You have brought back some fond memories for me after watching this video. While reviewing the remarks of many, I have not found anyone listed who was stationed at GAFB near the years that I walked these grounds. My entire adult life is wrapped up in this facility. I was married at George AFB in November 1952. I first set foot on this base in May 1951. In November this year my wife and I will celebrate 70 years of marriage! We were in Air Weather Service, attached to 4th Weather Sqdn, 2nd Weather Detachment , USAF. The AFB you are reviewing here is not the AFB that I and my wife were associated with.
Interesting. My Dad was stationed at GeorgeAFB (ca 1954-55) He is now 89, and will mention how much he loved his time in the desert. Can't wait to show him this video. He talked about hitchhiking, as a young Airman, from Victorville to San Bernardino. You can just see his face light up as he recalls celebrating his 19th birthday at George. Awesome stuff.
My dad was stationed at George. Went to school on base, I remember the walk to school and hanging out at the youth center waiting to get picked up by mom. I fondly remember the base during Halloween, trick o treating our neighbors and being able to stay out at night. My friend's mom ran the golf course restaurant, I remember going there and eating for free so many times. Truly sad to see what it's become. Thanks for the tour!
My dad was a cook at the bases’ NCO club back in the 80’s. My mom would take us shopping for school clothes and groceries at GAFB. The exchange also sold really cheap Dungeons and Dragons games there😊
I was stationed at George AFB from 1980 through 1986. Note my screen name, Wild Weasel. The hospital you explored was less than 10 years old when the base closed and state of the art to serve both active duty and retirees. In base housing there was actually a competition for Lawn of the Month.
@WildWeasel, I was stationed there in 1986 and I remember that they had just upgraded the hospital for over a million dollars. I was a nurse there in the maternity wing. Some crazy things went on there. The emergency call system in the labor and delivery area was non functioning despite all the upgrades. It made no sense.
Ah, the legendary F-4 Phantom. Loud and dirty jets with an impeccable history. I was a Squadron Medical Element assigned to the 39th TFS. A great time in my twenties.
Wife and I were stationed at George from May '83 to Dec '88. We lived at 615 Utah in base housing, which is just across the street from the base chapel. It's hard to see a place we lived and worked at for so long just descend into a crumbling abandoned mess.
We lived at 601 Utah. Right on the corner across from the little ball field. Lucky we had an odd numbered house so we got a bonus day of watering if the month had 31 days.
My uncle was stationed at this base from the late 1960s until 1970. As a kid I have fond memories visiting my cousins, aunt and uncle at George afb.I remember the base was so beautiful. It was very hot in the summer time right in the dessert. It is so sad to see the base in ruins.
Can’t wait to see this. I use to work there for 3 years. We would go through the old base housing after work sometimes. Looked like something from the Walking Dead.
😪This was my first Air Force assignment to the 35th Tactical Wing, George AFB, in 1987. Was deployed to Bahrain (Isa AB) with the 831Air Division in 1990. I have fond memories of my first base! Thanks for the memories and the friendship made there.
I'm a base brat, dad was in the Air Force, and I used to live at George for 5 years. It kind of saddens me a bit to see one of my old homes falling apart like this. I came back one time in 2003, leaving from the airfield on a private charter with my national guard unit after completing 2 week training. I can still remember what most of the base used to look like.
Do you happen to remember what the building you took the charter from used to be back when the base was still open? I work at that FBO now and we were just saying we wish we knew what all of the current buildings used to be back then.
@@debbiebecker8893 Can't really say for sure, the charter was parked by one of the old hangers. My dad worked on loading munitions on the aircraft, I think they were F-4's. I'll have to ask him about it.
My first AF assignment (1988-1992). Have been back twice since then and broke my heart to see what had come of it. 24 years in the military, this was by far my favorite assignment.
The rips around the light switches and electrical outlets are the result of scavengers tearing out the wiring for the copper. At the 12:00 minute mark, that's the x-ray department. At 12:30 are the x-ray tables. My daughter was born in that hospital. I was stationed at George AFB from 1980-1984, and lived in two different houses on base.
This was a nuke base and had higher ups stationed at it. Do u know anything about the underground facilities? I've also heard that the "signal hill" across the Mojave river right there has a large fallout bunker?
@@BigRichfrank If it had nukes that was not the stated mission of the base. All bases in the 50s to 70s had fallout bunkers built into them. An important base like George would have an underground command facility to coordinate any resources left as well as rescue, and decontamination. I used to work in defense when I wasn't working on the Space Shuttle or some other experimental projects for long-term space travel. Challenger blowing up started drying up funding. After the Star Wars program was cancelled by Congress we kept on secretly building it by attaching its funding to other military expenditures. Was sent to the base on San Nicholas Island 80 miles out of LA Harbor. Went out there several times to work on projects in the 80s and 90s, outside was done mostly at night, early morning. It was a favorite because of the Marine layer practically every morning hides what they do. If you look at it on Google Earth there isn't much to see except the 2nd longest runway in the 48 states. Almost everything is underground there including hangars. I think it has been cut back supposedly and it has a research facility to study Elephant Seals as they use the west end beaches for breeding. Marine charts had a warning to stay 300 or 400 yards offshore, I forget which. In the 70s used to go out there fishing on my dad's boat and we had to head back to Santa Barbara Island every afternoon because you were not allowed to anchor there on the lee side. Never thought I was going to work there one day.
