Walker Air Force Base

Infobox Airport
name = Walker Air Force Base

---

image-width = 300
type = Military: Air Force Base
owner = U.S. Air Force
location = Roswell, New Mexico
built =
used = 1941 - 1967
commander =
occupants =
elevation-f = 3,671
elevation-m = 1,119
coordinates = nowrap|coord|33|18|06|N|104|31|50|W|region:US_type:airport
website =
r1-number = 3/21
r1-length-f = 13,001
r1-length-m = 3,963
r1-surface = Asphalt/Concrete
r2-number = 12/30
r2-length-f = 7,425
r2-length-m = 2,263
r2-surface = Asphalt/Concrete
r3-number = 17/35
r3-length-f = 9,999
r3-length-m = 3,048
r3-surface = Asphalt
footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation AdministrationFAA-airport|ID=ROW|use=PU|own=PU|site=14719.*A, effective 2007-12-20]

Walker Air Force Base was the largest Strategic Air Command base of the United States Air Force at the time of its closure in 1967. It is located three miles (5 km) south of the central business district (CBD) of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, USA.

From 1941 to 1948, the facility was known as Roswell Army Airfield

It is also known for the Roswell UFO incident, an event that supposedly happened on July 4, 1947. It is alleged that a "flying disk" crashed during a severe thunderstorm near the base at Corona, New Mexico.

History

Walker AFB was named after General Kenneth Newton Walker, a native of Los Cerrillos, New Mexico. He was killed during a bombing mission over Rabaul, New Britain, Papua, New Guinea. on January 5, 1943. Though intercepted by enemy fighters, his group scored direct hits on nine Japanese ships. General Walker was last seen leaving the target area with one engine on fire and several fighters on his tail. For his actions, General Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. The base was renamed in his honor on January 13, 1948. Walker Hall, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, home of the College of Aerospace Doctrine Research and Education, is also named after the general.

World War II

What became Roswell Army Airfield was acquired by the United States Army Air Force in 1941 from rancher David Chesser for the purpose of establishing a Military Flying Training Center and Bombardier School.

The major unit at Roswell AAF was the 3030th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School, Specialized Very Heavy) which specialized in B-29 4 engine pilot training and bombardier training. Although there was a bombing target adjacent to the runway, the only items dropped from an aircraft were bags of sand or flour. The practice bombing and gunnery ranges were due south of the air field and on Matagorda Island along the Texas Gulf coast.

In addition to the airfield, the Roswell POW camp was built for up to 4800 Prisoners of War. Most of the POWs housed at the camp were German and Italian soldiers captured during the North African campaign. The POWs were actually used as construction laborers on local projects and many of Roswell's parks were built by POWs. The Spring River, which passes through downtown Roswell, was lined with concrete and stones using POW labor. The prisoners used stones of different colors to form an Iron Cross in the riverbed.

Cold War

509th Bombardment Wing

The 509th Composite Group returned from its wartime base on Tinian and relocated to Roswell in November 1945. The Group was assigned to Strategic Air Command on March 21, 1946, being one of the first eleven organizations assigned to SAC. At the time SAC was formed, the 509th Composite Group was the only unit to have experience with nuclear weapons and thus is regarded by many historians as the foundation on which SAC was built.

In April 1946 many of the group's Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft deployed to Kwajalein as part of Operation Crossroads, a series of atomic bomb tests. The remainder became the core of two new squadrons activated as part of the group, the 715th Bomb Squadron and the 830th Bomb Squadron. In May 1946, the Army Air Forces gave the newly-formed SAC the responsibility of delivering the atomic bomb. Only the 509th was trained and ready for the atomic bomb mission. Squadrons assigned to the 509th were:

* 393d Bombardment Squadron
* 715th Bombardment Squadron
* 830th Bombardment Squadron

On July 10, 1946, the group was renamed the 509th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). With the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate service, the group became the combat component of the 509th Bombardment Wing on November 17, 1947, although it was not operational until September 14, 1948, when Colonel John D. Ryan was named commander. The wing pioneered a new concept on June 30, 1948, when the 509th Air Refueling Squadron was activated as part of the 509th BW, along with the 43rd ARS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, the first such unit ever created. With the addition of KB-29M tankers, the 509th's bombers could reach virtually any point on earth. The dawning of a new decade brought more changes to the wing.

In June 1950, it began receiving the upgraded version of the B-29, the Boeing B-50A Superfortress. When the huge Convair B-36 Peacemaker joined the Air Force inventory, the "Very Heavy" designation was dropped. The 509th - like all other B-29 and B-50 wings - was redesignated "Medium."

