We lived there 1965-1968, give or take. 300 Sioux Trail. The houses still look the same. Will Rogers elementary was a great school, hated leaving it. Amazing teachers. Wish we could have stayed.
I was just there June 7th-June 11th They are still flying the planes there. I lived there back in 1979-1982 (with the oil boom). I used to work in the big long yellow building it was called Janesville Products out of Wisconsin, we made insulation carpet for cars. I love it out there, Thank you for the video, I'm glad I found it.
The building at 18:00 minutes was the A&E maintenance Squadron building where ECM Bomb Nav and Defensive Fire Control shops were. I was in DFC shop working mostly on the Search Radar units. The latest B-52s don't have the tail gun turret.
My grandparents on my mom's side taught school in Burns Flat for many years, and I visited them often. At least once I played the base golf course, and once I went inside the control tower. The school is now Burns Flat-Dill City, one of many consolidations around Oklahoma.
My father was stationed there as air police/security for the planes they kept there. I have a picture of him with his new Dodge Challenger from the time period. Vietnam era. Sadly he’s not around to tell me about it but I have his challenger from that time. He later became a state trooper in Oklahoma. He passed away in 1988.
I went by Clinton-Sherman one night in September of 68 on the way to Omaha to answer my draft notice. The interstate was not built yet and the highway was narrow. I could see the double white and green beacon piercing the dark sky. Walker A.F.B. NM had just shut down and the A.P.'s were still manning the main gate. I believe Walker and Clinton-Sherman may have been sister bases, they were both Post Attack bases if I remember correctly. Interesting video. My Dad was in the Air Force and saw duty at Westover, Barksdale and Walker.
Hi! Lived there in the duplex units in my early teens with my Mom. Remember riding my bike along so many streets that were completely empty of residents but the lawns were maintained. Just remember the good smell and feeling of strangeness of being in the middle of so many empty homes.
As a previous resident of Clinton Sherman AFB (60-62), I thoroughly enjoyed your video. We lived in base housing when my dad was stationed there in the supply squadron. It was a fun place to be for a kid, and the 60's were a great time to be a kid. We loved it there. I now live in Choctaw, OK, and recently went to Clinton-Sherman AFB when my brother visited us about 3 weeks ago at the conclusion of a little road trip that included Red Rock Canyon, Tom Stafford Space Museum, and the Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The base has definitely changed in the last 60 years. We checked out our old housing unit, 302A Navajo Trail. It was probably in the worst shape of all the housing and appeared to have been vacant for quite a while. The base commander and his flunkies used to inspect the housing area every Friday and your grass was supposed to be 1 1/2 inches long, walks and curbs edged, and grass around your foundation trimmed, which was in the days before weed whackers. So that was my task with hand held clippers and I hated it. It's hard to believe how pristine things were back then. Anyway, we also checked out the housing units where our friends used to live, the grade school, our little league fields (13 minutes into your video), the old movie theater (fifteen cent movies for kids back in the day) which is now the welding center (23:50), the clinic (24:30), and a few other recognizable buildings and areas along with our favorite bicycle routes. We could not find the swimming pool, which we attended about every summer day or where we had our cub scout pack meetings, which I think was someplace by the golf course. Your short drive through the housing areas was through officer housing (single units) while the duplexes (separated by covered car ports) were the enlisted housing. It's probably hard for folks who weren't there when it was an active base to imagine just how nice it once was. Than you so much for posting your video. Ken Burns just might need your help on his next documentary.
Thank you so much for adding so information and time stamps on what things were. I really had no idea. I'm sure that is really sad seeing the old housing ran down like that. That sounds like you have some fond memories of living out that way. I know there isn't much out there anymore but it's too bad there wasn't a use for every building. That vo tech seems to have been the most beneficial. Thanks for watching!
I just ran across your notes and it brought back so many memories! My dad was stationed at Clinton Sherman about the same time. Maybe a bit later. I went to the elementary school just off base. I remember my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Wilson. Tall, skinny guy who smoked way to much. We loved it there. Always something to do. Riding bikes and going swimming was always a great time. And I remember who the yards had to look. Dad worked really hard to have the best lawn on the street. You sure don't see that any more! I think we lived on Mohawk Trl. It's been so long ago! My mom worked in Clinton at the Hub. She was a fry cook there.
I was a weather forecaster station at Altus just south of Clinton back in the late 1970's. Clinton - Sherman was a favorite "touch & go" location for the pilots training in C5A's. KC-135 and C-141's.
I was stationed there at Clinton-Sherman AFB 1962-1966 When I first arrived I was only there a few days when we had the Cuban Missile Crisis!!! I was a mechanic on the B-52's and KC-135's lots of good memories
@@RhettyforHistory Sorry I just now saw your reply. Oh yeah I see a lot of things I recognize. I Live a little over 200 miles from there in Ponca City, OK so I have ventured down that way a few times. It is sad to see the old barracks have been torn down and many building is very poor condition. I miss those days and a lot of friends I made there. I have only located a few. Thank you for the video Larry Lake Inspectorlake@gmail.com
A dispersal program by 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB included deployment of Detachment 2 to Amarillo Air Terminal (formerly Amarillo AFB) and Detachment 3 to Clinton-Sherman Industrial Air Park (formerly Clinton-Sherman AFB). Both detachments were active from around 1969 until 30 March 1975 when they were inactivated. www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/clinton-sherman.htm
@@RhettyforHistory there’s a lot of kc-135 and c-17 activity here they do mostly touch and goes I live in burns flat and the new Boeing 777x9 was being tested and it was huge
I was stationed at Clinton-Sherman AFB assigned to the 70th Security Police Sq, of the 70th Bomb Wing “Caveat Agressor”, from 68 until my discharge in July of 1970. I started out in security, guarding the alert aircraft and later move to law enforcement mostly assigned to the main gate. After the base closed, I was a part of the base closing team. I was one of the last airmen there. CSAFB had been an alert Strategic Air Command base with uploaded B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers for support. When active there were 6 B-52’s loaded with four nuclear bombs and KC-135’s. The video never showed the bomber alert area...I spent some cold windy nights out there. The smaller mounds referred to were the nuclear storage area. I’ll never forget riding on the trailer, guarding the bombs while the were transported back to the storage area. The big white building was called “Base Op’s”. It housed the control tower, weather forecast folks, and the Security Police armory. This was where we met for “guard mount “. The firehouse for the flight line was right next door. The runway was, in fact, the longest runway in the Air Force and maybe the world (I don’t remember for sure). I’ll never forget one night shift after an ice storm. The base was closed and the runway was decommissioned. While on patrol we drove out on the ice covered runway and did spinouts and spirals all down all 3 ½ miles of it. 🤪 Thanks for the video, it brought back memories of my youth. I have driven around out ther a few time over the years. A lot has changed or torn down. I remember all the old barracks were one of the first to go. I think thee little red brick building was the old Post Office.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing your memories of when you were stationed in. Your information fills in a lot of things I had no idea about. It looked like it was a nice base at one time. It's sad that it all couldn't be saved but I'm glad that some of it is being used though.
My Father was a B-52 Pilot there and we lived on base until it closed and then he was transferred to Castle AFB in Merced California. I remember eating at the Officers Club as a family. I have some newspaper articles in reference to the SAC ( I believe). I also have photos of my mother winning the yard of the month there and having a sign put up in the front yard. It was called the Periwinkle Award. I also remember having tornado alarms from the base and bomb drills.
It's great that you have saved some of the history and photos. It had to be a sad moment when the base closed and it looked like a nice one to be at. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories.
Amy what year was your dad transferred.. I was stationed at Castle which has been decommissioned and is a museum now.. This place looks better than Castle afb does at present... Castle used to be a beautiful place but almost everything is dead.. Beginning to look like a ghost town.. Amy thx for your input...
@@garyjones2582 Gary, I do not exactly remember what year we transferred as I was young. I believe that I remember watching the first moon landing while still at Clinton Sherman. My Father retired Lieutenant Colonel and took early retirement in the mid 70's. I was recently told that Merced was not as nice as it once was since the closing of the base. That saddened me because it was a beautiful place to live at that time.
@@amylouisamontgomery Hi Amy, I enjoyed your comment and it brought back memories. My dad was a KC-135 pilot and we lived there when I was 2 to about 2nd grade. I remember the Officer's Club! And sneaking down the hall to peek in the mysterious, darkened room where they used to drink! Can you believe I rode my bike to the pool there by myself as a first grader to go to my swimming lessons! I can still see the garden club sign as our neighbors won it once--"Periwinkle Garden Club Yard of the Month"! God bless 'em for trying to make sad little Burns Flat look pretty. I do remember those sirens going off for tornadoes--scary! Once one was nearby and we had to go to my school (Will Rogers Elementary) and wait in the basement. I remember going with my mom to the "big city" (I think it was Elk City) for shopping, and eating at a local burger joint called Goldie's, which was such a treat! My sister is too young to remember and of course any friends I had were scattered to the winds (or next postings) so it is fun to find someone with the same memories!
