Top 10 ABANDONED Military Bases in Texas (UPDATED)

[@davidjose9808]

My Dad flew a P-51 from the West Coast as a post-WWII B-26 pilot who stayed in the Air National Guard during the Korean War. He was told to go through Matagorda Island to get gunnery practice in the P-51….on his was back to his home base in Maine. After a shooting pass, he was turning out across the Gulf of Mexico when the Merlin engine overheated and seized up from a glycol cooling leak. He “dead sticked “ that Mustang back over to the strip on “Mustang Island” and made an emergency landing. He said the worse part was waiting in the sweltering heat for four days while a maintenance crew brought a new engine. Dad transfered into F-80 & F-86 later on…but thankfully the Korean War ended before he was sent. He had already survived 50 missions over Italy, Austria & Germany. He’d served his country enough for his young age. Lived to be 96.

[@jbratt]

That’s very cool. My dad was also a B26 pilot. He flew 44 missions over Germany until the end of WWII. He had his 20th birthday when he arrived in Europe the fall of 44 after D day. My uncle, his older brother was an engineer at General Dynamics in Fort Worth. After the war my dad rented a P51 and flew it around the field where my uncle was working. The old Army Air Corps base near Port O’Conner was a stop we would make on the Texas 200 sailboat route where we would spend the night. I have a video on my channel. One of the sailboat guys got bit by a rattle snake there one year. My dad’s 100 birthday would have been just a few weeks ago in August.

[@midnightsun2483]

Cool story. Thanks for sharing

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

SALUTE to YOUR dad, OUR PATRIOT !

[@twoZJs]

david, on the south end of the Matagorda Isl AF base boundary there are still non-exploded ordinance buried in the muck.

[@SamuelChavez-j3h]

@@davidjose9808 Awesome thx for sharing, I like history very much, when I read it or listen to it from people whom were there or whom relatives were there. I find that fascinating. GOD Bless all whom have served. Sempher Fi.

[@paulmazan4909]

I took my Air Force Basic Training at Amarillo AFB in September and October 1966. My wife and I went back a few years ago and although I knew it had been closed it was interesting to see that all the barracks had been removed. The building that housed the Service Club in my time there was now a Truck Driving school.

[@DaninVirgina-mg7rf]

I took AF Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas in 1961. Was quite a shock to go from civilian life to sergeants screaming at you. Joining the AF was 2nd best decision of my life. Had a lot of fun getting drunk with fellow Airmen. Best decision-asking Sue to marry me.

[@johnemerson1363]

I landed on a former jet fighter strip in the Texas Panhandle. I was on a long cross country from Long Beach, Cal to Springfield, Mo. It had a fifteen thousand foot runway, an FBO on one end and a drag racing track on the other end. It was summer and my little Piper Cherokee still passed 5000 feet before I passed over the drag strip. Fifty hours, round trip. Great fun.

[@bobcole612]

There’s the former Perrin AFB near Denison, Texas. It’s now North Texas Regional Airport (formerly Grayson County Airport). The base closed in 1971, but there are some remnants of the base, including the control tower, water tower, hangars and possibly some old buildings on the south east side of the airport. The base housing area is now private homes, but there’s definitely a military vibe to the neighborhood.

[@ZeroFoxtrotG]

This is the kinda content I’ve been looking for! Awesome channel!

[@beyond_civilization]

I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Thanks so much for supporting my channel! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jeanbaker2087]

What about Webb AFB in Big Spring Texas? There's still "stuff" in buildings out there.

[@ROUXGAROUX-v3v]

ET bits n parts

[@David-dm4re]

Hangar 25 air museum and various building still exist. The city of Big Spring has possession of the site and turned ii into a Industrial Park. FCI facility and several empty private prisons are there too.

[@dudeparistx]

Back in the early 90's part of Ft Wolters was used as a private prison, housing inmates that were very close to being released from state prison. Some of those inmates got to work in the nearby state park as a reward for being good inmates. The local eateries even delivered to the gates on the weekends. Also just north of Paris Tx there is Camp Maxey. Originally known as Ft Maxey it was used during WW2 as a pow camp. A few hundred Germans were kept there. My Grandfather John Vanderburg was a civilian guard there. After the war it was turned into a Texas National Guard base and housed Charlie Co, 111th Engineers, 49th AD. Charlie Co is long gone as well as the 49th, now the 36th ID, but the base is still used for training by units that drive here.

[@Golgi-Gyges]

Ft. Wolters is used by the National Guard also.