In January 1954, the Boeing KC-97 aerial tanker replaced the aging KB-29Ms, and the wing entered the jet age in June 1955 when it received the first all-jet bomber: the Boeing B-47 Stratojet.

On 16 June 1958 the 509th Bombardment Wing was transferred to Pease AFB, New Hampshire. The 509th is currently located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri where it operates the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

468th Bombardment Group

The 468th Bombardment Group arrived at Roswell on 12 January 1946 from West Field, Tinian. At Roswell the group exchanged aircraft and equipment with the 509th, with the lowest-hour and most reliable B-29 aircraft being transferred then being sent to Fort Worth, Texas for modification to Silverplate (Atomic Bomb-Capable) specifications. The balance of the aircraft were sent to storage at Davis-Monthan Arizona or Pyote Airfield Texas. The group was inactivated on 31 March 1946.

33d Fighter Group

The 33d Fighter Group was assigned to Roswell on 25 August 1947, being transferred from Bad Kissengen AB, West Germany after a year of occupation duty. Squadrons of the 33d at Roswell were:

* 59th Fighter Squadron (F-51,F-84)
* 60th Fighter Squadron (F-51,F-84)

The group was initially attached to the 509th Bombardment Group to perform fighter escort duties. SAC was founded by men who had flown bomb raids against Germany during World War II. They usually encountered swarms of enemy fighters and knew the importance of having fighter escorts. They didn't want to haggle with other commands to get fighters when needed, so they had fighter groups placed under their own operational control. The group was redesignated as the 33d Fighter Wing on 15 October 1947. It remained at Roswell until 16 November 1948 when it was transferred to Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The 33rd Fighter Wing is currently assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida where it operates the F-15C/D Eagle.

6th Bombardment Wing

The 6th Bombardment Wing, Medium was activated on 2 January 1951 at Walker AFB and was equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress. On 1 August 1951, the 307th Air Refueling Squadron was attached to the wing. It flew KB-29 tankers until deactivated 16 June 1952. The 6th, along with the 509th Bombardment Wing at Walker formed the SAC 47th Air Division until June 1958 with the reassignment of the 509th to Pease AFB.

However the three squadrons of wing (24th, 39th, 40th) were soon re-equipped with SAC's new heavy bomber, Convair B-36D Peacemaker and the unit was redesignated the 6th Bombardment Wing (Heavy).

The B-36D was essentially the final production model of the bomber, being equipped with two pairs of General Electric J47-GE-19 turbojets in pods underneath the outer wings to assist the six R-4360-41 piston engines. The B-36D flew fairly well on just four or even three piston engines, so it was common practice to shut down some of the engines during cruise. The turbojets were normally used only for speed dashes over the target area or for takeoff. The 6th conducted strategic bombardment training with the aircraft, being deployed at Andersen AFB, Guam from October 1955 to January 1956.

The phaseout of the B-36 began in 1957, when the wing began receiving the new B-52E Stratofortress jet bomber. They were flown by its existing squadrons. The last of the B-36s departed Walker in 1958.

In September 1959, the 24th and 30th Bombardment Squadrons joined the newly assigned 4129th Combat Crew Training Squadron to train B-52 and KC-135 crews. The 40th Bombardment Squadron continued flying operational missions until 10 June 1960. From 10 June 1960 to 1 December 1961 the wing flew a few operational missions in a non-combat ready status. The 40th Squadron returned to operational status on 1 December 1961. The other two bomb squadrons regained tactical status on September 5, 1963. The 39th Squadron discontinued a few days later, but the 24th and 40th continued global bombardment training through December 1966, when they phased down for inactivation.

The 6th Air Refueling Squadron, flying early-model KC-135A aircraft, was assigned to Walker AFB from 3 January 1958. On 3 February 1960, a "short-tail" (non-hydraulic-power-assisted rudder) KC-135A crashed during takeoff in strong and gusty crosswinds. The pilot failed to maintain directional control, rotated the aircraft 5-10 knots too early and the aircraft settled onto the dirt apron of the runway, shed two engines, plowed through the aircraft parking area and came to rest in an aircraft hangar. This single crash resulted in the destruction of three KC-135 aircraft and the deaths of eight military personnel.

