Trip Report: Louisiana Locations
First published in 2002. Reformatted 2025. This report captures various minor visits I made during and shortly after my assignment at Barksdale AFB. These are Louisiana locations, unless indicated otherwise. There are a few outliers from Arkansas, Mississippi, and even one from Alabama. These were random visits that were not part of an organized trip. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them. 861st AAF Specialized Depot LA, 29-56-48, 90-00-19. I served on the board of examiners of the Louisiana Quality Awards, and this required trips to Lafayette and to New Orleans. On 12 October 1997, I searched for the former depot in New Orleans. Based on the address, 7200 N. Peters Street, I believe it was in this industrial building.Building
Building Arcadia Radar Bomb Scoring Site LA, 32-36-20, 92-50-12. Based on a real property map, I attempted to find this former RBS site. I saw no distinct signatures of the site, which was leased in 1970. I don't know how long it remained in use. As close as I can tell it was in this general area. Visited on 12 October 1996.
General view Barksdale Family Housing Annex LA, PIN 1095. Back in 1941, civilian war worker housing was constructed in Bossier City, under the Lanham Act. It was referred to as Barksdale Homes, or simply as defense housing. In 1947, Barksdale Homes was transferred from the National Housing Authority to the Air Force (or Army Air Forces, depending on the exact date). It was was used as family housing by Barksdale AFB for some years before being declared excess, and disposed of, in 1960. The housing buildings stood until sometime in the early 1990s, but were gone when I visited the property in May 1997.
Concrete pads and fire hydrant
Concrete pad and road Nike BD-10C LA, 32-40-20, 93-31-18. The control site is used for administration, classrooms, and dorms for the CJI. The original Army buildings still serve with some modifications, but the look is vintage Nike. One 40-foot radar tower still stands, and is used for rappelling training. A second metal tower and two concrete radar towers were removed several years ago. The original water well was replaced only a few years ago by local water service. The original flagpole was a creosote-soaked wooden pole, and blew down in a storm a few years ago. Carpet covers most of the floors, but in part of one building the original floor tiles are visible. On 25 November 1995 I made my first visit and photographed the control site with several buildings and one radar tower extant. On 17 May 1996 I photographed the control site from the air. In June 1997 I explored the control site enjoying a look at the radar tower and other buildings. On 18 April 1998, I took a guided tour of the former Bellevue Nike Site, now the Bossier Parish Community College Criminal Justice Institute (CJI). My host was the Dean of the CJI, Milton Rawls (an Air Force veteran). Also with us was Bill Shield (an Air Force retiree), who arranged this tour on my behalf (Bill's wife is second in command at the CJI).
Building
Building
Building and tower
Aerial view of site
Tower and building
Building
Tower base
Tower
Building
Building interior Nike BD-10L LA, 32-40-28, 93-30-35. The launcher site is used for tactical and firearms training. This site had aboveground launchers: three separate bermed areas, each subdivided by a smaller berm into two launching bays. Each of these six bays was home to two missile launchers. The sentry box still stands, as does an administrative building. The missile assembly building is used for storage. One of the berms surrounding the warheading building serves as a backstop for a small arms range. The warheading building itself (4-ton overhead hoist still in place) is used for forced-entry tactical exercises. One of the three former launcher areas is used for small arms firing--the two bays providing excellent locations for Hogan's Alley and Running Man ranges! On 25 November 1995 I made my first visit and photographed what I could, as the launcher site was gated and locked. On 17 May 1996 I photographed the launcher site from the air. In June 1997 I made a quick drive-through of the launcher area. As you can tell from the clouds in this photo, I was trying to get in and out before a thunderstorm hit. I took a quick look at the warheading building, glanced at one of the small protective positions behind a firing area, and noted a new firing range using one of the berms. On 18 April 1998, I took a guided tour of the former Bellevue Nike Site, now the Bossier Parish Community College Criminal Justice Institute (CJI). My host was the Dean of the CJI, Milton Rawls (an Air Force veteran). Also with us was Bill Shield (an Air Force retiree), who arranged this tour on my behalf (Bill's wife is second in command at the CJI).