That is really neat to hear a first hand story. There have been quite a few people that have shared there experiences here. It must have been a great place to be as so many seem to have fond memories. Also seems to be a place where people were pretty close. Thank you for watching and sharing some history.
Oh yeah. We were also one of the first ready to respond to the Cuban missile crises as well. The houses are all the same on the inside too. Lol. But, hey! Rent is SUPER cheap.
@@RhettyforHistory There's quite a few houses there that are for sale. If you know anyone looking to rent a house there do NOT I REPEAT DO NOT rent from a guy name charlie Hough. Especially if they're a woman... You can drive around and see the houses for sale with the signs there though. And, they're all cheap to buy as well.
Sometimes I wonder if some these old bases are left looking abandoned because the real facilities for the Air Force is underground. Make for a good movie.
There is always something about abandoned places that is sad to me, can’t quite put my finger on it. A lot of very interesting comments from people, a lot that have lived there. Thanks Rhetty. ❤️Jodie 🇦🇺
Thank you for the video! I lived at CSAFB on 301 Suwanne Rd. from '67 until it's closing in December '69. From the 4th thru 6th grades. Ron Standley mentions Goldies drive-in below. They had the best Frito Pie I ever had! Thanks again for the video. I was very surprised to see it!
@@RhettyforHistory The last time I looked on Google Street View it is still there. They have now closed in the carport. Other then that it looks the same.
this is an old clip but just ran across it,,,,,,,I lived on this base on apache trail.........I went to school at burns flat, my dad iwas in the Air Force, my baby brother was born at a hospital in Dill City,,,,,,,,my other brother and I remember the Christmas we received our bicycles and we used to ride up and down the neighborhood,,,,,,,,my dad also worked part time at the base theater, so we saw a lot of movies, I was in the church choir here, behind our house was the long runway for airplanes, we had a nice home, seemed big to me back then, then my dad was stationed to England, so we moved shortly after my baby brother born,,,,,,,,,,,,I have fond memories of all the places we lived, all the Air Force bases and off base,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I still go onto the base here in shreveport to take my mom out there, it is still a B52 base, she lives close to the gate, and you can here taps played at evening. it is still customary to stop your vehicle to honor ,,,,,,,,,,,,oh I long for the day when I was young. Being an Air Force brat was tough, moving every two to three years, yet it was so wonderfull too. I miss my Dad greatly, he retired after twenty years of service.
The large buildings were the maintenance hangars for the B-52s, and KC-135s. Where the OHP vehicles were parked were the ready spots, or Alert Pads, attached to what was called the Christmas Tree, for B-52s, and at least two, or three KC-135s to scramble at a moments notice. There's a building out there they used to call the Mole Hole. The Mole Hole would house B-52, and KC-135 crews who were on alert for a week. As soon as that Klaxon horn went off, the crews would leave the rooms, grab their flight gear, run up the tunnels on whichever side of the Mole Hole they're in, and either jump in a vehicle waiting to take them to their aircraft, or run to their aircraft. The whole procedure from sound of Klaxon to taxiing the aircraft was usually five minutes. They needed to be airborne immediately to avoid becoming a target.
That's very interesting. I would love to see some of those mole holes and what they are like today. Thank you for watching and telling some additional information.
we were driving by on the road at the north end of base on night and a stealth did a touch and go with no lights . it was fast and strangely quiet. eeerie. that was in like 97 or 98. i got to drive the OHP course several times before Dale retired. (i was local preacher) and roam around the base as long as i stayed on the road course.. also got to go into the tower several times to watch . the road course had several stages to simulate high speed as well as town pursuit. it went into warehouse area where the giant safe i mentioned in another post was located and by the target area. the local game warden who was there a few years ago is really nice and very knowledgable abotu the base if he is stil there. named Jeff.
My father was stationed there during the Cuba crisis. He was a crash response fire fighter in that building u thought was a fire station you were correct. That had crash trucks and structural fire trucks the 4 doors opening to the tarmac were were the crash trucks were and the 4 doors to the left were the structural trucks. He meet my mom west of there in elk city Oklahoma. He use to tell all kinds of stories so one day when we were down there visiting family I brought him there. He didn't think we could get in but I was a fire captain back home to I went in and introduced myself Ald told them how my dad was stationed there. That said come on in and that went to give the tour and my dad took over telling stories of his time there and had tears in his eyes and he was very happy. All the department followed him around as that heard things that went on there and were all in awww we spent 6 hours there with the chief and the others all asking my dad questions. Was a very enjoyable day. I recorded it all on video.thanks for the memory
That's an amazing experience. Thank you for sharing that. That history needs to be remembered so I'm glad you captured it on video. That really would have been quite the experience for everyone. How much of the inside was still the same? And the equipment?
When we went in back in 2006 when my grandma passed it was the same as my dad remembered except newer paint updated kitchen and sleep room the rest was all the same which was so good.and the look of excitement in my dads eyes as he told his story. One story he told how him and my uncle got the crash truck stuck chasing rabbits down to the left by the training fire pit.😂
Many of those buildings were a base gym and I believe the Oklahoma highway patrol is in the old "mole hole" alert pilot quarters where they would "scramble to their B-52 parked in the "Christmas Tree" configuration for easy rapid take-off during an exercise or if actually going to nuclear war. This was a SAC bomber base. I visited it years ago. There were several other barracks buildings that have been torn down. They looked just as "ghostly" looking through a window. Some of those buildings might have been the commissary (grocery store) and BX base exchange (dept type store, etc) for personnel and dependents stationed there as well as other training facilities. I thought that many of those empty base housing units could have been used for homeless people, etc... I do remember the base being about 7 miles south of I-40 and off the beaten path. I'm an Air Force vet and love exploring old bases as well. That control tower was the original one built in the 40's for the NAVY. The Air Force used it later.
Go back and look at the Google earth overview of the base and runways. Where you see the XMAS tree at the end the runway that was the bomber alert facility where the pilots would scramble to their aircraft from their quarters called the "mole hole". Every SAC base had some configuration of a XMAS tree alert facility. Check out the former Walker AFB in Roswell, New Mexico which was a HUGE cold war bomber base thats been closed since 1967. They have "twin" XMAS tree's for the B-52's at the time.
I live dill city it’s at burnflat ok It not abandoned is still there yesterday last night we saw the airplane come over all year and everyday is top secret
Hello, just came across this video I live in Elk City which is about 18 miles to the west on I 40. Just thought I would let you know that for the last 2 weeks Boeing has been doing flight tests and ground tests of its 777x9 at ClintonSherman airport and flying around Elk City. Thought this may interest you, have a great day.
Interesting. The Triangle K on the water tower is from the 379th Bomb Wing which was stationed at Wurtsmith AFB at the time. Now days the 379th resides at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. That Triangle K dates all the way back to WW2, and it's been a very decorated unit.
@@RhettyforHistory Of course, it's a pleasure. I was surprised to see the Triangle K up there on that water tower. I only noticed it after being stationed with the 379th for a time, and my love of history couldn't resist looking into it further. Here's from the 379th page if you're interested : "The 379th Bombardment Group was awarded the unprecedented "8th Air Force Operational Grand Slam," for operations during April 1944 in recognition for having the best bombing accuracy, greatest tonnage of bombs dropped on target, largest number of aircraft attacking, lowest losses, and lowest mission-abort rate. As the only unit ever recognized in this manner, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing still proudly uses the moniker of "Grand Slam" wing today." Thank you for the video, I enjoyed it!
That is interesting! Seems like they maybe needed to be awarded more than just title of Grand Slam. I'm sure they probably were but those are all big accomplishments. I had no idea what I was looking nor the history. It does make sense why they were at that base though.
That tower is still operational, Mon-Fri, the Air Force still owns the base, show up on any given week day, and you'll see the air force training, I'd be able to tell you a little about the base, and the buildings.
Alot of the buildings were used for vo-tech classes. I took a class my senior year in 1973. The hanger shown in video at the first used to be South Western Rail. I worked there for a while we made railroad spikes.
