartments are rented. The rest of this housing sits vacant and abandoned.. This property needs to be sold to a developer. This property would make a premier senior living community. One complex could be independent living, one complex could be assisted living and one complex could be skilled nursing care. There are 1700 acres of vacant land at Castle. This should be developed into luxury homes with hangars attached, a shopping center and a golf course. The homes could be connected to the end of the runway with a private taxi strip. This should have been done over 10 years ago. The County Supervisors need to wake up and fire their worthless commerce director. This mess is a ugly embarrassment to the County. Castle should be a beautiful gold mine like the former McClellan AFB and the former Mather AFB.

[@ronaldhawkins974]

Convert it a Veteran Affairs housing for vets and the former base hospital in to VA hospital

[@robertburgess1091]

@@ronaldhawkins974 We closed half of our military bases in the 1990's as a result of BRAC (Base Reallocation and Closure Act. ) Castle and McClellan and Mather closed and they were similar. Castle went to joint ownership between Merced City, Merced County and City of Atwater. Castle did not do well under civilian ownership. The cities dropped out and left the County in charge. The old base hospital is now a successful clinic and urgent care. This is one of the few success stories at Castle. Bloss Hospital of Atwater received the building from the Air Force direct, so local government did not get to destroy it. Mark Hendrickson is the County's manager and Castle only provides less than 10 percent of the jobs that exist at Mather and less than 10 percent of the jobs that exist at McClellan. I believe Hendrickson is only 10 percent of a manager and he should have been fired years ago. I have gone to Hendrickson's department twice wanting to buy or lease a building and was told, "Oh - That building is not available". Hendrickson has let a few lots and buildings get re-used but he usually runs business off. It looks like County Supervisors and Hendrickson promote stupid ideas that will not work and reject ideas that will work. The County is doing a good job for one or 2 real estate developers by keeping Castle vacant and run down and they meet the needs of one or 2 realtors by send property buyers and lease prospects to nearby private land. Hendrickson and the Supervisors had one insane idea when the met with the Port of Los Angeles and renamed Castle the "Mid California International Trade District" hoping to make Castle the manufacturing hub of Central California. Now the new brainstorm is make Castle a railroad shipping hub, and they have a grant for around 4 million for this. We have 2 major railroad lines and they are both North-South. A rail hub needs EAST AND WEST CONNECTIONS TO HAVE A CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!! Switching cars from Santa Fe to Union Pacific does nothing because they are still going North-South. A 4 million dollar grant will not build tracks from San Francisco to Las Vegas. Hendrickson just knocked down a bunch of beautiful concrete and brick dorms that were built in 1990. These would have made wonderful senior housing or apartments for College Students. Hendrickson says these were built for military use and are not suited for civilian use but this is the opinion of an idiot. 100 of these units are still standing and they have student pilots from Sierra Aviation living in them. I live in Merced and my next door neighbor commutes from Richmond daily. We are a bedroom community for Silicone Valley and there was a great demand for the housing at Castle before Hendrickson tore it down. Hendrickson never advertised housing for sale or lease at Castle because he did not want to compete with private land nearby.

[@robertwilkins8357]

I was there. 1962 1963 64, worked in headquarters mail room. Was there when Kennedy came to the base. I found photos of him walking greeting people i was only a few feet from him. We were out on delivery of mail and we were pulling in the parking lot of headquarters when was announced on the radio he was just killed. I was so closs to him it was the biggest shock. We went on alert and i had to pull guard duty in headquarters thru the night. Im 77 now i was 21 then, i would really like to see whats left of the base.

[@kirk0270]

I arrived at Castle around Mar 93. I'm thinking this is the video I checked out from the Moody AFB's Family Support Center before arriving there. I couldn't help but smile seeing the old facilities.

[@enigmacypher4486]

Lived there from 1989 to 1992.

[@medrep1000]

Brings back memories. I was stationed at Castle 1963-1967, HQ squadron.

