| World / USA / California / Atwater, 4 km from center | Coordinates: 37°22'44"N 120°34'0"W |
Castle Airport Aviation and Development Center (Formerly Castle Air Force Base)
Castle Airport is a public airport northeast of Atwater, serving Merced County, California, USA. The airport covers 1,580 acres, has one runway and is mostly used for general aviation. It is located on the site of the former Castle Air Force Base, which closed in 1995. The airport is just outside the city limits of Atwater; it is three miles northeast of downtown Atwater.
Originally named Merced Army Airfield, the base was renamed in honor of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle (1908-1944). When on Christmas Eve 1944 near Liege, Belgium, seven Messerschmitts set General Castle's B-17 afire, he remained at the controls while his crew bailed out. He died with the pilot when the aircraft exploded. General Castle received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Read more at: www.militarymuseum.org/CastleAFB.html
SAC Days-www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Castle_AFB.htm
Airport Info-airnav.com/airport/KMER
Originally named Merced Army Airfield, the base was renamed in honor of Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle (1908-1944). When on Christmas Eve 1944 near Liege, Belgium, seven Messerschmitts set General Castle's B-17 afire, he remained at the controls while his crew bailed out. He died with the pilot when the aircraft exploded. General Castle received the Medal of Honor posthumously.
Read more at: www.militarymuseum.org/CastleAFB.html
SAC Days-www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Castle_AFB.htm
Airport Info-airnav.com/airport/KMER
place comments: |
10 months ago Charliee_Foxtro | +2 |
 
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Museum on base hosts one of the few SR-71 blackbirds on display to the public. Active duty military get free admission to the museum year round. | ||||
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