It was a great place to grow up.. NO crime.. Okay climate.. Constant takeoffs and landings.. In the middle of nowhere though.. My dad was there from 1962-67.. KC-135's.. I remember my Mom taking us to the road just off the north end of the runway and watching him do MITO takeoffs along with the rest, at least 8, more than once.. He came home once bitching about they trying getting the separation down to 7 seconds between takeoffs from the standard 15 seconds.. Said 7 seconds was just unsafe with the overloaded A version.. It was awe inspiring watching those 135's takeoff to the north one after the other with the black water induced smoke as far as you could see, because there was nothing between there and Canada but two trees.. Right over your head maybe 50'.. They'd stay sooooo low for sooooo long.. His saying was, gain a knot, click the flaps.. It was living on the edge for him for sure.. His squadron had a bailout once when a 135 had an engine fire on takeoff at a heavy weight and made a wide turn back to base.. Everyone jumped but the pilot who stayed with it and landed it on fire, the others landed in farmers fields falling out the nose hatch.. So, yes, it is possible to bailout of a 135.. His squadron also had the crash in Wichita, Kansas that killed 35 I think.. The 135 had been to the Boeing factory for the large rudder modification and the rudder went full one way and it couldn't be caught, they nosed in.. Then there was the 135 fire at Altus, same squadron, I was born at Altus, he flew 97's into Altus when there was really nothing there yet.. The 135 burnt on the tarmac starting up because one of the starters didn't disengage and eventually disintegrated flinging shrapnel through the wing and the fuel tanks which caught fire.. The entire squadron was parked wingtip to wingtip, they ran to their plane which was next to the burning one and jumped the chocks because they were in so much of a hurry they forgot them, he said it was 100% power and a big bump and they were gone.. Have photos of the burning 135 during and after, 4 I think.. They were transferred from Altus because the Atlas missile people needed the space with the 12 silos around Altus there wasn't enough of anything there, so we went to Clinton Sherman.. One Atlas eventually exploded at Frederick leaving 11.. I was little but I remember the silo in Lone Wolf being built and used, it was right alongside Highway 44 from Altus to Burns Flat, on the right side of the highway heading north from Altus.. They had these big scraping machines, like huge dump trucks that they used to dig deeper and deeper going around and around.. Then when they got the hole 100' deep they started doing the reverse, instant silo.. The alert 52's were on the north end of the runway, and they had room for 6-7, but I don't remember usually more than 5.. They had those Hound Dog cruise missiles under the wings at that time, and a couple nukes in the bomb bay, so I'd say that probably 4 in the bay and 2 under the wing for 6 total times 5 = 30 armed nukes on alert.. The same road we'd watch the MITO takeoffs took you right past the 52's alert stand, and my Mom wouldn't let me go play across the street, I might get hit..??? Guess I was a dumb kid..
Was stationed there 1965 to 1967, my first base. It became an Industrialized Park after the base closed. All the building I seen were built after the base closed, except the Fire Department and one hanger.
That is still an active airfield that the Air Force still used to this day. I’m a fire truck mechanic out of Altus that works on the fire trucks they have stored right by the tower. It’s used for training for the C-17, KC-135, and the KC-46 along with aircraft out of Vance, Ft. Sill, And Tinker AFB. one of the buildings you passed by actually has a model of the RocketPlane XP that was going to be used for commercial space flights around 2009 made by Rocketplane Kistler.
I spent a week here a few years ago. A nearby company that I was working with had rented hangar space to do some testing. I gotta say, Burns Flat was one of the most desolate places I've been to. The whole facility was fascinating to look at. We spent time in a corner of one of the hangars, and the hangars are huge, but just about completely abandoned. On the weekdays, military Beechjet 400s would come by from the nearby air force base and do touch and gos. I was there for 8 straight days, and aside from those trainers, there was absolutely no other traffic. Nothing. It was late july, so it was 100+ degrees every day. Not much in the town for places to get lunch either, so I ended up driving over to New Cordell about 20 minutes away where there was a subway and a sonic to get lunch. Definitely a place to go if you like to be alone in wide open spaces.
Would have been interesting to go in a hanger. Was it kept up in the inside? Any remnants of the old base inside? Cordell is the nearest town that has a little something more. It's the county seat. If you would have driven a little further north of there you would have hit more though.
No, not kept up at all. We had a small corner that was enclosed that had air conditioning and a few tables to set up laptops and that type of thing. I actually have a few pictures of the inside of the hangar if you're interested. Not sure how to post them though. I stayed in Clinton, where there is some amount of civilization. It was a very interesting week.
There is a Rudys and Gret's both have lunch specials and salads grets has great chef salads and pizzas, also there a Mexican restaurant, Canute has some places to eat also it only eight miles northwest of here. We have farmed here since 1975, I have cousins that live here before the base came in, they worked building it.
The band I was in at the time (1968) played at the Clinton-Sherman Youth Center. We were followed a week later by Gerry and the Pacemakers. We also played many gigs at Jack Jones' Starlight Club, just down the road a ways.
Most of the views you are showing inside the fenced areas are views of the flight line. During my time there, SAC B52's and KC135's were based here. Also, Oklahoma Highway Patrol used the base for training. Colonel Loman was the last commander of the 70th Bomb Wing.
I did see signs while I was there saying for rent or for sale. I'm sure some companies own them and rent them out and then others are just owned by different people. Thank you for watching.
Believe it or not, some of the houses were sold after base closure, lifted, and transported to a small neighborhood in Altus, Oklahoma. The neighborhood isn't too far from the Altus AFB main gate.
My mom was from one of the original families there. My dad was from Flintstone, GA, and was stationed there during WWII. I live there now and would like to answer some of your questions. Contact me...
I lived there in 68-69 just prior to the base being decommissioned. Then again in 84-85. I worked in the building at 16:15 in 84-85 It was a company that went by the name of Janesville products. They produced the jute or insulation that went under the carpets in new cars. They were shipped to Clinton OK. to a company called Collins and Aikman I believe. C&A produced the carpets that went in to new cars. I actually worked there for a short while too.
Just talked to my dad asked him about the mounds. He said the big one was were the b52 bomber pilots slept. That would have 5 bombers parked just outside. If the alert went off that had so long to be in the air. That would run out fire the plane up then do there check while taxiing out to the runway when that got there off that went first one flew straight out second banked to the right third banked left 4th straight 5 right cause that couldn't follow each other cause of the turbulence he said that would be 50 to 100 feet behind each other taking off. My dad thinks that had 3 to 5 min to be in the air.
Oh and my dad said if that were during it for touch and goes that need a crash unit on standby so looks like no one was there cause u would have seen cars in the lot. Now that might send personal up there during them times he was not sure all he knows that can't touch and go unless one unit is ready.
That's interesting. I had no idea what any of that stuff was. Would have been neat to be able to tour all of that stuff. I'm sure your Dad was kind of sad to see it all ran down. Thanks for sharing this information.
Ya when we went there the fire house was still staffed with 12 guys that loved hearing my dads stories. And on the water tower you said you didn't know what that ki Sawyer was. That was a bomber base in the upper peninsula of Michigan over by the daily saint Marie. It has been long shut down also. When we went there the housing was gone as you drive up the main there were roads left and right but the base housing was gone my dad said the housing u had was the officer housing. Any more questions my dad said he will answer he is not young no more at 78
At @7:30 the building in question is likely the life support building. Among the identifiers of a life support building is a tower for hanging and packing parachutes. Also, before that you have emergency response vehicle bays (fire, rescue, etc.) identified by the basketball goal.
It's definitely not abandoned. If that was a weekday there was probably controllers up in the tower. We had just redone the taxiway lighting the previous winter. The mounds are munitions bunkers.
he may have been looking at the old navy aircraft targets. railroad ties with big dirt mounds behind them. they flew toward them firing. you can still find the bullet fragments there. the atomic bombs were kept on the west side toward the north end of the field. there is still a huge safe there they were kept in. B-52 ready room is now the offices of teh ok highway patrol driving school. The tower has a circular stair case typical of the navy. it is manned since the air force uses the field for touch and go and to navigate to.. there is also a full time fire department there for just the airfield (required by the govt for their planes)
@@johncarter5926 Well, we there for several months and the only folks we say were the OHP school and occasionally controllers. Also, every once in a while the maintenance crew was on site for a few hours.
@@andyfletcher3561 that is about all you can see. No permanent planes there. Just touch and go or land and take back off again . I heard he full time fire dept was discontinued and they bring in airforce men from altus base when they are using the field. When they are driving you can park on road at north end of runway and watch. They might even invite you in to ride along.
At the time 21:30 that building was a Halliburton station my dad used to work there but they shut dow when I was in 3rd grade I am in seventh now and my dad worked in Saudi Arabia until this past year now he still works for Halliburton but in Odessa Texas.
This place is very interesting it would be cool to see some space rockets launching off there I can totally see that. It also would make a great movie set. Good video my friend i'm continue watching
+Tampa Jay Its interesting for sure but I don't think anyone really knows what goes on here much less what will. It's really strange to think about but I loved exploring it just because it was an old base. Thanks for watching buddy!
My husband was one of the firefighter that worked there they had two shift of 12 plus chief, assisted chief, but they lost the military contract about 6 or more years ago so Altus is bringing there firefighter up when they fly.
Rhetty if you could get some drone footage of these area's, that would really improve on your videos.. Were you able to get access to climb that water tower.. That would have been a great view. 👍 nice video, thx for taking us along for the ride....
You're welcome. I cannot get drive footage here because it is still considered an active airport. Would have been a great view though. Thank you for watching!
I was at loring afb in 79 80 it had b52s and very long runaways. Loring is closed but they managed to save a few buildings as community took over there is sports center now.