[@MikeV8652]

Good job! There's also the Eagle Pass Army Airfield / Eagle Pass Air Force Station. Under the first name, it was a WWII advanced pilot training base, and under the second it was a Cold-War-era radar warning base. None of it is military-owned, but parts have been repurposed today for various federal, state, local, and private-sector uses; so it's not really abandoned, though there are plenty of ruins.

[@beyond_civilization]

Thanks so much for the tip and support, my friend! 🙏🏻 That sounds really cool, nonetheless. 😮👍🏼

[@SamuelChavez-j3h]

@@MikeV8652 Funny I was born and raised in Eagle Pass that area was our old stomping ground as well as my hunting area. My wife born in Del Rio and raised in Quemado TX. and whose father was an assistant fire chief at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio TX. They resided what was called then the Radar Base by the local residents. Now that area is a municipal airport if I’m not mistaken. Those were great times for my wife and I. Thank you for sharing. GOD BLESS

[@MikeV8652]

@@SamuelChavez-j3h It's the "Maverick County Memorial International Airport." The small Cold-War-era military family housing area survives as the census-designated place named "Radar Base, TX." The county sold off the houses to private owners, and most are now pretty run-down.

[@RonaldOdell-l2s]

My father was based at Webb Army Airfield in Big Springs, TX. Later, it was a jet training field, and it was also used in the movie Hangar 18.

[@jamesbernsen3516]

At 1:11, the guy pointing at the computer is then-United States Senator Phil Gramm.

[@luker6766]

Lived around West Texas for 12 years now and still love passing the old mysterious radar station south of Angelo

[@worldtraveler930]

I worked there for a couple of weeks when it was an operation and it's inside is as neat as all get out!!! 🤠👍

[@clydedyson2147]

I am from San Angelo area (Mertzon to be exact). The El Dorado Airforce Base you refer to. Is actually called PayPaws Joint Airforce Base. Both US and Canadian Airforces ran that base together. The name of the town closest to it is called Eldorado [El dōr ā dō]. Folks there have a tendency to get their feathers ruffled, if they hear you call it anything else (FYI). When I was a Senior in high school, we got the opportunity to take a tour of the facility while it was in operation. It was very interesting to say the least. They were capable of tracking a glove, golf ball, and a screw driver floating around in space.

[@beyond_civilization]

That is fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing that; one of the perks of having this channel is that I'm always learning more and more about these fascinating locations through the comments, even after posting the video. 🙏🏻

[@RichNotWealthy]

I'm gonna assume that autocorrect is at fault but it's Pave Paws. Good info though, thanks!

[@clydedyson2147]

@@RichNotWealthy yeah, you've got a love modern technology...love to hate it at times. LOL 😆🤣

[@LoneStarNomads]

My dad was there for about 3 years after it opened I grew up there in Eldorado

[@gs1100ed]

Tracking small objects in space?? Doubtful

[@brittongolfwang]

Fort Stockton native here. We have Winfield airfield and Gibbs field which were used to train pilots going to the pacific theater in ww2. You can still find .50 brass on the ground outside of town from them shooting dirt.

[@beyond_civilization]

That's insane. I'll look those up; thanks for the tip! 👍🏼

[@clydedyson2147]

Somewhere outside of Barnhart, TX. There is an area carved out of dirt and rocks, is a mock replica of a ship that the pilots of fighter planes and bombers would go target practice on. You can still find practice bomb and 50 cal shells all around that site. Back about 20 years ago, there was a couple of Hispanic men found one of the bombs out there. They brought it in to town and someone called Goodfellow to send a bomb disposal to Barnhart. Long story short, they discovered the bomb was live and the transported it to a disposal site and set it off. They also to them, if they find anymore to call them first for removal.

[@yalemccracken7058]

So did those fellers that found that live bomb have to wear Depends for the next few days after that ?​@@clydedyson2147

[@clydedyson2147]

@@yalemccracken7058 😆 I don't know, but they did drink plenty of beer afterwards. 🤣

[@rickgomez2885]

I would have liked to see mention of Amarillo Air Force Base.

[@Peter-bf2ou]

Completed basic training at Armadillo Airplane Patchin March of '68 shortly before closing. Many WW2 Era buildings were off limits due to imminent collapse even then. Will never forget the aroma of fried eggs in the air while marching to KP duty. The chapel is still there ( the Chaplain would let us smoke cigarettes instead of attending she church service. Great memories!

[@TheDustysix]

Great town for Steak.

[@donreed]

09/09/24: A captive armadillo (his "mustache" is a fake theatrical prop) will be along any minute now to accommodation your request. Remain seated, please.

