Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth | |||||||||
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Carswell Field | |||||||||
Fort Worth, Texas in the United States | |||||||||
Coordinates | 32°46′09″N 097°26′30″W / 32.76917°N 97.44167°W | ||||||||
Type | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base | ||||||||
Site information | |||||||||
Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||||
Operator | US Navy | ||||||||
Controlled by | Navy Region Southeast | ||||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||||
Website | Official website | ||||||||
Site history | |||||||||
Built | 1942 | (as Tarrant Field)||||||||
In use |
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Garrison information | |||||||||
Current commander | AMSL | ||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (abbreviated NAS JRB Fort Worth)
NAS Fort Worth JRB is the successor to the former
Several United States Navy headquarters and operational units are based at NAS Fort Worth JRB, including
The
Aircraft types initially based at NAS Fort Worth JRB were the
Currently based aircraft are Navy
Origins
Carswell Air Force Base was named after
Carswell's origins date back to the early years of aviation. After the United States' entry into
In 1940 the City of Fort Worth had filed an application with the
World War II
However, after the
The Army Air Forces Combat Crew School (later redesignated Army Air Forces Pilot School, Specialized 4-Engine) took graduates of Training Command's advanced-pilot training schools and experienced 2-engine pilots, and, trained them on flying the B-24 Liberator. The school was officially opened on 12 October 1942
During training, nine-member crews were assigned to each plane, and the crews ate, slept and trained together 24-hours a day. This allowed the crew to learn both the technical skills needed for aircraft operation as well as the other crew members' minds and reactions. Each day they trained five hours in the air and five hours on the ground. Each class lasted four and one-half weeks.[7] Training officials added a Bomb Approach School in October 1943, which incorporated teamwork between a pilot and bombardier. In addition, the 9000th WAC Company of the Women's Army Corps was used in the control tower as well as in the communications office of the base.[7]
In late 1944, the B-24 training was phased out at Fort Worth AAF, being replaced with a
Eventually 40 TB-32 trainers were produced for the training program to get underway. Prospective B-32 pilots underwent 50 hours training in the TB-32s, and co-pilots received 25 hours of flight time and 25 hours of observer training.
Strategic Air Command
In November 1945, jurisdiction of Fort Worth AAF was transferred to Second Air Force, which established its 17th Bombardment Operational Training Wing at the base, equipped with B-29A Superfortresses.[6] The Air Force had decided to keep Fort Worth as a permanent airfield, and, in 1946, constructed an 8,200 ft north–south extra heavy-duty runway for future use.[7]
The number of completed B-32s at the Consolidated plant had reached 74 production aircraft, along with the TB-32 trainers, many of which were parked at the field. These were ordered flown from Fort Worth directly to storage at
Fort Worth Army Air Field was assigned to the newly formed
With its B-29s, the group prepared its people for any combat eventuality that might arise, flying simulated bombing missions over various cities.