This base is not too far from Amarillo, TX which had an Air Force Base that was closed in 1968. That base has fared better; the landing strips are incorporated into the city international airport. Bell Helicopter builds the tilt rotor aircraft there and there are other companies as well. The rumor was that LBJ closed the base out of spite since Amarillo voters had voted for Goldwater rather than him!
Dyess AFB has mounds ( or did have as I have not been there in years ) and when we was stationed there i was told it had something to do with munitions . so maybe thats what these are .
@@RhettyforHistory The Base Hospital/ Clinic was probably that building with the Medical Signs and the “drive-thru” ie. Ambulance Bay. AF Base Hospitals/Clinics were generally not too big. THANKS for doing this video and a respectful job. (Unlike those just bent to break into things and effectively trespass and vandalize in the “name of History.” BS.)
02:21 The Tower EL 1923? I looked it up, found nothing online. I know from being in the military it's strands for something that Military uses to indefinite certain buildings. I also live next to Camp Pendleton and I see numbers and letters like this in their towers. What do you think is stands for? EL 1923
+Cemetery Devil I have no clue what it stands for. I tried looking it up as well but found nothing. I was in a different branch. I'm hoping someone that was either stationed there or was at least in the Air Force might know.
It is the elevation above sea level. The area around Burns Flat is around 1900'. **I haven't served in the military. I go by here on a weekly basis though. Also, they do man the field and have working equipment. My cousin is an FAA contractor and has to go service some of the electronics regularly. The Highway Patrol conducts training maneuvers on the blacktop around the main runway. Bird Equipment does/did manufacture vessels for oilfield use.
subdoorgunner Weird, all these years after getting out the Army I thought those Letters/Numbers actually meant something else. Those Flyboy's don't tell us Grunts anything. Thanks !
The Spaceport is a total waste of time and money. The budget is something like 12 million dollars a year at last report. The state has admitted there is nothing even on the distant horizon about a spaceport coming in here. 18 years of nothingness.... The guy who runs this of course thinks it's a great idea. He has a vested interest in keeping his cushy, well paid job to do nothing going. Meanwhile, most of the buildings are caving in...... In related news, the OK Health Department has "lost" 30 million dollars. While this is going on the state is whining about being broke and raising taxes on everything under the sun.
Nice video. I was stationed there from 66-69. I was an eng tech on B-52 + KC-135. Been a long time ago and nothing looks the same to me. I whish I could be some help to you.
+ron standley It's nice to hear from someone that was stationed there. I would bet a lot has changed there since so much has fallen or is dilapidated. Plus so many businesses have come in and changed things.
I do remember just outside the main gate on north hiway 44 there was a little drive in we used to eat at. It was called Goldies. Just north of there was a Conoco station and a little futher north was a auto parts store, Walt's Auto Supply. I worked there part time.
I grew up out there and there was an facility in a mound that was where my Dad was was when he was on alert. We spent a lot of time there for family visits, both outside and inside. My brother and I used to also play in an abandoned guards shack in a field the same area.
From what I understood from someone else those mounds were weapons storage bunkers. I'm not sure myself since I've never been in them nor do I know anyone that ever was.
@@RhettyforHistoryThe facility referred to is the old SAC Alert Facility at the alert aircraft parking area. Alert facilities such as this were two stories with the bottom level covered by earth.
The b36s were taken out of service in 1959. The wings were taken off . The fuselage was towed to Fort Worth. The wings were loaded on a trailers and trucked to Fort Worth. This was a SAC base i believed it closed in 1969. The mounds, were munitions bunkers.
@@RhettyforHistory There are only four left. One at Air force Museum. One called the city if Fort Worth is at Pima Air Museum, Castel Air Museum, and one at Stretegic Air Space Museum.
Grew up there. There a lot of rental spaces there they allow companies use unrelated to aviation. The mounds are storage mostly. It is still an active runway. My sister in the last ten year use to fuel planes that would stop by.
We lived there 1965-1968, give or take. 300 Sioux Trail. The houses still look the same. Will Rogers elementary was a great school, hated leaving it. Amazing teachers. Wish we could have stayed.
I was just there June 7th-June 11th They are still flying the planes there. I lived there back in 1979-1982 (with the oil boom). I used to work in the big long yellow building it was called Janesville Products out of Wisconsin, we made insulation carpet for cars. I love it out there, Thank you for the video, I'm glad I found it.
The building at 18:00 minutes was the A&E maintenance Squadron building where ECM Bomb Nav and Defensive Fire Control shops were. I was in DFC shop working mostly on the Search Radar units. The latest B-52s don't have the tail gun turret.
My grandparents on my mom's side taught school in Burns Flat for many years, and I visited them often. At least once I played the base golf course, and once I went inside the control tower. The school is now Burns Flat-Dill City, one of many consolidations around Oklahoma.
My father was stationed there as air police/security for the planes they kept there. I have a picture of him with his new Dodge Challenger from the time period. Vietnam era. Sadly he’s not around to tell me about it but I have his challenger from that time. He later became a state trooper in Oklahoma. He passed away in 1988.
I went by Clinton-Sherman one night in September of 68 on the way to Omaha to answer my draft notice. The interstate was not built yet and the highway was narrow. I could see the double white and green beacon piercing the dark sky. Walker A.F.B. NM had just shut down and the A.P.'s were still manning the main gate. I believe Walker and Clinton-Sherman may have been sister bases, they were both Post Attack bases if I remember correctly. Interesting video. My Dad was in the Air Force and saw duty at Westover, Barksdale and Walker.
My dad served there until it was shut down. While he served, I was born there, so I take a prime interest in this AFB.
You do have a great history at this base then. Thank you for watching!
Would you happen to have a album of the service personal
WoW! I was born in that Health Clinic back in '65 and my brother in '67. Our father was stationed there his first 4yrs while in the Air Force.
You all are certainly connected to this base then. Thank you for watching and telling us!
Hi! Lived there in the duplex units in my early teens with my Mom. Remember riding my bike along so many streets that were completely empty of residents but the lawns were maintained. Just remember the good smell and feeling of strangeness of being in the middle of so many empty homes.
As a previous resident of Clinton Sherman AFB (60-62), I thoroughly enjoyed your video. We lived in base housing when my dad was stationed there in the supply squadron. It was a fun place to be for a kid, and the 60's were a great time to be a kid. We loved it there. I now live in Choctaw, OK, and recently went to Clinton-Sherman AFB when my brother visited us about 3 weeks ago at the conclusion of a little road trip that included Red Rock Canyon, Tom Stafford Space Museum, and the Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The base has definitely changed in the last 60 years. We checked out our old housing unit, 302A Navajo Trail. It was probably in the worst shape of all the housing and appeared to have been vacant for quite a while. The base commander and his flunkies used to inspect the housing area every Friday and your grass was supposed to be 1 1/2 inches long, walks and curbs edged, and grass around your foundation trimmed, which was in the days before weed whackers. So that was my task with hand held clippers and I hated it. It's hard to believe how pristine things were back then. Anyway, we also checked out the housing units where our friends used to live, the grade school, our little league fields (13 minutes into your video), the old movie theater (fifteen cent movies for kids back in the day) which is now the welding center (23:50), the clinic (24:30), and a few other recognizable buildings and areas along with our favorite bicycle routes. We could not find the swimming pool, which we attended about every summer day or where we had our cub scout pack meetings, which I think was someplace by the golf course. Your short drive through the housing areas was through officer housing (single units) while the duplexes (separated by covered car ports) were the enlisted housing. It's probably hard for folks who weren't there when it was an active base to imagine just how nice it once was. Than you so much for posting your video. Ken Burns just might need your help on his next documentary.
Thank you so much for adding so information and time stamps on what things were. I really had no idea. I'm sure that is really sad seeing the old housing ran down like that. That sounds like you have some fond memories of living out that way. I know there isn't much out there anymore but it's too bad there wasn't a use for every building. That vo tech seems to have been the most beneficial. Thanks for watching!
I just ran across your notes and it brought back so many memories! My dad was stationed at Clinton Sherman about the same time. Maybe a bit later. I went to the elementary school just off base. I remember my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Wilson. Tall, skinny guy who smoked way to much. We loved it there. Always something to do. Riding bikes and going swimming was always a great time. And I remember who the yards had to look. Dad worked really hard to have the best lawn on the street. You sure don't see that any more! I think we lived on Mohawk Trl. It's been so long ago! My mom worked in Clinton at the Hub. She was a fry cook there.
My father flew B-52s there from 1959-1961, when I was a toddler. My sister was born there in 1960. I still call her an Okie.
You definitely have some family history there. Thanks for watching and sharing a little more!
I was a weather forecaster station at Altus just south of Clinton back in the late 1970's. Clinton - Sherman was a favorite "touch & go" location for the pilots training in C5A's. KC-135 and C-141's.
I was stationed there at Clinton-Sherman AFB 1962-1966 When I first arrived I was only there a few days when we had the Cuban Missile Crisis!!! I was a mechanic on the B-52's and KC-135's lots of good memories
That would have been a crazy time! High alert for sure! Recognize anything in the video?