[@thomashodges-qu9mw]

I took WOC training at Ft. Wolters in 1970, sad to see what was such a thriving place in 1970 has become.

[@mack9791]

My dad taught helicopter school about that time.

[@thomashodges-qu9mw]

@@mack9791 Was he one of the civilian instructors, or Army? I had both. What was his name?

[@Golgi-Gyges]

The TX National Guard still uses it. There are rifle ranges.

[@p99guy]

I was a 8 yr old in 1970 and went to Graford Elementary, but lived north towards barton chapel where there was a satellite helicopter field… i was in heaven watching hundreds of Hiller and Hughes helicopters fly over my house on the Hossel ranch. There was floresent orange tires in some of the pastures that were targets the students practiced finding. I hated Wolters being shut down, and operations being moved to Fort Rucker… that was almost a death blow to Mineral Wells Texas.

[@thomashodges-qu9mw]

@@p99guy When I was there they had white tires, that was a clearing the student pilots could land at solo, then yellow tires, clearings that the student could land at only if a instructor checked him out on it first, and the red or orange tire clearing, that only be used if a instructor was with you. One student met his girlfriend at one of the white tire clearings, gave her a ride, but got noticed by a sharp eyed instructor flying by, busted and throwed out of flight training.

[@jotrev54]

If you haven’t already you should do one on all the current usage of closed bases such as Bergstrom , carswell , Reese , Brooks etc . Thanks

[@twoZJs]

You do know Bergstram is still open and going strong? We use to park along the hyway during the '80s to catch the RF-4s landings that parallel the road. Most beautiful sight, minding our thoughts (FACs) back in Nam to strike the vallies below us. 091124.

[@jotrev54]

@@twoZJs not as an Air Force Base . It is the city airport .

[@JackNiles-hc8yz]

@@twoZJs I'd be surprised if there's a single building left from the old base now.

[@Sir_Austin_T_Gee]

Reese gets used as part of South Plains College and a few Texas Tech research buildings. The old runways are used by Anderson Truck Driving School to train new truck drivers. Source: went to trucking school there.

[@chrismcdonald4819]

Great work! Super comprehensive study of these abandoned military bases …

[@beyond_civilization]

Thanks so much for your support! 🙏🏻

[@chrismcdonald4819]

@@beyond_civilization do you have a very keen eye for editing and drone work

[@Maine307]

as a navy brat kid in the 80s.. we lived at Beeville Texas NAS Chase Field and also Goliad where the pilots learn a touch n go flying.. i heard it was abandonded.. spent my elementary there..

[@RoadieWingZZ]

Camp Swift near Bastrop, Texas. Texas National Guard uses part of the expansive area for current training and maneuvers, but lots of barracks foundations and orher ruins are outside on private property now. It also served as a POW camp at one point during its life.

[@beyond_civilization]

That sounds really intriguing; I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip! 🙏🏻

[@Coolrog2]

Brother, your channel is by far “our favorite “, well researched and informative, thank you RT

[@beyond_civilization]

That means more than you can imagine. Huge thanks, bro! 🙏🏻

[@AFmedic]

The buildings at Fort Wolters (2:31) are very similar to the barracks I was in when I was doing my Tech Schooling at Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1969.

[@Peter-bf2ou]

I spent 18 weeks in those barracks in 1968 also. Not in the new sissy high rise " dorms" lol.

[@AFmedic]

@@Peter-bf2ou OMG! Totally forgot about those new fancy brick dorms. Do you remember about once a week a truck would drive around spraying a thick blueish-grey cloud to kill off the mosquitoes. Couldn't see shit until it eventually dissipated.

[@Peter-bf2ou]

@@AFmedic No but I remember the hogie truck would stop by the barracks around 1900 hrs each evening and the army guys in the barracks across the way would often be lighting their farts on fire using lighter fluid

[@Peter-bf2ou]

Fun fact: the first floor of my barracks was filled with little Vietmanese guys going to helicopter maintenance school. Even the instructors weren't sure which side they were fighting for lol!

[@frozenmann2592]

That first base thats abandoned has a pretty well maintained AC system for not being used since '95 (at 0:48). Idk maybe its just me what do you all think?

[@dougclem7711]

The U.S. Navy blimp base on Texas HWY 2004. CLOSE TO THE DOG TRACK. DICKENSON, TEX. ALSO THE REMAINS OF THE CONCRETE SHIP IN DICKENSON BAYOU.