[@nathanmeece9794]

The movie Bombers B52 was filmed at Castle AFB. It starred Natalie Wood, Kar Malden, Efrem Zimbalist,Jr

[@randyvelez7297]

Was A Proud E.R. Technician under Capt. Sites & Tsgt Price from '86 to '90 when I PSC'd to Rhein Mein, Germany. Also was a Desert Shield Vet with Tsgt. Warfel. Those were the day's!!!

[@josemoreno3334]

I was there once TDY back in 1982. We were there installing and splicing telephone cable's . We came all the way from Norton AFB. A lot of fog and a lot of B-52's. Sad that both bases are now closed. Good video.

[@garynahabedian8520]

I worked at the base gym 83 & 84. I played a lot of pool with my roommate Tony Z. I came from Kedena Air Base in Okinawa so it was good to be back in the states. I really liked my time there.

[@joeryan7800]

This was my first assignment from tech school. I was there from April 1966 until February 1968. At that time we a few C models and D.

[@j31969]

I was in the BUFF Phase Docks from '89-'93. Good times! Hated to see SAC dissolve while I was there...

[@garyjones2582]

My first assignment at Castle was the tanker phase docks, then later moved to the flt line.. For some reason I can't recall where the Bomber phase docks were... I wish they had done a video of those areas for those of us that worked the flt line and phase docks.. Thx for posting...

[@omahaL98]

My father was Chief of Supply from 1980 thru 1982 at Castle AFB.

[@gabeusaf5483]

93rd Security Police Squadron, DELTA Flight, 85-92

[@jonniez62]

Spent a lot of quality time there... never assigned. AHS '80

[@LarchSt]

I was there from Sept 61- to Sept 65. Transportation Sq. and then A&E. Hoping to get there to see it again before it's closed to the public. Thanks for the memories, it was a great time in my life.

[@guycoulombe2860]

I was just there, 30 years later. Some of the buildings are there, but rotting.

[@lspen00]

Very nice to see the old base again. Spent a few years there from 87 - 90 with 93rd AGE.

[@robhamby3958]

I was with 93rd FMS AGE shop 85-94

[@TECHKLEC]

Nice vid...thanks for posting. I was 22nd MMS load crew chief from 11/65 to 5/66 then went to 'Nam. Merced was a real nice town but I hear that's it's gone downhill..

[@ranhar1]

I served at 93rd Supply Sq (Mission Support) from 1 Jan 1983-16 Mar 1985.

[@bufordvideo1]

I was a vehicle mechanic from 4/88 to 9/89.

[@knighthawk7207]

93rd AMS then 93rd ILMS Comm/Nav back shop, March 1991- 1993 Aug

[@d.heller7038]

1978. 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

[@BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

93rd ARFS 73-74. Most of the buildings mentioned weren’t built at that time. Lived in crappy Korean War era barracks.

[@quietcorner293]

I was 93rd FMS from 92 to 93. Video looks like it could have been made give or take 1990?

[@cliffordguy8094]

I helped to move my sq the 84 FIS (F 106) I was in Aircrew Life Support left in 75

[@WildBillHabiki]

wow I remember that SQ and the F-106s. I used to play racquetball with an F-106 alert pilot way back in 1983. Can't remember his name.

[@notagrd]

92-93.....sec. pol.....major barret was our comm......Major Dikhed

[@ko6qk]

93rd MMS 81- 83!! This is so valid!!!...LOL!!

[@abcdc1717]

I was 924th Boomer 81'-85'

[@TECHKLEC]

This looks like mid to late eighties.

[@rob0085]

I was at 93 TRANS form 1986-1991. Were you in Vehicle Ops?

[@aspjake123]

why thumbs down

[@aspjake123]

Spent 13 years there and the only thing I hated about the assignment was the fog.

[@bufordvideo1]

She said the B-52 prototype flew in 1962 ? Should have been 1952. - Brings back memories , 93TRANS 1988-89.

[@jason60chev]

I noticed that, too.