@@RhettyforHistory Sorry I just now saw your reply. Oh yeah I see a lot of things I recognize. I Live a little over 200 miles from there in Ponca City, OK so I have ventured down that way a few times. It is sad to see the old barracks have been torn down and many building is very poor condition. I miss those days and a lot of friends I made there. I have only located a few. Thank you for the video
Larry Lake
Inspectorlake@gmail.com
I was stationed there in 74. I was one of the first 50 men stationed there as we reopened the base.
A dispersal program by 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB included deployment of Detachment 2 to Amarillo Air Terminal (formerly Amarillo AFB) and Detachment 3 to Clinton-Sherman Industrial Air Park (formerly Clinton-Sherman AFB). Both detachments were active from around 1969 until 30 March 1975 when they were inactivated.
www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/clinton-sherman.htm
I was stationed there 1963-1965. Was in 70th FMS.
thank you for the great video.
My brother is a USAF Instructor pilot and he just completed several "touch n goes" there yesterday!
It's good to know it is still used. Thank you for sharing!
@@RhettyforHistory there’s a lot of kc-135 and c-17 activity here they do mostly touch and goes I live in burns flat and the new Boeing 777x9 was being tested and it was huge
That's very interesting. Thank you for sharing that with us.
I was stationed at Clinton-Sherman AFB assigned to the 70th Security Police Sq, of the 70th Bomb Wing “Caveat Agressor”, from 68 until my discharge in July of 1970. I started out in security, guarding the alert aircraft and later move to law enforcement mostly assigned to the main gate. After the base closed, I was a part of the base closing team. I was one of the last airmen there.
CSAFB had been an alert Strategic Air Command base with uploaded B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers for support. When active there were 6 B-52’s loaded with four nuclear bombs and KC-135’s. The video never showed the bomber alert area...I spent some cold windy nights out there. The smaller mounds referred to were the nuclear storage area. I’ll never forget riding on the trailer, guarding the bombs while the were transported back to the storage area.
The big white building was called “Base Op’s”. It housed the control tower, weather forecast folks, and the Security Police armory. This was where we met for “guard mount “. The firehouse for the flight line was right next door.
The runway was, in fact, the longest runway in the Air Force and maybe the world (I don’t remember for sure). I’ll never forget one night shift after an ice storm. The base was closed and the runway was decommissioned. While on patrol we drove out on the ice covered runway and did spinouts and spirals all down all 3 ½ miles of it. 🤪
Thanks for the video, it brought back memories of my youth. I have driven around out ther a few time over the years. A lot has changed or torn down. I remember all the old barracks were one of the first to go. I think thee little red brick building was the old Post Office.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing your memories of when you were stationed in. Your information fills in a lot of things I had no idea about. It looked like it was a nice base at one time. It's sad that it all couldn't be saved but I'm glad that some of it is being used though.
Hello, Would you happen to have an album of the military personal. I'm looking for my brothers father.
@@nancywilson8714 No, I’m sorry I do not.
Very cool. My father was stationed there and had the same story. Donuts in snow on the runway. He became a state trooper here after he was discharged
@@Roadrunnergarage Really!? When was he there? Name?
My Father was a B-52 Pilot there and we lived on base until it closed and then he was transferred to Castle AFB in Merced California. I remember eating at the Officers Club as a family. I have some newspaper articles in reference to the SAC ( I believe). I also have photos of my mother winning the yard of the month there and having a sign put up in the front yard. It was called the Periwinkle Award. I also remember having tornado alarms from the base and bomb drills.
It's great that you have saved some of the history and photos. It had to be a sad moment when the base closed and it looked like a nice one to be at. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories.
Amy what year was your dad transferred.. I was stationed at Castle which has been decommissioned and is a museum now.. This place looks better than Castle afb does at present... Castle used to be a beautiful place but almost everything is dead.. Beginning to look like a ghost town.. Amy thx for your input...
@@garyjones2582 Gary, I do not exactly remember what year we transferred as I was young. I believe that I remember watching the first moon landing while still at Clinton Sherman. My Father retired Lieutenant Colonel and took early retirement in the mid 70's. I was recently told that Merced was not as nice as it once was since the closing of the base. That saddened me because it was a beautiful place to live at that time.
@@amylouisamontgomery Hi Amy, I enjoyed your comment and it brought back memories. My dad was a KC-135 pilot and we lived there when I was 2 to about 2nd grade. I remember the Officer's Club! And sneaking down the hall to peek in the mysterious, darkened room where they used to drink! Can you believe I rode my bike to the pool there by myself as a first grader to go to my swimming lessons! I can still see the garden club sign as our neighbors won it once--"Periwinkle Garden Club Yard of the Month"! God bless 'em for trying to make sad little Burns Flat look pretty. I do remember those sirens going off for tornadoes--scary! Once one was nearby and we had to go to my school (Will Rogers Elementary) and wait in the basement. I remember going with my mom to the "big city" (I think it was Elk City) for shopping, and eating at a local burger joint called Goldie's, which was such a treat! My sister is too young to remember and of course any friends I had were scattered to the winds (or next postings) so it is fun to find someone with the same memories!
I lived at 214-B Iroquois, Pioneer Way. Later I lived at 304 Pawnee. We left in 1966.
Oh that's interesting. I guess those housing units would still be there.
I lived at 204-B Cherokee Trail. Transferred to Wright Pat in 1969.
I think we lived on Mohawk Trail. How old were you? I went to the elementary school and my sister went to the Burns Flat high school
We lived her for 5 years. 1954 to 1969. My dad was a pilot. He flew the BUFFs. I still have his POH for the B-52, including nuclear weapons delivery.
That is really neat to hear a first hand story. There have been quite a few people that have shared there experiences here. It must have been a great place to be as so many seem to have fond memories. Also seems to be a place where people were pretty close. Thank you for watching and sharing some history.
What was your dad's name?
@@nancywilson8714 Maj Dick Frost
I live here.
In burns flat.
At 25:26 you can see my grandma's house.
How awesome! I do like how the houses are still being used!
Oh yeah.
We were also one of the first ready to respond to the Cuban missile crises as well.
The houses are all the same on the inside too.
Lol.
But, hey!
Rent is SUPER cheap.
Are they all rent houses or can you buy them if you choose?
@@RhettyforHistory There's quite a few houses there that are for sale.
If you know anyone looking to rent a house there do NOT I REPEAT DO NOT rent from a guy name charlie Hough. Especially if they're a woman...
You can drive around and see the houses for sale with the signs there though.
And, they're all cheap to buy as well.
@@RhettyforHistory all are individually owned so up to owner.
Sometimes I wonder if some these old bases are left looking abandoned because the real facilities for the Air Force is underground. Make for a good movie.
That would be a great movie! Definitely fits in with the cold war area and you never know. Thank you for watching!
@@RhettyforHistory Have you ever seen the movie Andomeda strain. There’s the old one and a sequel. It has that underground idea in it.
I don't believe I have. I will have to look that one up.
Wurtsmith AFB was another SAC base in Michigan. I was stationed there.
Many underground bunkers were used as ammo storage...
You're right about that and someone in the comments who was there mentioned that's what this was.
Pay phone siting! This place is awesome.
+Tampa Jay I can't help but notice them. I used to use a lot of them.
Some of the hangers are being used as storage some people store the RV in them too.
I was an aircraft maintenance officer at this base from 1965 thru 1968.
Recognize a lot of the buildings?
I was an electronics tech in the A&E Squadron from 65 to May of 68. Worked on the Defensive Fire Control System (tail guns).
It is a "Space Port" alright! Has space......lots and lots of space...!
Haha! Yes it does!
There is always something about abandoned places that is sad to me, can’t quite put my finger on it.
A lot of very interesting comments from people, a lot that have lived there. Thanks Rhetty. ❤️Jodie 🇦🇺
Yes, luckily those that have commented have filled us in a little more on what it was like and what everything was. Thank you for watching Jodie!
@@RhettyforHistory yeah, there comments help a lot, and your very welcome.
Thank you for the video! I lived at CSAFB on 301 Suwanne Rd. from '67 until it's closing in December '69. From the 4th thru 6th grades. Ron Standley mentions Goldies drive-in below. They had the best Frito Pie I ever had! Thanks again for the video. I was very surprised to see it!
You're welcome and I appreciate you watching. Wonder if the house you lived in looks the same or is still there.
@@RhettyforHistory The last time I looked on Google Street View it is still there. They have now closed in the carport. Other then that it looks the same.
That's interesting and great that they have kept quite a bit of that area.
I lived @ 205 Suwanee '62-'64
I was introduced to the Frito pie at Goldies. It was awesome! They also had the "taco pie" which was the Frito pie with shredded lettuce and tomatoes.
It looks like that when a business or building closes, that the fire department would come and take the fire extinguishers that are left behind.