On 5 July 1947, a flight of eight B-29s of the 492nd Bomb Squadron deployed from Fort Worth AAF to
On 12 September, the group deployed 30 B-29s to Giebelstadt Army Airfield, near Würzburg, West Germany. This flight was the largest bomber formation flown from Fort Worth AAF overseas to date, landing in Germany on 13 September. During their ten-day stay, the group bombers participated in training operations over Europe, as well as a show-of-force display by the United States in the early part of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The flight redeployed from Germany on 23 September.[13]
Cold War
In 1947, shortly after the United States Air Force was established as a separate branch of the United States military, the
Upon becoming its own service, the USAF renamed many former Army Air Fields as memorials to deceased airmen. On 1 January 1948, Fort Worth Airfield was renamed
On 1 December 1948, the
Since 1942, the
In February 1949, a Boeing B-50 Superfortress (developed from the famed B-29) and named Lucky Lady II took off from Carswell for the first nonstop flight around the world. She returned to Carswell after mid-air refuelings, flying 23,108 miles, and remaining aloft for ninety-four hours and one minute.[19]
In January 1951, the 7th Bombardment Group took part in a special training mission to the United Kingdom. The purpose of the mission was to evaluate the updated B-36D under simulated war-plan conditions and further evaluate the equivalent airspeed and compression tactics for heavy bombardment aircraft. The aircraft, staging through
On 16 February 1951, the '
7th Bombardment Wing
The 7th Bombardment Group was activated at Fort Worth Army Air Field on October 1, 1946 and transferred into SAC as part of 2nd Air Force. On November 3, 1947, the Air Force abandoned the old Group organization of World War II and introduced the Wing Organization. This resulted in all bomb groups being redesignated as wings. Thus the 7th Bomb Group became the 7th Bomb Wing, Very Heavy. The "very heavy," indicating it flew B-29s and B-50s. During this time, its home was renamed Carswell Air Force Base. The unit was equipped with B-29s and was responsible for global bombardment training (Strategic Air Command.com).
Strategic-Air-Command.com; http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings. retrieved 16 May 2017. No Author provided, No date provided
B-36 Peacemaker Era
The wing's mission was to prepare for global strategic bombardment in the event of hostilities. Under various designations, the 7th Bombardment Wing flew a wide variety of aircraft at the base until its inactivation in 1993.[13]
A five-ship B-36 formation was flown on 15 January 1949, in an air review over Washington, D.C., commemorating the inauguration of the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.[13] By September 1952, the B-36s assigned to the 7th and 11th Wings comprised two thirds of SAC's intercontinental bomber force.[20]
On 1 September 1952, what was then thought to be a tornado rolled across the Carswell flight line, with winds over 90 miles per hour recorded at the control tower. By the time it had passed "the flight line was a tangle of airplanes, equipment and pieces of buildings."
In 1954, Carswell was prominently featured and used as a filming location in the James Stewart and June Allyson film Strategic Air Command.[21] 11th Bomb Group B-36s appeared with James Stewart who was also attached to the unit in the 1950s as a unit commander in his then-rank of Colonel in the Air Force Reserve.[17]
On 13 June 1955, the Strategic Air Command realigned its three numbered air forces resulting in Headquarters, 8 AF moving from Carswell to
On 16 February 1951, the 11th Bombardment Wing was activated and the 11th Bombardment Group was assigned to it, although all group resources were transferred to the wing until the group was inactivated in June 1952. The wing deployed to Nouasseur Air Base, French Morocco from 4 May until 2 July 1955. The wing won the SAC Bombing Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1954, 1956 and 1960.
The phrase "7–11" must have been considered a lucky combination, because the two wings continued to share Carswell Air Force Base until 13 December 1957, when the 11th moved to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma and began receiving Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses.[17]
During January 1958, the wing began transferring its B-36 bombers to various SAC wings. On 20 January, the wing transferred all B-52 equipment and property on hand to the 4123rd Strategic Wing in order to facilitate that organization's conversion, which was scheduled several months ahead of the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell.
