Carl Edwards says "I'm always at home on Midwest dirt" in a television commercial. Me too, but instead of racing on short tracks like Carl does, I bounce along section roads looking for military history. My move from Texas to Colorado gave me the opportunity to spend a few days in Kansas enjoying those red dirt section roads.
Saturday, 25 Aug 2007
Waving goodbye to the DFW Metroplex at about 0815, I took I-35 out of Texas, across Oklahoma, and into Kansas.
McConnell AF Missile Site #12 (532-3) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #13 (532-4) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #15 (532-6) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #15 Water Annex Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #14 (532-5) Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #14 Water Annex Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #16 (532-7) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #18 Water Annex Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #18 (532-9) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #17 (532-8) Photo Photo
McConnell AF Missile Site #17 Water Annex Photo Photo
After all these Titan II installations I needed a change of pace, so I found one W.W.II airfield to finish up the day. Pratt AAFld is now Pratt Industrial Airport (PTT). I observed a couple of hangars, parachute drying building, and possibly a bombsight storage unit.
I stopped for the night in Pratt, Kansas, at 1830. 10.25 hours on the road, covering 529 miles.
Sunday, 26 Aug 2007
Getting an early start from Pratt, my first order of business was to make a wide sweep to the west and back east, collecting some far-flung W.W.II airfields.
Early in my morning's drive, I passed through the town of Greensburg. You may recall that in May 2007, just over three months before my visit, Greensburg was hit and mostly destroyed by a F5 tornado, and several people lost their lives. This news had slipped my mind and the town just happened to be along my path, so I was unprepared for what I saw. The central part of the town looked like it had been bombed in a war. Seriously. Partially standing buildings, piles of rubble, and twisted sheet metal were everywhere. Please send a prayer or some positive energy to the people of Greensburg as they rebuild their town and their way of life.
Liberal AAFld is now Liberal Municipal Airport (LBL). Some buildings from W.W.II remain, including hangars, storage buildings, and others.
Garden City AAFld is now Garden City Municipal Airport (GCK). I saw only one building that seemed to be W.W.II vintage.
Dodge City AAFld is now partly empty land, dotted with W.W.II vintage chimneys, and partly occupied by the Stanley Feed Yard. One hangar is barely visible.
Great Bend AAFld is now Great Bend Municipal Airport (GBD). A few hangars, a water storage tank, and what may have been bombsight storage units still stand.
From Great Bend I continued east toward Salina, picking off a couple Schilling AFB Atlas F missile sites.
Schilling AF Missile Site #6 (550-6) Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site #4 (550-4) Photo Photo Photo
Next I sought out Schilling Communications Annex (Receiver), located just a couple miles west of the former base. Remember the introductory comments I made about dirt and racing? I was all smiles when I noticed this property was now home to Salina Speedway, with the Air Force communications building still standing prominently at the facility. If I had been a day earlier the gates would have been open for Saturday night's racing events -- unfortunately the place was locked up when I made my visit. Midwest dirt!
I had visited Schilling AFB, now Salina Municipal Airport (SLN), and found Schilling ILS MM Annex several years ago. With limited daylight to work with, I took a few quick photos of the MM Annex, weapons storage area, double cantilever hangar, and the SAC molehole. Other areas of the base looked much as they had in 2001.
Tonight's hotel was in Salina, Kansas. This day's drive covered 542 miles in 11.5 hours.
Monday, 27 Aug 2007
I ate breakfast at the hotel and hit the road about 0715. Braving rush-hour traffic in Salina (haha!), I headed for a series of Atlas site visits in the surrounding area.
Schilling AF Missile Site 3 (550-3) Photo Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 2 (550-2) Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 1 (550-1) Photo Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 10 (550-10) Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 9 (550-9) Photo Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 7 (550-7) Photo
Schilling AF Missile Site 8 (550-8) Photo Photo
A change of pace seemed appropriate, so I cruised west on I-70 to Walker, and made my way north to the former Walker AAFld. It's not easy to get to, and it's heavily secured with signs warning against trespassing. From the distance I could see one standing hangar, the concrete tower for a water storage tank, a few chimneys, the side supports from another hangar, and another building.
West again, then north, found me at the site of the former Oberlin Communications Site GWEN 843. Having the typical 299' tower and dual equipment shelters, It appears unchanged since its Air Force use ended several years ago.
I stopped for the night in Goodland, Kansas. This was an 11.25-hour driving day, covering 558 miles.
Tuesday, 28 Aug 2007
This was an easy day. Sleep in, visit one airport, and drive west for a few hours.
Goodland Municipal Airport is now Renner Field/Goodland Municipal Airport (GLD). Two hangars appear to be W.W.II or earlier vintage. A vintage aerial recognition sign is still in good condition.
I made it to my new digs in Denver by noon, covering 207 miles in 4 hours today. This four-day trip covered 1836 total miles.