Building and sentry box behind gate
General view
Gate and sentry box
Aerial view of site
Gate
Buildings
Berm
Warheading building
Berm and entrance doors
Entrance doors
General view
Firing bay with modern firing range
Warheading building interior
Warheading building interior
Firing bay with modern firing range
Firing bay with modern firing range Nike BD-50C LA. I observed the control site on 25 November 1995. I photographed the site from the air on 17 May 1996.
General view from outside gate
General view from outside gate
Aerial view of site Nike BD-50L LA. I observed the launcher site on 25 November 1995. I photographed the site from the air on 17 May 1996.
General view from gate
General view from gate
Aerial view of site Camp Claiborne LA. This appears to be an original gate feature at this large WWII Army post. A historical marker gives historical highlights. I looked for, but did not find, Claiborne AF Range, which occupies part of the former Army camp. Visited 11 February 1996.
Gate feature
Historical marker Camp Shelby East Air-to-Ground Range MS. From the range's main tower, I watched F-16s pop flares, drop practice bombs, and strafe with 20-mm cannons during a Joint Readiness Training Center scenario. The Mississippi Air National Guard operates this range, which I visited as part of a work project on 7 November 1995.
General view from tower Chennault AFB LA, PIN 1083. This was Lake Charles AAFld during WWII, a 3AF base. Reactivated in 1951, as Lake Charles AFB, under SAC. Redesignated Chennault AFB in 1958, and inactivated in 1963. It is an industrial airpark, with the former SAC 100-man "molehole" alert facility looking much like they did when the base was active. I noticed several hangars (including a double-cantilever hangar at the far end of the row in the photo), maintenance docks, and the control tower. Visited 1 September 1995.
100-man readiness crew building
100-man readiness crew building
100-man readiness crew building
Hangars
Hangars
Control tower Craig AFB AL, PIN 1124. Craig Field was an advanced flying school in WWII. It became Craig AFB in 1948, and was inactivated in 1977. Driving down the road from the main gate, it still looks like an Air Force base. A T-33 stands guard, near a WWII chapel. These administrative buildings have seen better years. A water tower and shop buildings still stand as Air Force reminders. A curious feature of Craig is a pond in the center of the base, serving as a buffer between the administrative portion of the base and the flightline area. The flightline itself is a controlled-access area, but I could see the control tower and a few hangars. Visited 16 March 1997.
View down main road
Main gate
T-33 display aircraft
Chapel
Building
Building
Elevated water storage tank
Building
Bridge over pond
Building
Building
Pond and elevated water storage tank
Building
Control tower and buildings
Hangar De Ridder AAB LA. This 3AF field was built in 1941 and still serves as a local airport, with a few reminders of the Army Air Forces visible. It supported Camp Polk. Visited 1 September 1995.
Hangar
Concrete vault from former building England AFB LA, PIN 2120, ILC GAMH. During WWII, Alexandria AAFld, under 2AF, supported Camp Claiborne and Camp Beauregard. Declared surplus in 1946, it was reactivated in 1950 and became Alexandria AFB. This TAC base was redesignated England AFB in 1955. It was inactivated and excessed in 1992. I noted a radar site and a USAF-marked railroad engine. A truck driving school uses part of the flightline. These photos are from a personal visit in February 1995. In January 1996, I rode to England AFB from Fort Polk in a Humvee, part of my duties observing the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotation. The Army uses part of this former Air Force base in the JRTC scenarios.
Radar tower
Locomotive shelter
Locomotive shelter
Airfield ramp
Airfield ramp Esler Field LA. This field supported Camp Claiborne and Camp Beauregard under 2AF, but by war's end it was under 3AF. It still serves as a general aviation airport. Visited 11 February 1996.
Hangar
Hangar
Building Fort Polk LA (Renamed Fort Johnson in 2023). I spent time at Fort Polk in November 1995 and January 1996, observing Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) rotations. From atop a WWII-vintage artillery observation post, I watched Enlisted Terminal Attack Controllers (ETACs) call in air strikes on targets 1.5-2.5 miles away. I watched A-10s and F-16s drop bombs (Mk 82, Mk 84, and cluster), fire rockets, pop self-defense and illumination flares, and fire their 30-mm and 20-mm cannons. We rode around the exercise area in Humvees, and I had an aerial tour of the fort's maneuver area in an Army UH-1B Huey helicopter. Much of the activity was at night, so I learned to use and appreciate night vision goggles. On one of my visits, an Air Force public affairs representative was present. They allowed and encouraged me to take and share photos of Air Force activity, but not Army activity.