[@TheGravitywerks]

Hitchcock.....my father was based there in the 40's

[@jrobertsbrewer]

The hanger at the Navy blimp base near Hitchcock is incredibly HUGE.. These blimps chased the Kriegsmarine Uboats our of the gulf. The tank fleet transporting oil from Mexico and Venezuela was brutal for the first 12 months of the war. Once the armed blimps and navy corvettes got up to speed, the found other places less dangerous.

[@waltonwarrior7428]

@@TheGravitywerks I remember the first time I saw those hangers years ago when I was down there on business. I couldn’t imagine what they were but figured it had something to do with World War II.

[@billirvin9057]

I was stationed at Matagorda Island AFR from Jan 72-Jun 72, in between tours in south east Asia. Part of my duties were to go out to the bombing range and help to score bomb drops from B-52 and F-4 aircraft. The B-52's could be counted on to hit their targets dead on from (if memory serves correctly) FL330 and higher. The F-4's, on the other hand, had a helluva time hitting the island in a dive from FL120!. Used to scare the hell out of the shrimpers. Can't say I enjoyed it very much (wasn't really there long enough) but it was interesting.

[@HM2SGT]

😅👍 I remember a conversation with a dump truck driver in the 80s; he laughed and said that his buff was 100% accurate… He hit the ground the first time, every time!

[@mhughes1160]

Yep dad was a b-52 pilot he said they direct hit the 6’x6’ shack 3 times high altitude bombing practice We used to vacation on the island in the mid 60’s There were small tame deer 🦌 the airmen would feed cigarettes to. We would fish on the docks at night and catch what we called ribbon fish and chase crabs 🦀 on the beach . LoL 😂

[@MikeL-js4ou]

Did they practice both day and night bombing on the range?

[@billirvin9057]

@@MikeL-js4ou just daytime while I was there

[@TEXCAP]

We used to duck hunt in the bomb craters on Matagorda Island. I did not know they were bomb craters, but it certainly makes since.

[@beyond_civilization]

😅

[@lancelot1953]

Thank you for the memories - once beautiful military bases. I did my flight training (US Navy) in Beeville TX in early 80s which was subsequently closed as the Navy was still building new housing for its sailors. It was beautiful then, Ciao, L

[@beyond_civilization]

My pleasure! Thank you for visiting my channel. 🙏🏻

[@lancelot1953]

@@beyond_civilization Hi Beyond Civilization, seeing memories from our past mean a lot to a generation of Baby Boomers, thank you again, Ciao, L

[@BrianMclerran]

I love it but don't understand why everyone thinks they must play music constantly through the production. If not music there has to be some noise. Sorry, but this is distracting and irritating and serves no good purpose.

[@beyond_civilization]

I had no idea some found it so irritating. I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future. Thanks for the feedback. 🙏🏻

[@carlachambers3771]

I think this music can calm down your bad attitude. It's calming and should remind you we don't care. Peace

[@lawnmowermanTX]

Make the music more period specific, and softer by 50%?

[@killerkane1957]

There are three parts to most videos. Always has been. Movies? A video. The three parts? Film, voice, and music.

[@garyjones2582]

I didn't even notice it... Can't be to bad...

[@MarkJones-ix8pl]

My father was stationed at Peyote Army Airforce Base during WW2 - as a cook in the mess. My mother joined him and worked in the Colonel's office, specifically in the JAG office dealing with Courts Marshals. She hated every moment of it. Rattle snakes. and sand blowing up the streets and down the streets one day and down the streets the next.

[@bryanb55]

My dad was stationed in Dalhart. It was a training base for bombers and gliders.

[@jamesbland7668]

Bevillee Texas was a navy airfield and now it is a prison It was V24 training pilots J7 and had bombs trying.

[@coreybobo7111]

Garza Unit

[@Maine307]

i was there on basehousing as akid 1980.. went FMC and elemntary and also Thomas Jefferson Jr High..lol.. its hwere i knew iw as gonna be a Marine when i grew up!! 1987 i think

[@4GSR]

Had a aunt and uncle that live on a hill just outside of Beeville. The house was on the flight path of the jets when they came in from a training mission in the afternoon around 5 pm. Yeah, once in a while one of them would come in low, I mean low, and shake and rattle every window and glass and mess up the screen on the TV. My uncle would get mad and pissed off cussing up a storm because they messed up the football game he was watching! Lol!

[@allenmurray7893]

Don't forget Connally, Gary, and MacGregor AFB's in Waco and San Marcos. Also, Laredo AFB. Eagle Mountain Lake AAFB above Ft. Worth.

