Illinois Stories | Chanute Air Museum | WSEC-TV/PBS Springfield

[@badcatt-the-cougar-guy-7219]

In the early 1960's my dad was part of the team from Boeing that built Minute man bases through out the mid west. We spent about 4 months in Rantoul. I was just a kid in maybe 2nd grade. And it was winter. In 2017, in June I took a trip out to Michigan and back home(Camano Island WA). One of the places I stopped at was Rantoul. I got in late in the evening and got a hotel room. When I was getting my stuff out of my (Classic) car a couple guys were in the parking lot talking. It turned out they were dismantling a couple of the airplanes at the Chanute Air Museum. One was the B-58 Hustler. They invited me to go with them in the morning to see, and take pictures of what was left of the planes there. It was sad to find out several of the exhibit airplanes were being scrapped due to condition and size. I understand the B-58 went to Michigan.

[@richardmartin572]

my brother and I used to play and look at half those planes when my dad was instructor there. he was station there for 10 years.

[@afvet5075]

That B-58 Hustler was my favorite when I was in Tech School at Chanute in March of 1979. It was located outside at the time. Man it seems like a dream.

[@mpojr]

took my class photo next to the B58 when it was outside that was in 1969 got that photo in my office we were all so young then ,,,still a wicked looking airplane.

[@shotgl]

i also trained at chanute afb in '75 thanks for the wonderful video

[@frankherrnkind1019]

The F104 is still flown today by the Starfighter group out of KSC. Their birds are blue and white. Holds records of high altitude flights.

[@elroysez8333]

Thanks for this. I used to go to school here and I had always wondered what had happened to the mock up missile silo in the floor after the base closed. I never got the chance to look in side but I used to have class just a few yards from it. Also really glad to see that the collection of aircraft is still around. The B-58 was always my favorite.

[@coppershadow1]

Due to budget issues, the museum was closed down Nov 1st, 2015. We have been going there since 1999 and will miss it.

[@georgemuller6038]

I went there in Aug 2022 since I went through Officers Maintenance school in 1984. I was told all the aircraft had been removed from the field three years prior.

[@Bluenose352]

I love this museum. It needs volunteer help though. Donations are very much needed as well.

[@robertspeicher5047]

Saw a photograph of P-38 assembly line and next to that line was a line building these aircraft. It was taken before the end of WWII

[@tomgraham7755]

I went through Air Force Technical School to be an ejection seat repairman winter of 1969 to spring of 69

[@robertspeicher5047]

1969 , Stationed in Thailand, Takhli AB. The Thai air force used F-86s.

[@robertholmberg3139]

Was in high school 2004 and 2005 worked there to help clean the please was all over the place seen thing thay dont show

[@stevefriedlander7053]

To the museum curator in the 1960's to the late 1980's early 1990 there 1000 fully loaded and ARMED Nuclear tipped Minuteman ICBM's! Unless a particular missile was down for repair they were Armed. The bases were evaluated by "Green time" (Missiles ready for launch).

[@Thunderboid]

So sad what happened ..

[@edwardszymanski1029]

chanute 74'

[@jastay100]

What happened to the B 36 bomber that was there in Sep 1968 ?

[@joe-gu8ms]

It eent to castle afb prior to this afb closing. Dont know what happened after that but it one of 3 left.

[@kenb.9976]

I was there in January to March 1969. I remember seeing the B36 outside as well.

[@robertholmberg3139]

Bad spell ckeck

[@robertholmberg3139]

Sorry place