I lived on that base for seven years as a kid.
That's pretty neat to think about. Now I understand your water tower comment. Thank you for watching and sharing some of your memories.
this is an old clip but just ran across it,,,,,,,I lived on this base on apache trail.........I went to school at burns flat, my dad iwas in the Air Force, my baby brother was born at a hospital in Dill City,,,,,,,,my other brother and I remember the Christmas we received our bicycles and we used to ride up and down the neighborhood,,,,,,,,my dad also worked part time at the base theater, so we saw a lot of movies, I was in the church choir here, behind our house was the long runway for airplanes, we had a nice home, seemed big to me back then, then my dad was stationed to England, so we moved shortly after my baby brother born,,,,,,,,,,,,I have fond memories of all the places we lived, all the Air Force bases and off base,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I still go onto the base here in shreveport to take my mom out there, it is still a B52 base, she lives close to the gate, and you can here taps played at evening. it is still customary to stop your vehicle to honor ,,,,,,,,,,,,oh I long for the day when I was young. Being an Air Force brat was tough, moving every two to three years, yet it was so wonderfull too. I miss my Dad greatly, he retired after twenty years of service.
The large buildings were the maintenance hangars for the B-52s, and KC-135s. Where the OHP vehicles were parked were the ready spots, or Alert Pads, attached to what was called the Christmas Tree, for B-52s, and at least two, or three KC-135s to scramble at a moments notice.
There's a building out there they used to call the Mole Hole. The Mole Hole would house B-52, and KC-135 crews who were on alert for a week. As soon as that Klaxon horn went off, the crews would leave the rooms, grab their flight gear, run up the tunnels on whichever side of the Mole Hole they're in, and either jump in a vehicle waiting to take them to their aircraft, or run to their aircraft.
The whole procedure from sound of Klaxon to taxiing the aircraft was usually five minutes. They needed to be airborne immediately to avoid becoming a target.
That's very interesting. I would love to see some of those mole holes and what they are like today. Thank you for watching and telling some additional information.
Bases used to have a place to store your RVs and Campers 💯
I have seen that on some of the larger bases or places where deployments can happen.
we were driving by on the road at the north end of base on night and a stealth did a touch and go with no lights . it was fast and strangely quiet. eeerie. that was in like 97 or 98.
i got to drive the OHP course several times before Dale retired. (i was local preacher) and roam around the base as long as i stayed on the road course.. also got to go into the tower several times to watch . the road course had several stages to simulate high speed as well as town pursuit. it went into warehouse area where the giant safe i mentioned in another post was located and by the target area. the local game warden who was there a few years ago is really nice and very knowledgable abotu the base if he is stil there. named Jeff.
lived at 330 suwanee nearly across from commanding general house.
I Lived at CSAFB from 1963 to 1969, when I was a kid. The bldg. at 14:04 was the base library. I spent many an hour there.
Thank you for adding in what you know on a building. Looks like it really would have been a nice base at one time.
I lived here with my family when I was a little kid. 67-69.
those mounds out there are underground bunkers. ty for the video
You're welcome and Thanks for watching.
My father was stationed there during the Cuba crisis. He was a crash response fire fighter in that building u thought was a fire station you were correct. That had crash trucks and structural fire trucks the 4 doors opening to the tarmac were were the crash trucks were and the 4 doors to the left were the structural trucks. He meet my mom west of there in elk city Oklahoma. He use to tell all kinds of stories so one day when we were down there visiting family I brought him there. He didn't think we could get in but I was a fire captain back home to I went in and introduced myself Ald told them how my dad was stationed there. That said come on in and that went to give the tour and my dad took over telling stories of his time there and had tears in his eyes and he was very happy. All the department followed him around as that heard things that went on there and were all in awww we spent 6 hours there with the chief and the others all asking my dad questions. Was a very enjoyable day. I recorded it all on video.thanks for the memory
That's an amazing experience. Thank you for sharing that. That history needs to be remembered so I'm glad you captured it on video. That really would have been quite the experience for everyone. How much of the inside was still the same? And the equipment?
When we went in back in 2006 when my grandma passed it was the same as my dad remembered except newer paint updated kitchen and sleep room the rest was all the same which was so good.and the look of excitement in my dads eyes as he told his story. One story he told how him and my uncle got the crash truck stuck chasing rabbits down to the left by the training fire pit.😂
@@LoneWolf-dz4ro That's funny ok getting the truck stuck. I'm glad to hear he got to visit it once again though.
Many of those buildings were a base gym and I believe the Oklahoma highway patrol is in the old "mole hole" alert pilot quarters where they would "scramble to their B-52 parked in the "Christmas Tree" configuration for easy rapid take-off during an exercise or if actually going to nuclear war. This was a SAC bomber base. I visited it years ago. There were several other barracks buildings that have been torn down. They looked just as "ghostly" looking through a window. Some of those buildings might have been the commissary (grocery store) and BX base exchange (dept type store, etc) for personnel and dependents stationed there as well as other training facilities. I thought that many of those empty base housing units could have been used for homeless people, etc... I do remember the base being about 7 miles south of I-40 and off the beaten path. I'm an Air Force vet and love exploring old bases as well. That control tower was the original one built in the 40's for the NAVY. The Air Force used it later.
Go back and look at the Google earth overview of the base and runways. Where you see the XMAS tree at the end the runway that was the bomber alert facility where the pilots would scramble to their aircraft from their quarters called the "mole hole". Every SAC base had some configuration of a XMAS tree alert facility. Check out the former Walker AFB in Roswell, New Mexico which was a HUGE cold war bomber base thats been closed since 1967. They have "twin" XMAS tree's for the B-52's at the time.
I believe that the Sooner Health Center was the officers club.
I live dill city it’s at burnflat ok It not abandoned is still there yesterday last night we saw the airplane come over all year and everyday is top secret
Hello, just came across this video I live in Elk City which is about 18 miles to the west on I 40. Just thought I would let you know that for the last 2 weeks Boeing has been doing flight tests and ground tests of its 777x9 at ClintonSherman airport and flying around Elk City. Thought this may interest you, have a great day.
That is interesting. I knew they still used the runway but it's great to know what specifically. Thanks for watching and filling us in!
@@RhettyforHistory yeah I live in burns flat and we still see the Boeing sometimes
I've heard from some that the Air Force still uses this runway some.
@@RhettyforHistory yes they do a lot of touch and goes
Interesting. The Triangle K on the water tower is from the 379th Bomb Wing which was stationed at Wurtsmith AFB at the time. Now days the 379th resides at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. That Triangle K dates all the way back to WW2, and it's been a very decorated unit.
That's interesting. I didn't know any of that. Thanks for sharing the information you have. They definitely have a long history.
@@RhettyforHistory Of course, it's a pleasure. I was surprised to see the Triangle K up there on that water tower. I only noticed it after being stationed with the 379th for a time, and my love of history couldn't resist looking into it further. Here's from the 379th page if you're interested :
"The 379th Bombardment Group was awarded the unprecedented "8th Air Force Operational Grand Slam," for operations during April 1944 in recognition for having the best bombing accuracy, greatest tonnage of bombs dropped on target, largest number of aircraft attacking, lowest losses, and lowest mission-abort rate. As the only unit ever recognized in this manner, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing still proudly uses the moniker of "Grand Slam" wing today."
Thank you for the video, I enjoyed it!
That is interesting! Seems like they maybe needed to be awarded more than just title of Grand Slam. I'm sure they probably were but those are all big accomplishments. I had no idea what I was looking nor the history. It does make sense why they were at that base though.
I was at wurtsmith from 82 -88 . A great bunch of people .
Those mounds being seen are munition igloos from/for B-52 engine starters, flairs or anything apped to go bang with the proper igniters.
The water tower used to be red and white checkered.
That makes sense. I remember seeing more like that around bases.
That tower is still operational, Mon-Fri, the Air Force still owns the base, show up on any given week day, and you'll see the air force training, I'd be able to tell you a little about the base, and the buildings.
govt doesn't own the base. they gave it to city of clinton and released the use of it.
Alot of the buildings were used for vo-tech classes. I took a class my senior year in 1973. The hanger shown in video at the first used to be South Western Rail. I worked there for a while we made railroad spikes.