[@bobbyb.1743]

Webb AFB in Big Spring, Tx. & Perrin AFB in Sherman, Tx. have also been closed and are well worth visiting. We were stationed at both in the 60’s and I have great childhood memories from them. Each of these bases have their own unique history with museums on site and are easily accessed if you find yourself in the area.

[@topG-4xchamp]

Just checked your channel out and this is amazing, love your work

[@beyond_civilization]

Awesome! I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Thanks so much for supporting my channel!! 🙏🏻

[@jimmyaber5920]

There is a large army training base 2 mi west of I35 just north of Gainesville Texas. A few smaller structures remain scattered over a 3 mile wide area. In winter when grass has died there are many sets of piers where barracks buildings were located. It was abandoned and returned to private owners by 1948. Surprising that so many of the barracks sites remain and have not been dozed down.

[@PaisanosRoostFarm]

That would be Camp Howze.

[@storm-aircorporation6540]

Camp Hulen was a military training camp near Palacios, Texas, United States that operated from 1925 until 1946, and at one time supported the largest concentration of troops for field training in the United States military. Camp Palacios was established in 1925 as a summer training camp for the 36th Infantry of the Texas National Guard. The camp was renamed for Major John A. Hulen (1871-1957) in 1930. In 1940, the War Department leased Camp Hulen for anti-aircraft training of National Guard units from around the country. At its peak, the camp had facilities for 12,000 military personnel and continued as a training facility until early 1944. German prisoners of war were housed at Camp Hulen from 1943 to 1945. In 1946, the War Department returned Camp Hulen to the National Guard, for whom it had become too small. The camp was closed in 1946 and dismantled. The army air base became the Palacios Municipal Airport in 1965. A housing development company bought the land in 2005.

[@trumpsmessage7777]

I didn't know about Vancourt but definitely did know about Hartley in Dalhart and Marfa AAF. Such a large amount of infrastructure.

[@chrisdavis2574]

Great video but Ft. Wolters was need under the Air Force. Us Army Primary Helicopter Training during Vietnam

[@allen_p]

Mentioning army ammunition manufacturing base. On the North shore of the Houston Ship Channel where present day Beltway 8 freeway runs is the remains of Army Bunkers and some warehouses that stored army shells and ammunition during WWII. The area is called Jacinto Port. Many of the concrete bunkers were destroyed during the construction of Beltway 8.

[@worldtraveler930]

I have had the opportunity to work at the El Dorado Space Command center for a couple of weeks when it was still active and I have many good memoryes and if they ever do decide to shut it completely down I hope they preserve it as a form of museum!!! P.s. Some of the Best Base Chow I've Ever Eaten was at that station!!! 🤠👍

[@Risteard156]

Just a amazing video of Air Force bases that are all closed down today such a shame but don't forget they did serve their purpose for many many years and protect us 🇺🇸💯👍

[@williamsutherland7208]

I spent 20 years in the Army as an EOD Tech. I spent most of my time in Texas area of operations. Please be careful around all of these old military forts and bases. Most have never been cleared unexploded ordnance. Especially any that had firing or bombing ranges.

[@norm5785]

You are absolutely correct

[@Einwetok]

Especially islands! I remember one off California, where a whole side of the island was caved in from all the arty. Defused 5" shells lay all over the place.

[@donnakuykendall5402]

Very interesting video. I am from Texas and have known about some of these places for years as I was born during the war. But I never knew about the WASP site and probably not too many other people do either. Am so glad that you included that one.

[@beyond_civilization]

Honestly, I'm still discovering new places myself; there are just so many in Texas. Thanks so much for watching my video! 🙏🏻

[@bobmckenna5511]

Great production, thank you.

[@beyond_civilization]

Thanks for watching, my friend! 🙏🏻

[@bruces3613]

In the 1980's while on counterinsurgency maneuvers in Eielson AFB, Alaska my team stumbled upon an abandoned anti-ballistic missile radar site, the radar dome was a huge geodesic structure over a dish at least three stories high. Adjacent to it was a building for a diesel generator so large it had a staircase to reach the top where trash can sized valve springs were visible. Still a small representation of engineering and money wasted on war over the years, truly a blight upon the human race.

[@jimhuff1292]

I was stationed at El Dorado air station, was there when it closed down 1995. We had to ride from Goodfellow AFB in a bus to get to work. It was part of Space Command. The worst part of working there was the ride to work.