On 30 May, Memorial Day, the last of the B-36s in the wing was retired with appropriate ceremonies and an "Open House." Air Force and civilian personnel of the base, and civilians from surrounding communities, were on hand to bid the "Peacemaker" a fond farewell. This last flight of a B-36 phased-out completely the B-36 program for the wing.[13]
B-52 Stratofortress Era
On 10 December 1957, the
On 19 February 1958, the 4123d Strategic Wing took possession of the first Boeing B-52 Stratofortress on Carswell. At the arrival ceremony on base, the bomber was named "The City of Fort Worth." It was subsequently assigned to the 98th Bombardment Squadron of the wing. Shortly following the arrival of B-52 bombers to the 4123rd Strategic Wing, the unit was moved to new facilities at
On 13 April 1965, the 7th Bomb Wing deployed its forces to
B-52 crews were sent through an intensive two-week course on the B-52D, making them eligible for duty in Southeast Asia. B-52s assigned to combat duty in Vietnam were painted in a modified camouflage scheme with the undersides, lower fuselage, and both sides of the vertical fin being painted in a glossy black. The USAF serial number was painted in black on the fin over a horizontal red stripe across the length of the fin.[23]
The B-52 effort was concentrated primarily against suspected Viet Cong targets in South Vietnam, but the Ho Chi Minh Trail and targets in Laos were also hit. During the relief of Khe Sanh, unbroken waves of six aircraft, attacking every three hours, dropped bombs as close as 900 feet (270 m) from friendly lines. Cambodia was increasingly bombed by B-52s from March 1969 onward.[23]
Rotational deployments to Guam, and also to
By 1984, Carswell was the largest unit of its kind in the Strategic Air Command. The 7th Bomb Wing contributed personnel to
43d Bombardment Wing
In January 1960, the USAF announced its intention to activate the first
On 1 August 1960, the USAF finally formally assumed B-58 operations responsibility and began testing. 59-2436, the first fully operational Hustler equipped with all tactical systems, was delivered to the 43rd. Two weeks later, the first TB-58A was delivered to Carswell.[6][24]
After July 1961, the wing continued further B-58 evaluations until June 1962. One of the first duties of the 43d was to operate a school to evaluate the new supersonic jet bomber.
On 12 January 1961, Major Henry J. Deutschendorf (singer
The bomber set three speed records over the 1000 kilometer (km) course with a 2000 kilogram (kg), 1000 kg, and 0 kg payload—averaging 1,200.194 miles per hour (mph) in each category. The crew managed an average speed of 1,061.88 mph (1,708.93 km/h) in each of the same payload categories over the 2000 km course. This flight set the pace for the 43rd with the B-58.[24]
From then until the close of 1969, the wing served as one of two SAC B-58 wings with a strategic-bombardment mission.
One of the last things the wing did while at Carswell AFB took place on 28 March 1964, the day after a
Air Force Reserve
In addition to the SAC units, the
Beginning in 1972, the
The 301st replaced the Air Force Reserve's 916th Military Airlift Group (916 MAG), which was inactivated.
Inactivation
Carswell AFB was selected for closure under the
During the 1992 Air Force-wide reorganization, SAC was disestablished on 1 June. Carswell and the 7th Bomb Wing were assigned to the newly created
In 1993, Congress directed the establishment of the nation's first joint reserve base under the Base Realignment and Closure authority.[29] Carswell ceased USAF active duty operations on 30 September 1993, and was transferred to the Air Force Base Conversion Agency (AFBCA) for property distribution and reuse.[29]
On 1 October 1993, the Air Force Reserve's
The base retained the name Carswell Air Force Base until 1993. At that time, the
On September 20, 2009, the airfield was used as a refueling stop for the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) piggybacking the Space Shuttle Discovery back to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) from Amarillo after STS-128. The short hops between refueling the SCA were due to the heavy payload still inside the orbiter, specifically the Leonardo (ISS module) that carried wastes from the International Space Station. After refueling, the tandem flew to Barksdale Air Force Base, using most of the runway.[citation needed] This was the last flight of a Space Shuttle between Edwards Air Force Base and Kennedy Space Center; all of the remaining landings of the Shuttle were at KSC.
Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, part of Navy Installation Command's Navy Region Southeast, is a joint defense facility which plays a pivotal role in training and equipping air crews and aviation ground support personnel. The Navy Fort Worth "team" ensures reservists receive quality training in preparation for mobilization readiness; here to serve the reservists, tenants, and surrounding communities while accomplishing its primary purpose of defense readiness for the United States.[citation needed]
Current operations
The base, now part of
As of June 2011, there were 11,300 employees on NAS Fort Worth JRB (including active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard, and civilians).[30]
NAS Fort Worth JRB units schedule a variety of airspace. The key area for fighter operations is the Brownwood Military Operations Area (Brownwood MOA). This MOA, originally developed to serve
The recent decision to join the Brady and Brownwood MOAs will provide additional maneuver airspace for Air Intercept Control/Air Combat Maneuvering (AIC/ACM) training. When scheduled concurrently, these areas enable numerous aircraft from several units to participate in joint fighter/bomber training exercises. Brownwood MOA is the subject of an innovative test to improve the dissemination of
The base's runway is also used by
The base has an
The current (13th) Commanding Officer of NAS Fort Worth JRB is Captain Mark McLean, USN.
Federal Medical Center, Carswell, a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, is located in the northeast corner of NAS Fort Worth JRB, utilizing the facility that was formerly the USAF Hospital for Carswell AFB.[31] Its address is Building 3000 along J Street.[32]
Tenant commands
- Headquarters, NAS Fort Worth JRB
- Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing (COMFLELOGSUPWING, or CFLSW)[33]
- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 59(VR-59) C-40A Clipper
- Branch Health & Dental Clinic, Detachment Fort Worth
- Commander Naval Reserve Intelligence Command
- Reserve Intelligence Area Southeast (RIASE)
- Commander Tactical Support Wing (CTSW)
- NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center JAX Detachment Fort Worth
- Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West(FRCRMW)
- Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, Detachment Fort Worth (FRCRMW Det Fort Worth)
- Maritime Expeditionary Security Detachment 1 Detachment D (MSRON 1 Det D)
- Naval Air Technical Data And Engineering Service Command Detachment
- Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Detachment
- Navy Operations Support Center, Fort Worth (NOSC)
- NCTAMS Lant Detachment BCO
- Navy Region Southeast, Reserve Component Command-Fort Worth
- Expeditionary Medical Facility Dallas One (EMF Dallas One)
United States Marine Corps Reserve
- Marine Aircraft Group 41(MAG-41)
- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112)
- Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234)
- Marine Transport Squadron 1 (VMR-1)
- 14th Marine Regiment
- Marine Air Control Squadron 24 (MACS-24)
United States Marine Corps Recruiting Command
- Headquarters, 8th Marine Corps Recruiting District (HQ, 8MCD)
United States Air Force Reserve
- Headquarters, Tenth Air Force (10 AF)
- 301st Fighter Wing (301 FW) F-16C/D Block 30
- 457th Fighter Squadron (Reserve)
United States Army Reserve
- 370th Chemical Company
- 607th Military Police Battalion
- 90th Aviation Support Battalion
- Alpha Company, 6th Battalion, 52d Aviation Regiment
Texas Air National Guard
- 136th Airlift Wing (136 AW)
- 136th Operation Group (136 OG)
- 181st Airlift Squadron (181 AS) C-130H
- 181st Airlift Control Flight (181 ACF)
- 136th Operations Support Flight (136 OSF)
- 136th Mission Support Group (136 MSG)
- 136th Civil Engineer Squadron (136 CES)
- 531st Air Force Band
United States Air Force
- 495th Fighter Group - F-16C/D Block 30
- 24th Fighter Squadron (Active Associate)
Major U.S. Air Force Commands to which assigned
- Second Air Force, c. 26 June 1942
- Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, 30 June 1942
- Second Air Force, 21 November 1944
- Continental Air Forces, 15 April 1945
- Redesignated: Strategic Air Command, 21 March 1946[6]
- Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – 30 September 1993[27]
Former units
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Previous names
- Army Air Forces Combat Crew School, Tarrant Field (aka Tarrant Field and Tarrant Field Airdrome), c. 1 July 1942
- Fort Worth Army Air Field, 29 July 1942 – 13 January 1948
- Griffiss Air Force Base, 13 January 1948 – 29 January 1948
- Carswell Air Force Base, 29 January 1948 – 30 September 1994[6]
Strategic Air Command aircraft previously assigned
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress (bomber)
- Convair B-36 Peacemaker (bomber; piston and jet-driven)
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (bomber) F, D H
- Convair B-58 Hustler (supersonic bomber)
- Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter (aerial refueling aircraft)
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (jet aerial refueling aircraft)
In popular culture
- Strategic Air Command, starring James Stewart, was partly filmed at the base.