It was a great place to grow up.. NO crime.. Okay climate.. Constant takeoffs and landings.. In the middle of nowhere though.. My dad was there from 1962-67.. KC-135's.. I remember my Mom taking us to the road just off the north end of the runway and watching him do MITO takeoffs along with the rest, at least 8, more than once.. He came home once bitching about they trying getting the separation down to 7 seconds between takeoffs from the standard 15 seconds.. Said 7 seconds was just unsafe with the overloaded A version.. It was awe inspiring watching those 135's takeoff to the north one after the other with the black water induced smoke as far as you could see, because there was nothing between there and Canada but two trees.. Right over your head maybe 50'.. They'd stay sooooo low for sooooo long.. His saying was, gain a knot, click the flaps.. It was living on the edge for him for sure.. His squadron had a bailout once when a 135 had an engine fire on takeoff at a heavy weight and made a wide turn back to base.. Everyone jumped but the pilot who stayed with it and landed it on fire, the others landed in farmers fields falling out the nose hatch.. So, yes, it is possible to bailout of a 135.. His squadron also had the crash in Wichita, Kansas that killed 35 I think.. The 135 had been to the Boeing factory for the large rudder modification and the rudder went full one way and it couldn't be caught, they nosed in.. Then there was the 135 fire at Altus, same squadron, I was born at Altus, he flew 97's into Altus when there was really nothing there yet.. The 135 burnt on the tarmac starting up because one of the starters didn't disengage and eventually disintegrated flinging shrapnel through the wing and the fuel tanks which caught fire.. The entire squadron was parked wingtip to wingtip, they ran to their plane which was next to the burning one and jumped the chocks because they were in so much of a hurry they forgot them, he said it was 100% power and a big bump and they were gone.. Have photos of the burning 135 during and after, 4 I think.. They were transferred from Altus because the Atlas missile people needed the space with the 12 silos around Altus there wasn't enough of anything there, so we went to Clinton Sherman.. One Atlas eventually exploded at Frederick leaving 11.. I was little but I remember the silo in Lone Wolf being built and used, it was right alongside Highway 44 from Altus to Burns Flat, on the right side of the highway heading north from Altus.. They had these big scraping machines, like huge dump trucks that they used to dig deeper and deeper going around and around.. Then when they got the hole 100' deep they started doing the reverse, instant silo.. The alert 52's were on the north end of the runway, and they had room for 6-7, but I don't remember usually more than 5.. They had those Hound Dog cruise missiles under the wings at that time, and a couple nukes in the bomb bay, so I'd say that probably 4 in the bay and 2 under the wing for 6 total times 5 = 30 armed nukes on alert.. The same road we'd watch the MITO takeoffs took you right past the 52's alert stand, and my Mom wouldn't let me go play across the street, I might get hit..??? Guess I was a dumb kid..
Was stationed there 1965 to 1967, my first base. It became an Industrialized Park after the base closed. All the building I seen were built after the base closed, except the Fire Department and one hanger.
That is still an active airfield that the Air Force still used to this day. I’m a fire truck mechanic out of Altus that works on the fire trucks they have stored right by the tower. It’s used for training for the C-17, KC-135, and the KC-46 along with aircraft out of Vance, Ft. Sill, And Tinker AFB. one of the buildings you passed by actually has a model of the RocketPlane XP that was going to be used for commercial space flights around 2009 made by Rocketplane Kistler.
Wow! That would be cool to see that model! Are those really old fire trucks?
RhettyforFun yes theyre from the 90’s. They’re p23’s
I thought maybe they might be older.
RhettyforFun they bring trucks from Altus afb over here to support the flying mission. That’s why they’re somewhat newer trucks
They look like bunkers for storage
We were stationed at Ft Carson in Colorado Springs and I had one of my daughters there the hospital was like Old Quansit Huts.😁 With Wood Slat Siding.
That is pretty primitive sounding. I sure hope they have improved their hospital since. Thank you for watching and sharing your story.
I spent a week here a few years ago. A nearby company that I was working with had rented hangar space to do some testing. I gotta say, Burns Flat was one of the most desolate places I've been to. The whole facility was fascinating to look at. We spent time in a corner of one of the hangars, and the hangars are huge, but just about completely abandoned. On the weekdays, military Beechjet 400s would come by from the nearby air force base and do touch and gos. I was there for 8 straight days, and aside from those trainers, there was absolutely no other traffic. Nothing. It was late july, so it was 100+ degrees every day. Not much in the town for places to get lunch either, so I ended up driving over to New Cordell about 20 minutes away where there was a subway and a sonic to get lunch. Definitely a place to go if you like to be alone in wide open spaces.
Would have been interesting to go in a hanger. Was it kept up in the inside? Any remnants of the old base inside? Cordell is the nearest town that has a little something more. It's the county seat. If you would have driven a little further north of there you would have hit more though.
No, not kept up at all. We had a small corner that was enclosed that had air conditioning and a few tables to set up laptops and that type of thing. I actually have a few pictures of the inside of the hangar if you're interested. Not sure how to post them though.
I stayed in Clinton, where there is some amount of civilization. It was a very interesting week.
Clinton is the specific area I was talking about. After that it would be Weatherford. Nice flat areas though.
There is a Rudys and Gret's both have lunch specials and salads grets has great chef salads and pizzas, also there a Mexican restaurant, Canute has some places to eat also it only eight miles northwest of here. We have farmed here since 1975, I have cousins that live here before the base came in, they worked building it.
@@RhettyforHistory elk city to the west is a fair town
20:56
Rhetty: Hey there! Can you tell me where to get to the information center?
Cows: 🐄🐄🐄
The band I was in at the time (1968) played at the Clinton-Sherman Youth Center. We were followed a week later by Gerry and the Pacemakers. We also played many gigs at Jack Jones' Starlight Club, just down the road a ways.
Most of the views you are showing inside the fenced areas are views of the flight line. During my time there, SAC B52's and KC135's were based here. Also, Oklahoma Highway Patrol used the base for training. Colonel Loman was the last commander of the 70th Bomb Wing.
So the HP used it as a training base when you were stationed there? I know they still use it today.
Did they sell the houses like they did on Sandia AFB in Albuquerque NM which is Kirtland AFB
They sold some and rent out some for VETS.
I did see signs while I was there saying for rent or for sale. I'm sure some companies own them and rent them out and then others are just owned by different people. Thank you for watching.
they gave all the housing and base to city of clinton and they sold them. i knew a realtor that owned over 100 of them.
Believe it or not, some of the houses were sold after base closure, lifted, and transported to a small neighborhood in Altus, Oklahoma.
The neighborhood isn't too far from the Altus AFB main gate.
Can't have an Air Force base without a golf course.
I learned to play on that course in k thru 4th grade
I want cry I been there Clinton afb very big run way
Yeah it's a huge runway! At least the runway is still being used.
Holloman AFB is that way now they are talking about putting refugees there 😧
In NM by Clovis NM
Is there more than one base near there?
My mom was from one of the original families there. My dad was from Flintstone, GA, and was stationed there during WWII. I live there now and would like to answer some of your questions.
Contact me...
i was pastor at FBC in late 90's. did i ever meet you?
I lived there in 68-69 just prior to the base being decommissioned. Then again in 84-85. I worked in the building at 16:15 in 84-85 It was a company that went by the name of Janesville products. They produced the jute or insulation that went under the carpets in new cars. They were shipped to Clinton OK. to a company called Collins and Aikman I believe. C&A produced the carpets that went in to new cars. I actually worked there for a short while too.
That's pretty interesting and thank you for sharing your experience with he base and what you know about it.
I was in Air Force munitions for 12 years and those earth covere4d structures are old munitions storage igloos
+Richard Lott Thank you, I wasnt sure if they were or not.
While stationed at Barksdale AFB 1973-75 we would occasionally send B-52's TDY to Clinton-Sherman to stand alert.
That must have been punishment for something..
Just talked to my dad asked him about the mounds. He said the big one was were the b52 bomber pilots slept. That would have 5 bombers parked just outside. If the alert went off that had so long to be in the air. That would run out fire the plane up then do there check while taxiing out to the runway when that got there off that went first one flew straight out second banked to the right third banked left 4th straight 5 right cause that couldn't follow each other cause of the turbulence he said that would be 50 to 100 feet behind each other taking off. My dad thinks that had 3 to 5 min to be in the air.
Oh and my dad said if that were during it for touch and goes that need a crash unit on standby so looks like no one was there cause u would have seen cars in the lot. Now that might send personal up there during them times he was not sure all he knows that can't touch and go unless one unit is ready.
That's interesting. I had no idea what any of that stuff was. Would have been neat to be able to tour all of that stuff. I'm sure your Dad was kind of sad to see it all ran down. Thanks for sharing this information.
Ya when we went there the fire house was still staffed with 12 guys that loved hearing my dads stories. And on the water tower you said you didn't know what that ki Sawyer was. That was a bomber base in the upper peninsula of Michigan over by the daily saint Marie. It has been long shut down also. When we went there the housing was gone as you drive up the main there were roads left and right but the base housing was gone my dad said the housing u had was the officer housing. Any more questions my dad said he will answer he is not young no more at 78
@@LoneWolf-dz4ro I figured that housing was officer and senior enlisted with families but I wasn't sure. Many of them looked a little ran down.
Not sure if anyone has served at this base
At @7:30 the building in question is likely the life support building. Among the identifiers of a life support building is a tower for hanging and packing parachutes. Also, before that you have emergency response vehicle bays (fire, rescue, etc.) identified by the basketball goal.
+Boclive1 Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have ever known the life support building. That makes sense after you explaining it though.