[@worldtraveler930]

I had the opportunity to work there for a couple of weeks when it was still active and have many fond memories I think I still have a hat somewhere for Space Command plus I will have to say it's probably the Best Base Chow of any of the bases I had the opportunity to subcontract at!!! 🤠👍

[@OneAsterick]

I’ve spent some time at Fort Wolters with the Texas National Guard between 2009-2014.

[@Golgi-Gyges]

Me too

[@garylanders1287]

Thanks for creating this interesting video, as you mentioned, there are more, like Camp Barkley near Abilene, or Camp Bowie near Brownwood. you should do another video

[@beyond_civilization]

I might! Thanks so much for the encouraging feedback. 🙏🏻

[@memeruss9896]

Very interesting video like all of your others. I've been sort of binge watching your videos today! I found this one a little more interesting as I didn't know a lot about the bases you listed. I always knew there were some major bases in Texas during WWII and the Cold War, but had no idea there were as many. I also didn't know the Enola Gay was stationed and flew out of Pyote AFB in Texas, that's really neat!! I had several family members in the Air Force that were stationed at some of the bases in Texas, one of them the base in Mineral Wells. My dad was stationed out of Fort Bliss back in WWII.

[@kenday7942]

You missed a pretty big one I think up here in North Central Texas: Camp Howze, Texas, was an infantry replacement training center located adjacent to the town of Gainesville in Cooke County, Texas.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

There’s one base, that’s absolutely forgotten… Avenger Air Field in Sweetwater, TX. It’s an old Women Air Service Pilot’s training field.

[@jday2383]

HaHa, they were not "old women" pilots! They were young,vibrant and very patriotic women who dedicated and sacrificed them selves for for their country! Awesome recently updated museum and collections!

[@lawnmowermanTX]

@@jday2383 Oh yeah. Yet it was a great way for single women to meet male pilots.

[@davidroman1654]

@@jday2383 Most of the young women did not sacrifice then selves. They did make sacrifices to serve just like the young men that served.

[@BeachsideHank]

Thirty-eight women pilots sacrificed their lives in support of WWII.

[@justinupshaw672]

I live there 😂 it's not forgotten

[@Xr150hobbys]

Love your show and all the info you give.i love exploring

[@beyond_civilization]

I'm so glad you're enjoying it, my friend. Thanks for the kind words! 👍🏼

[@Xr150hobbys]

@@beyond_civilization you bet

[@xjp1998]

I grew up at Dalhart and worked at the Municipal Airport which was the Main military airbase and is still in use today, the west base we used to drag race on the tarmac, Hartley field when I lived their was used as a glider airport. But seems it is now closed.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

I thought I saw a UFO at the Marfa Airfield...It was a blimp. lol

[@mickeymang6]

We still use Fort Walters. TEXAS National Guard uses it for training, and it has a pistol and rifle range.

[@worldtraveler930]

I have a friend who is a National Guardsmen who says they Also have part of the Fort Walter's base still active for their use!!! 🤠👍

[@35jdub]

I'm surprised you didn't include the old radar base from the Cold War that is near Ozona. The barracks had been turned into apartments at one point. In the mid 2000s, one of America's Most Wanted was found hiding out there.

[@beyond_civilization]

Wow, cool! I'll look into that place. Thanks for the tip! 🙏🏻

[@bammab977]

Most of the Dallas Fort Worth Texas Nike Missile bases still exist. Alvarado ( the one you showed), Denton IFC (the missile launch area was recently removed) ,Mineral Wells and Terrell.

[@Jerry-ff3ry]

I believe the ABARS from the IFC were dismantled and sent to Korea in the late 60s

[@ryant115]

My Dad and I use to fish in Pringle Lake. Often we would take a side trip and check out the ruins of Matagorda Island AFB. Lots of snakes and few gators are all that is left for the most part. Very cool place of history. I haven't been since he passed...maybe it's time to revisit it.

[@lymanfaith1183]

The AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar system at Eldorado was moved to Clear AFS, AK in 1998. I was the Operations Officer at Clear when PAVE PAWS was installed.

[@beyond_civilization]

I read about that; cool! It's an honor to have you at my channel.

[@SamMatlock-n9v]

There’s a WWII glider training base just North of Lamesa. They trained to fly gliders for DDay over Normandy.

[@beyond_civilization]

That's fascinating. No matter how much of Texas I've explored, I always keep learning more. Thanks for the tip! 👍🏼

[@beverlystufflebeam5731]

If we have 10 bases not used then why are we building another new one… why can’t we just revamp at least 1 of these.

[@terriseaton3049]

US Military, this would be to easy!