- On the NBC television series Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) reported for Marine Corps Reserve duty at Fort Worth for F/A-18 Hornet flight operations. The show incorrectly referred to the base as "National Guard Training Center Fort Worth" and the squadron shown was VMFA-134, the "Smokes". In reality, the "Smokes" were stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar prior to their 2007 transition to cadre status. The Marine Corps Reserve F/A-18 squadron actually based at NAS Fort Worth JRB is VMFA-112, the "Cowboys".
See also
- 34th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
- List of airports in Texas
- List of United States Navy airfields
- Strategic Air Command (film)
- Texas World War II Army Airfields
References
- Notes
- ^ One plane was written off, another was bailed to Convair to be used for experiments with nuclear power. McGowan, p. 65.
- Citations
- PDF
- ^ "Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth". cnrse.cnic.navy.mil. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- PDF, effective 2007-12-20
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Mueller, [page needed]
- ^ ISBN 1625110006
- ^ a b Baugher, Joe (1999), The Liberator Production Pool
- ^ 34th Flying Training Wing, lineage and history document Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- ^ accident-report.com Fort Worth Army Air Field Archived 2014-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d Baugher, Joe (1999), Consolidated B-32 Dominator
- ^ Maurer[page needed]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell AFB". Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ a b c d Ravenstein, p. 5.
- ^ a b "Namesakes: Carswell". Air Force Magazine. 99 (10): 76. October 2016.
- ^ Stephen Mulvey (14 February 2012). "Townsend Griffiss, forgotten hero of World War II". BBC News.
- ^ ISBN 1-56311-239-6.
- ^ Baugher, B-36A Peacemaker
- ^ USAF Museum Boeing B-50A "Lucky Lady II" Factsheet Archived 2014-12-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b McGowan, Sam (October 2016). "The Carswell B-36 Disaster" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
- ^ Strategic Air Command IMDB Entry (Many scenes filmed at Carswell Air Force Base)
- ^ "The Hours before Dallas: A Recollection by President Kennedy's Fort Worth Advance Man", Part 2 By Jeb Byrne Prologue Magazine Summer 2000, Vol. 32, No. 2
- ^ a b c d e "7th Bomb Wing History Office, Dyess AFB". Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ a b c Baugher, Service of B-58 Hustler with USAF
- ^ "AFHRA 916th Air Refueling Wing History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ "301st Fighter Wing History". Archived from the original on 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^ a b c d e Rogers, [page needed]
- ^ 457th Tactical Fighter Squqadron Factsheet Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d AD-A28165 Final Environmental Impact Statement, Disposal and Re-Use of Carswell AFB, Texas
- ^ Naval Air Station JRB Fort Worth, official site
- ^ "FMC Carswell." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- ^ FMC Carswell Contact Information." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- ^ "Fleet Logistics Support Wing (COMFLELOGSUPPWING)".
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. OCLC 57007862, 1050653629
External links
- Official website
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective March 21, 2024
- FAA Terminal Procedures for NFW, effective March 21, 2024
- Resources for this U.S. military airport:
- FAA airport information for NFW
- AirNav airport information for KNFW
- ASN accident history for FWH
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNFW
- Map of NAS Fort Worth JRB
- FAA/Runway data for NAS JRB Fort Worth (Effective 1 September 2005)
- Semiannual Report to Congress October 1, 2002 – March 31, 2003
- Air Force Plant 4 (AFP4)
- Several scanned documents issued by Fort Worth Army Air Field during World War II