Humvees with impact area in background
Artillery observation post
Artillery observation post
Impact area
A-10 aircraft in flight
Humvees Goodwin AF Auxiliary Field AR, ILC JDFM. Under the name Eldorado, this was a 3AF field in WWII. ATC gained it as Goodwin Airfield in 1948. It became Goodwin AF Auxiliary Field in 1949. I haven't learned when it was inactivated. It remains in use as an airport. Visited April 1995.
Beacon light Harrell Field (Plancor 904) AR. This was a contract flying school, operated by Wiggins-Marden Aero Corp. from 1942 to 1944. It is still an active airport. Partway through WWII, the Defense Plant Corporation purchased most of the Army's contract flying schools and gave them numbered Plancor designations. Visited April 1995.
Hangar, buildings, and fire hydrant
Hangar and beacon light Hope AAFld AR. This airfield, with its interesting pre-war hangar, supported the Southwestern Proving Ground during WWII. Visited April 1995.
Hangar
Hangar Lake Charles AFS LA, PIN 3234, ILC MQTF. This long-range radar site was an off-base annex of Barksdale AFB. This installation was activated in 1955, and served from about 1958 until about 1961. Except for a small 1.22-acre parcel containing the GATR building, the property was disposed of. A gap filler radar site then operated on this remaining 1.22 acres until about 1963; the property was reported surplus in 1965 and disposed of in 1966. In 1972, part of the former property was reacquired. A new search radar was installed, and operated until 1996. This third version of the site consists of the center one-third of the original property. On my first visit, on 1 September 1995, the enlisted QAE was kind enough to show me around. The search radar is the centerpiece of the small site, with an administrative building and several other recreational and support buildings still in use. The former AF property to the west of the current site is now home to a plastics company. The former GATR and GFA site is east of the current property, and the building has been converted to a residence. My second visit to the property was 8 September 1997, days after the radar was removed and the tower dismantled. The tower components were to be shipped to another AF location for reuse, leaving the concrete foundation behind. On this visit, my host was the civil service caretaker, who had served at the site for many years as an enlisted technician, and as site manager of the contract operation.
Here is the "before" look in September 1995.
Search radar tower
Search radar tower
Sign at gate
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
General view
Here is the "after" look in September 1997.
General view
General view
General view
Dismantled tower components
Dismantled tower components
Dismantled tower components
Eastern portion of site
Eastern portion of site
Dismantled tower components
Western portion of site
Western portion of site Mansfield AAFld LA. Mansfield AAFld was a 3AF auxiliary to Barksdale Field in WWII. After the war, it was again assigned to Barksdale under the training command. It became De Soto Parish AF Auxiliary Field in 1948. In 1952, it was listed as an inactive SAC installation. It is now a small general aviation airport, with a T-33 on static display and a flightline that looks deserted. Visited 13 August 1994.
T-33 aircraft
Airfield pavement
Airfield pavement Shreveport Municipal Airport LA. This airport was used by 3AF from 1942 to 1944, as an auxiliary to Barksdale Field. It also had Navy use during WWII. I noted different types of hangars, and a terminal building on the quiet airport. Visited August 1994.
Hangar
Hangars
General view Slack AF Depot LA, PIN 1888. This was originally a WWII Army facility known as Shreveport Holding and Reconsignment Depot or Shreveport Quartermaster Depot. It transferred to the Air Force in 1948, becoming Slack AF Depot. It was sometimes also called Slack AF Storage Site. Declared excess in 1960. It is now an industrial park, with vintage warehouses and other buildings mixed with newer construction. Visited August 1994.
General view
General view
General view
General view Texarkana AFS AR, PIN 3315, ILC WUHX. This long-range radar site was activated in 1955, and disposal started in 1969. The search radar continued in use by the FAA until at least 1977. The housing area is still a residential area. Visited in April 1995 and May 1997.
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view Texarkana Field AR. This airport saw WWII use under Air Transport Command. Some sources show it assigned to Stuttgart AAFld. Visited April 1995 and May 1997.
Non-historic sign and building
Gate and non-historic control tower
Airfield Updated January 26, 2025
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