It's definitely not abandoned. If that was a weekday there was probably controllers up in the tower. We had just redone the taxiway lighting the previous winter. The mounds are munitions bunkers.
he may have been looking at the old navy aircraft targets. railroad ties with big dirt mounds behind them. they flew toward them firing. you can still find the bullet fragments there. the atomic bombs were kept on the west side toward the north end of the field. there is still a huge safe there they were kept in. B-52 ready room is now the offices of teh ok highway patrol driving school. The tower has a circular stair case typical of the navy. it is manned since the air force uses the field for touch and go and to navigate to.. there is also a full time fire department there for just the airfield (required by the govt for their planes)
@@johncarter5926 Well, we there for several months and the only folks we say were the OHP school and occasionally controllers. Also, every once in a while the maintenance crew was on site for a few hours.
@@andyfletcher3561 that is about all you can see. No permanent planes there. Just touch and go or land and take back off again . I heard he full time fire dept was discontinued and they bring in airforce men from altus base when they are using the field. When they are driving you can park on road at north end of runway and watch. They might even invite you in to ride along.
At the time 21:30 that building was a Halliburton station my dad used to work there but they shut dow when I was in 3rd grade I am in seventh now and my dad worked in Saudi Arabia until this past year now he still works for Halliburton but in Odessa Texas.
Oh wow! He's been all over.
I remember that water tower.
Special memories?
The mounds were weapons/munitions storage areas. The second tower you showed is a Fire Department.
That one oortion is OHP LEDT driver academy. Where driving instruction is taught.
This place is very interesting it would be cool to see some space rockets launching off there I can totally see that. It also would make a great movie set. Good video my friend i'm continue watching
+Tampa Jay Its interesting for sure but I don't think anyone really knows what goes on here much less what will. It's really strange to think about but I loved exploring it just because it was an old base. Thanks for watching buddy!
My husband was one of the firefighter that worked there they had two shift of 12 plus chief, assisted chief, but they lost the military contract about 6 or more years ago so Altus is bringing there firefighter up when they fly.
Runway was extend for b 36, The Sherman came from Sherman machine and iron.
It definitely has a long one.
Rhetty if you could get some drone footage of these area's, that would really improve on your videos.. Were you able to get access to climb that water tower.. That would have been a great view. 👍 nice video, thx for taking us along for the ride....
You're welcome. I cannot get drive footage here because it is still considered an active airport. Would have been a great view though. Thank you for watching!
Neat place! Thanks for sharing this😎💜 I saw a BBQ grill next to the old payphone
You're welcome and i appreciate you watching. Definitely an odd place for a grill.
I go out there and fix some of our jets that do touch and goes and break down.
Oh cool! Do you go in the hangers?
You need to visit the helicopter training center on U.S. 180 just east of Palo Pinto on the way to Mineral Wells, TX
the old ft wolters.
I was at loring afb in 79 80 it had b52s and very long runaways. Loring is closed but they managed to save a few buildings as community took over there is sports center now.
This base is not too far from Amarillo, TX which had an Air Force Base that was closed in 1968. That base has fared better; the landing strips are incorporated into the city international airport. Bell Helicopter builds the tilt rotor aircraft there and there are other companies as well. The rumor was that LBJ closed the base out of spite since Amarillo voters had voted for Goldwater rather than him!
That is interesting. Good that it is still being used though. Seems like so many are not. Thanks for watching.
Dyess AFB has mounds ( or did have as I have not been there in years ) and when we was stationed there i was told it had something to do with munitions . so maybe thats what these are .
I believe you are right. Someone that was stationed there said the same thing and that at one time they housed nuclear weapons even.
Ammunition bunkers but now people use for storage shelters, great insulated the works great year round.
They are bomb storage igloo's for munitions and storage in a hardened facility. Most every military base had a few all over the country.
CDL course makes sense it takes a bit of room
You're right about that. Thank you for watching!
Nice video. I really enjoyed reading all the comments from those who have been there. Expected a little more help from the cows @20:45
Ha! I'm not quite fluent on moonglish! I'm working on it. Thanks for watching!
where were the aliens kept.
I got my tonsils out when I was twelve years old there.
Oh wow! I wonder if that hospital where you had it done was still there?
@@RhettyforHistory The Base Hospital/ Clinic was probably that building with the Medical Signs and the “drive-thru” ie. Ambulance Bay. AF Base Hospitals/Clinics were generally not too big.
THANKS for doing this video and a respectful job.
(Unlike those just bent to break into things and effectively trespass and vandalize in the “name of History.” BS.)
Yes, you won't every see me going in and doing that. Thank you for watching!
Denver airport is a bit larger at over 16000 ft runway
munition bunkers
El is elevation above sea level.
+Jon Lofton Thanks Jon. My guess was for Elevation just because it was a control tower but I really had no idea.
KI Sawyer air force base in Michigan
02:21 The Tower EL 1923?
I looked it up, found nothing online. I know from being in the military it's strands for something that Military uses to indefinite certain buildings. I also live next to Camp Pendleton and I see numbers and letters like this in their towers. What do you think is stands for? EL 1923
+Cemetery Devil I have no clue what it stands for. I tried looking it up as well but found nothing. I was in a different branch. I'm hoping someone that was either stationed there or was at least in the Air Force might know.
It is the elevation above sea level. The area around Burns Flat is around 1900'. **I haven't served in the military. I go by here on a weekly basis though.
Also, they do man the field and have working equipment. My cousin is an FAA contractor and has to go service some of the electronics regularly.
The Highway Patrol conducts training maneuvers on the blacktop around the main runway.
Bird Equipment does/did manufacture vessels for oilfield use.
subdoorgunner Weird, all these years after getting out the Army I thought those Letters/Numbers actually meant something else. Those Flyboy's don't tell us Grunts anything. Thanks !
Shows the "field elevation" :)
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/CSM_-_FAA_airport_diagram.png
+Alicia Warner Thanks for posting the information!
Actually it not abandoned I live washdown county
I used to play baseball on that field! lol wow
Oh really?
@@RhettyforHistory Ya. little league. Some of my most fun times! It sure wasn't always run down, used to be really nice shape.
At least it's being used somewhat. It could be way worse.
Not the longest runway by any stretch. It's around 13k feet.
longest concrete reinforced runway. others are just shallower concrete and asphalt.
The Spaceport is a total waste of time and money. The budget is something like 12 million dollars a year at last report. The state has admitted there is nothing even on the distant horizon about a spaceport coming in here. 18 years of nothingness....
The guy who runs this of course thinks it's a great idea. He has a vested interest in keeping his cushy, well paid job to do nothing going. Meanwhile, most of the buildings are caving in......
In related news, the OK Health Department has "lost" 30 million dollars. While this is going on the state is whining about being broke and raising taxes on everything under the sun.
Nice video. I was stationed there from 66-69. I was an eng tech on B-52 + KC-135. Been a long time ago and nothing looks the same to me. I whish I could be some help to you.
+ron standley It's nice to hear from someone that was stationed there. I would bet a lot has changed there since so much has fallen or is dilapidated. Plus so many businesses have come in and changed things.
I do remember just outside the main gate on north hiway 44 there was a little drive in we used to eat at. It was called Goldies. Just north of there was a Conoco station and a little futher north was a auto parts store, Walt's Auto Supply. I worked there part time.
+ron standley I wonder if there are any remnants from those.
Ron, all the best!! Jake Nemeth
@@ronstandley1786 Goldies was still open when I worked there a couple of years ago.
I grew up out there and there was an facility in a mound that was where my Dad was was when he was on alert. We spent a lot of time there for family visits, both outside and inside. My brother and I used to also play in an abandoned guards shack in a field the same area.
From what I understood from someone else those mounds were weapons storage bunkers. I'm not sure myself since I've never been in them nor do I know anyone that ever was.
@@RhettyforHistoryThe facility referred to is the old SAC Alert Facility at the alert aircraft parking area. Alert facilities such as this were two stories with the bottom level covered by earth.
The b36s were taken out of service in 1959. The wings were taken off . The fuselage was towed to Fort Worth. The wings were loaded on a trailers and trucked to Fort Worth. This was a SAC base i believed it closed in 1969. The mounds, were munitions bunkers.
Any idea where those old bombers sit? I'm wondering if they can be seen anywhere.
@@RhettyforHistory There are only four left. One at Air force Museum. One called the city if Fort Worth is at Pima Air Museum, Castel Air Museum, and one at Stretegic Air Space Museum.
I'll have to check those out some time. Thanks for telling me where they are!
Those a/c units aren't that old. They must still get in those building occasionally.
Yes I think you're right because they were running also.
Grew up there. There a lot of rental spaces there they allow companies use unrelated to aviation. The mounds are storage mostly. It is still an active runway. My sister in the last ten year use to fuel planes that would stop by.
Standard AF Gym
Great video. I’m too big a chicken to go into space. No way. 😐 ty.
Probably don't want to be on the first ride up in space! I'd want to make sure they know what they're doing.