[@HENSLEYMB]

Location is taken into consideration. The airfields in west Texas were there because of the warmer and clearer weather more suited for training novice pilots. The flatter land was good for bombardier training. Also more secluded, away from noisy neighbors.

[@beverlystufflebeam5731]

@@HENSLEYMB yes I understand that. My husband was in the United States Air Force. We spent 6 years in. He passed 3 years ago and was a Viet Nam vet.

[@JackNiles-hc8yz]

What new one? And where?

[@bonitaarmstrong1973]

My aunt worked at Ft Walters as a civilian for yéars til it closed. Audie Murphy did his basic training there when he joined the Army during WW 2.

[@schlaznger8049]

The military base is straight out from Port Oconner . You also forgot to mention the old light house on the same island.

[@randleleewhitney6343]

As a squirt, I remember viewing Peyote from the highway and B-36s wingtip to wingtip as far as my 7-year old eyes could see. Those eyes are now 80+ and I still can feel the ground shake as the monsters took flight.

[@kurtdowney1489]

Great video

[@beyond_civilization]

Thanks so much, my friend! 🙏🏻

[@worldtraveler930]

I second that motion!!! 🤠👍

[@wadem4955]

Too bad Moody didn't make the list. It's a feedlot now... B25 training base east of Pampa, TX

[@VeteranAviator]

There’s another one a couple miles NE of Matagorda AFB. It’s called Pearce Field.

[@bluskytoo]

cool video , thank you for your research

[@secretagent_jp]

Nice vid! Another one few people know about is the Hereford Internment Camp just outside of Hereford, TX in the panhandle. My grandfather used to own the farm right next to it so I got to go over there all the time growing up. It was an internment camp that housed Italian POW's during WWII. It's got a really cool chapel and is worth looking up!

[@beyond_civilization]

That does sound interesting! I'll definitely check it out. Huge thanks for the heads up! 👍🏼

[@roncleaver1189]

NAS Roddfield trained many WW2 pilots including many famous pilots. In the 60’s it became part of NASA where the the first live TV transmission from space happened here. Today there are still the concrete runways in existence and has become Bill Witt park.

[@basilmiller8307]

My brother in law took helicopter flight school at Fort Walters, Texas, I visited him there.

[@DeadlyKnot]

Shooo. Time to explore them all!

[@beyond_civilization]

Amen, brother! 👏🏻😂

[@johno7858]

Also, the airfield in Brady.

[@A5JDZK]

Awesome man. Thanks for sharing. There was an Army Post near Bastrop, TX. It has some pretty cool history. It may be worth taking a look at.

[@beyond_civilization]

Nice! I'll check it out. Thanks so much for your support and feedback! 🙏🏻

[@gs1100ed]

Camp Swift?

[@A5JDZK]

@@gs1100ed I think that's it. I didn't realize it was still in use by the TX Army/Air Guard.

[@georgesolid1518]

That one in El Dorado was called the PAVE PAWS we were trained about them because we were radar techs in AF.

[@KB-ke3fi]

I used to fly down to Matagorda Island on an old airstrip base there in the early 80's.

[@danven1256]

My home is about a quarter mile away from the West Coast PAVE PAWS installation at Beale Air Force Base. I suspect if WWIII breaks out I probably won't be around to see it finished.

[@beyond_civilization]

😅

[@kirkmooneyham]

PAVE PAWS (also one on the East Coast) replaced that earlier system that was talked about in the video. It can see a lot further "over the horizon". The building housing the phased array is HUGE!

[@jamescoe4765]

I am curious about what happened to the WWII Army Air Force training base in San Antonio called Hondo?

[@richarddegen6184]

Hondo is a town west of San antonio about 30 miles or so, there are runways there still in use

[@Paul205X0]

Still used for screening applicants for Air Force pilot training I think. Used to use Cessna 152 and 172.

[@whalesong999]

Not sure of the name of the base near San Angelo but we used to go down from Kansas in 1962 and '63 to road race our motorcycles which mixed in the competitors from all over including Mexico, the Carabella factory. It was sponsored by the Concho Valley Timing Association who gave out the trophies. The runways were in good shape, hardly any grass clumps in the crevasses. I don't recall any structures remaining on the site.

[@larryroach8970]

Goodfellow still active

[@dragracingrule]

My dad grew up in Hondo tx, about an hour west of San Antonio. The base is still there, it use to be Hondo airbase. It’s now an airport but a lot of the old concrete is there where the barracks were.