The wing was redesignated the 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing on 1 May 1962. On 25 June 1965, the 310th Air Refueling Squadron was attached to the wing. It flew KC-135A aircraft until the base was deactivated and the unit was moved to Plattsburgh AFB, NY on 25 January 1967.Later disestablished in the 1970s, the wing was reactivated in the 1990s as the 6th Air Base Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida. Later renamed the 6th Air Refueling Wing, it is currently designated as the 6th Air Mobility Wing (6 AMW) at KC-135R and C-37A.

579th Strategic Missile Squadron

In 1960, Atlas missile silos were constructed around the Roswell area. Reportedly, the first Atlas missile to arrive in Roswell received a welcoming parade. On 2 January 1961 579th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated as part of the 6 BW at Walker. New Mexico’s Governor Mecham gave the keynote speech at a Site 10 ceremony held on 31 October 1961, in which the first missile site was turned over to the Air Force.

Although Chaves County residents took patriotic pride in the news of the missile squadron’s arrival, Roswell residents submitted 10 permit requests for bomb shelters in October 1961 as construction went ahead.

The 579th SMS received its first missile on 24 January 1962. In April 1962, a completed liquid oxygen plant built at Walker AFB was turned over to the Air Force. The squadron completed missile installation approximately one month before the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Roswell’s sites developed a notorious reputation due to three missile explosions. On 1 June 1963, launch complex 579-l was destroyed during a propellant loading exercise. On 13 February 1964 an explosion occurred during another propellant loading exercise, destroying launch complex 579-5. Again, a month later, on 9 March 1964, silo 579-2 fell victim to another explosion that occurred during a propellant loading exercise.

Fortunately, these missiles were not mated with their warheads at the time of the incidents. The only injury reported was that of a crewman running into barbed wire as he fled a site. The accidents at Walker and at other Atlas and Titan I sites accelerated the decision to deactivate these systems. On 25 March 1965 the 579 SMS was deactivated and the Air Force removed the missiles from their silos. After being demilitarized, the former missile sites were reverted back to private ownership.

Closure

In 1966, the Air Force announced that Walker AFB would be closed. This was during a round of base closings and consolidations as the Defense Department struggled to pay the expenses of the Vietnam War within the budgetary limits set by Congress. The 6th BW became the 6th Strategic Wing and was relocated to Eielson AFB, Alaska. The 6th Strategic Wing was later inactivated, but was subsequently reactivated in the 1990s at MacDill AFB, Florida. Initially redesignated as the 6th Air Base Wing, then the 6th Air Refueling Wing, it is now known as the 6th Air Mobility Wing operating KC-135R Stratotankers and C-37A Gulfstream Vs at MacDill.

Walker AFB was officially closed on 30 June 1967. It has since been redeveloped by civil authorities into the Roswell International Air Center.

Emblems of units that served at Roswell AAF/Walker AFB

509th_Bombardment_Wing_(1945-1958)Image:468thbg.jpg|468th_Bombardment_Group_(VH)_(1946)Image:33d_Fighter_Wing.png|33d_Fighter_Wing(1947)
6th_Bombardment_Wing_(1951-1967)

ee also

* Ivor Parry Evans
* Roswell International Air Center
* New Mexico World War II Army Airfields
* Central Air Defense Force (Air Defense Command)

References

* Krauss, Robert (2005) The 509th Remembered: A History of the 509th Composite Group as Told by the Veterans Themselves, 509th Anniversary Reunion, Wichita, Kansas 509th Press ISBN 0923568662
* Lloyd, Alwyn T. (2000), A Cold War Legacy, A Tribute to Strategic Air Command, 1946-1992, Pictorial Histories Publications ISBN 1575100525
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* Turner Publishing Company (1997), Strategic Air Command: The Story of the Strategic Air Command and Its People. Turner Publishing Company ISBN 1563112655
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]
* [http://www.armyairforces.com/default.asp ArmyAirForces.com]
* [http://www.strategic-air-command.com Strategic-Air-Command.com]

External links

* [http://www.whiteman.af.mil/ Whiteman AFB, Missouri - Current home of the 509th Bombardment Wing]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/images/6thBW.html 6th Bombardment Wing]
* [http://www.579sms.com/ 579th Strategic Missile Squadron]
* [http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Walker_AFB.htm Walker AFB at Strategic Air Command.Com]
* [http://www.zianet.com/tmorris/b36.html B-36 operations Walker AFB 1955-1957]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/WalkerAFB/WalkerAFB.html Current-Day Walker AFB Photos]
* [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NM/Airfields_NM_Roswell.html#roswellaux1 Abandoned and little-known airfields: Roswell Area] (Infomation on auxiliary airfields of Roswell AAF)