Exploring 10 Abandoned Military Bases in TEXAS | Part 2

[@ghosttownchronicles]

Hello, dear viewers and subscribers! I want to thank you for your support and comments on the first part of this series. All military bases that are presented in this video were recommended by you. Please continue to leave comments and suggestions, I read them all and really appreciate them. Have a great day and enjoy the video!

[@LilyOfTheValley1961]

I watched parts 1& 2. Where's Harlingen A.F.B.? It closed down in the early 1960s.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

There’s another AFB, James Connally in Waco, TX

[@postal29]

Was sent to Amarillo AFB for basic training in Nov of 1966 because of a meningitis outbreak at Lackland. In Dec the temperature was 8 degrees and 82 degrees with dust storms. After basic I was then sent to Wichita Falls for a 13 week Tech school.

[@rkmatt8761]

I was 5 years old when Webb AFB was closed. I remember the jets hearing sonic booms every once in a while and seeing the beacon turning at night from the house I grew up in. The memories

[@edjarrett3164]

I remember flying a T38 into Biggs and lining up with El Paso instead. It was yet another great learning moment. Sad to hear of Kelly shut down. Of the three bases in San Antonio, Kelly was the place to go. It had, hands down the best accommodations around. It was laid back, old world and chill.

[@paaat001]

1:39 Some USAF basic training was moved to Amarillo AFB in 1966-1968 due to a meningitis outbreak at Lackland AFB, San Antonio and an increase in manpower demands during Vietnam. This was temporary but a significant part of the base's history. The only time, post Korean war, USAF basic wasn't located at Lackland AFB.

[@kayesdigginit1519]

I lived not far from Webb AFB, I was stationed at the Kelly AFB Security Hill. I lived in the closed Amarillo AFB housing while stationed at the Amarillo MEPS unit. Most of the bases and stations that I was stationed at have been long closed 😢 In my 22 years active duty, with 14 years of that in Texas, I've never heard of Biggs 🤔

[@donalddodson7365]

I think it is difficult for modern Americans to grasp just how large the United States' role was in WWII. Training fields sprang up all over the US, especially in areas that had long springs, summers and falls. Too often, the greed that accompanied the Base Realignment and Closure process transferred the land to developers who sought only profits from the conversion. I think of the millions of people who could have had either permanent or transitional housing; as well as vocational training from these abandoned sites. Thank you for the photo documentation.

[@dukeford]

I visited Amarillo AFB in the fall of 1980, twelve years after it closed. There wasn't much left; most of the buildings had been of the WWII "temporary" variety and had been torn down. My ex wife's uncle was grazing his cattle on the base. My boss at the time had gone through the last BMT class at Amarillo in 1968, right before it closed.

[@grannygoes]

Many ask why so much flight training in Texas. Easy there was lots of land to fly over and crash into without hurting anyone except maybe a groundhog. There weren’t as many wells pumping oil then.

[@robertpitman118]

Biggs Army airfield is still open. While USAF may have left. The US Army still uses it

[@eddieryan6311]

I was station at Lardeo in 1973 when it was closed, rhe first picture was of a radar site 40 miles from the main base not the base

[@avenger2134]

You might want to update your information about Biggs Field in El Paso. The runways are not derelict and have been updated. It is also the home of the US Army's 1st Armored Divisions Aviation Brigade. Old Biggs Field is alive and thriving very well.

[@genelappe]

You need to do some research on Kelly field

[@aaronmeyn6926]

Your history of all these bases is wonderful. However not to be nitpicky but all of your photos when you were talking about Reese AFB were in fact pictures of Ellington AFB in Houston. Ellington is now a Joint military base and has a fascinating history itself.

[@ronallen3087]

Midland Army Airfield and Rattlesnake Bomber Base were not mentioned. Why?

[@DarrenLee73]

Enjoyed checking out these 10 abandoned military bases in Texas Part 2.If I may offer one suggestion to your channel it would be to add KZbin Shorts in the near future.

[@ghosttownchronicles]

Thank you for your comment! I will for sure try to add shorts in the future inbetween posting full length videos!

[@tedh.8356]

I was stationed at Reese AFB, it sucked beyond anyone's imagination, if only it could have been closed before June 1975.

[@genelappe]

Never been to Cannon AFB HUH?

[@tedh.8356]

@@genelappe Yes I have, it sucked also, I stopped there once on the way to Denver and got gas some food and got out of there as fast as I could.

[@hellbilly6532]

My dad retired at Kelly in 76,

[@craigbundrant]

Part of Webb AFB is a Federal prison now, (FCI Big Spring).

[@williamlynch1929]

Kelly and Laughlin combined to make 1 air base! Kelly is not completely abandoned!

[@tomhawkins8855]

The base realignment act was simply a land grab. Prime real estate, fire sale prices, what's not to like (gag)?

[@dukeford]

I can only think of a handful of closed bases that have been developed into anything worthwhile. Some land grab. Fort Ord in CA sits on some of the most expensive real estate in the country. It was closed 30 years ago and still hasn't been developed.

[@genelappe]

If that was allowed by the local reuse association. Some have been a huge boom. I worked in a closure and reuse office. Seen both sides. Depends on the administrators or crooks, whichever the community let happen.

[@donhoover5881]

Not exploring, just talking while showing pictures!!