[@davidkimmel5153]

Very interesting thank for sharing

[@lawnmowermanTX]

I grew up driving by Rattle Snake 🐍 AFB from the 70’s till the late 90’s. The old hangar, served as a “Square Dance Hall”. I read that Pyote AFB was the best decorated base.

[@jerrybandy3827]

I've been in the Rattlesnake Bomber hanger a couple times. The movie Fandango was filmed there back in the mid 80s. "UltimateFandango".7:24

[@HateTheGameTX]

I don’t live too far from Camp Fannin. I’m curious how and where you were able to walk around there. Also, Longhorn Ammunition Depot is very cool, and eerily quiet.

[@beardenjason2926]

He must have explored much farther off the path. I've been once and didn't realize it went that far.

[@HateTheGameTX]

@@beardenjason2926 According to Google Maps, there seems to be only one spot to explore, which is behind the hospital.

[@HateTheGameTX]

Scratch that, maybe 2 possible entry points into the woods. Both on the road that goes around the hospital.

[@rjperez1554]

Logan heights in El Paso ,turned to community college off Dyer street.

[@boerne_ben]

Where did you find the source for the M3 Lee's being at Camp Fannin?

[@beyond_civilization]

www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/health-science-center/about/camp-fannin-archives.php

[@russellarmer-ml1ir]

i have heard of the longhorn amunition plant

[@samuelhadley5556]

You left out the abandoned military base in channelview Texas. We used to go there quite often and roam around in the barracks and roads.🤔🤠👍⭐🇺🇲

[@tomcaldwell5750]

Thank you, for another great video. 👍

[@beyond_civilization]

My pleasure! Thank you for always supporting my channel, Tom; it means a lot. 🙏🏻

[@HM2SGT]

2:29 *If you read for pleasure, you should read the book **_Chickenhawk,_** by and about an army helicopter pilot who trained at Fort Walters before deploying to Vietnam. Really interesting stuff about the training out there.*

[@delnayelan]

GREAT VIDEO!

[@beyond_civilization]

I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks so much for watching. 😁👍🏼

[@worldtraveler930]

I second that motion!!! 🤠👍

[@Wichitan]

Re the PAVE Phased Array Warning System (PAWS), I'm pretty sure there was another installation at Kwajalein Atoll. My ship visited Kwajalein in the late 1980s and there was a large pseudo-pyramidal building that looked very similar to the Eldorado installation.

[@LeeZee-bt7dq]

Being retired from the Air Force I found this very interesting. Thank you for creating it.

[@beyond_civilization]

I'm really glad I'm not the only one who finds this fascinating. Thanks so much for coming by. 🙏🏻

[@4GSR]

The old Aloe Airfield just outside of Victoria, Texas was turned part into industrial park and where the barracks were, now a housing subdivision called Quail Creek. I own and live in a house there today. Still some remnants of the base are still here. The original hanger is still here and occupied by a company as well as the old control tower.

[@beyond_civilization]

That is really fascinating! I had no idea about that. 😮

[@john46tm]

Hondo Army Airfield in Hondo, Tx during WW2. Built in under 100 days it was the largest air navigation school at the time.

[@LINUXDEVS]

Fascinating work.

[@beyond_civilization]

Thanks so much! 🙏🏻

[@MichaelEvans-j7t]

My father was stationed at DF-50 in fire control. Then transferred to Dillsboro Indiana Nike base

[@dannyhardesty3692]

El--Dur---RAID--OH...:) This is a good video. Always learning something!

[@robertcombs55]

Been there....SJT Texas

[@rg1599]

Fort Wolters had a Nike missile site as well. I visited it several years ago. It adjoins Lake Mineral Wells State Park which was made from parts of Fort Wolters land I believe. Several areas/buildings are now used by commercial businesses, schools and a national guard training facility.

[@golfbravowhiskey8669]

You missed prairie hill tx and a few more on the coast down my corpus

[@cliffkammerdiener8103]

There is a huge abandoned army training base outside of Abilene. Trained thousands of soldiers for WWII. It is now a ranch and about the only thing left are the gates. This is not to be confused with Dyess AF Base in Abilene, that is alive and well.

[@franciscodanconia4324]

There’s also the nuclear missile silos dotted all around the area. When I lived in Abilene back in the 00s I knew a guy that had converted one of the silos into his home.

[@cliffkammerdiener8103]

@@franciscodanconia4324 yes and one that has filled with ground water and it's deep enough the owner lets people scuba in there. It's weird.

[@worldtraveler930]

I've heard about the bases and their post military use over the years and have been fascinated and I would love to see one in reality someday!!! 🤠👍