@@MountainFisher I was told by more than one person stationed there that it had nukes that could be attached to fighterjets . There are land bunkers right next to the runways with big hanger doors. I was told holding and loading went on in them . was told it was like " minute man" ready.. I would call bullsheet BUT I was told by more than one person .a decade apart and they did not know each other... one of our local urban explorers found a hidden, key card only access command center in the movie house. Has big rooms and a big command unit .with a bunch of air lock tubes running out of it .( Like the ones the banks used to use for car dropoffs) also a still locked vault . (909 explorers I think is the name.) They also showed at least one building had a fake floor. 2 feet off of the foundation. I know they have hydraulic manholes that would fit in-between... I'm still on the look !!😜😜😎😎
@@BigRichfrank George AFB was primarily a training facility for F-4 units. Prior to that, they had F-104s, F-100s, and F-86s. The Wild Weasel F4s called George home, and would later see action during the first Gulf War.
@@douglaslorin739 I seen pictures of a stealth with the weasel on it. I no that they had nukes for the stealth. Also the weasels were "trainers" that means they had some skilled pilots who at anytime could be tossed into war. I'm still in search of!!😉😁😎
Definitely looking forward to this episode. This Place was a secret gem but now is being discovered by many. Can't wait to see what they cover in this episode for this place. The hospital there is supposedly haunted
What's is upsetting to me having been to George AFB many of times is the total disrespect for a sacred place for which it served. For many this was home as Mom and Dad served their country. I can imagine many a child wanting to go back there to see their home, first school they attended, the park space and ball field they once played upon, the hospital visits and yes where they played their first round of golf with Mom or Dad (when they were home from duty) on that once lush golf course and that really nice club house. Thank you to those who served and past thru George and to those children that grew up there....embrace those memories of this once vibrant community of which you called home. God Bless you all!
I agree! We just got a brand new sign at our library. It wasn't even up for 3 months before someone just decided to destroy it. It's not an abandoned area. We just can't have nice things.
The lower level housed the Dental Clinic with a separate entrance on the south side. GAFB 1984/1988. I find it interesting, some of the comments about the military being good at abandoning equipment etc. While blaming the military, remember the folks you vote into political office are the ones who closed the bases under Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC). The military do the bidding of politicians. The equipment "abandoned" by the military is abandoned because politicians do not provide money to transport and store the equipment. A good example of political control is the withdrawel of troops from Afghanistan and the abundance of equipment we gave to the Taliban and the lives needlessly lost. MY OPINION
You are correct! Dick Cheney closed Webb AFB, in Big Spring, Texas, (I was there73-76) and half the bases in Texas 'cause he couldn't kill the V-22 Osprey Program....P***k!!!
@@michaelteems5813 When folks see military leaving equipment behind they forget the military are working on time constraints. The closure of operations in Afghanistan was known for several years, yet this administration waited too long before addressing shutdown and withdrawal. As a result lives were lost and equipment left for friendly Afghan forces was lost to enemy forces. You would think politicians would learn from Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. I only hope Ukraine can stand against Russia
You are spot on and explained it very well. They know it alls who like to quickly blame the military for everything where blinders preventing them from seeing the big picture. Of course none of these spoiled AH’s have never served or given anything back to their country they just keep taking and using. Yep it’s the military’s fault ah huh.
Kendo Man I agree with you on that. Unfortunately, we, the people have handed over too much control to politicians and politicians have lost perspective. They no longer provide for the common good but line their own pockets and we let them get away with it. We should have NO career politicians. They should be put into jail for their insider trading. Are there any who retire who are not millionaires? Some have never held jobs other tha political and they are in their 80 's.
@@mistervacation23 No I did not, the aircraft I was around were F-4, T-38, F-16, F-15, space shuttle and a few others of that time period as well as the ALCM project, didn't know anyone important I was just a grunt aircraft mechanic.
The Duplex "apartment" style house was usually for Enlisted personnel with family's and the "house" style living quarters were for Officers with family's. The strange table device you guys were looking at is an X-ray machine. Every Air Forces base I have been on has had a Golf Course, it gives the residents something to do...lol
Glasgow is one I’ve never heard of. Used to have a guy in my squadron who did research on closed bases of all services. He had this huge list of bases I’d never heard of. Most of them were closed either shortly after WWII or Korea.
@@deanaltman6841 Hi, I was stationed at Glasgow AFB, MT from 9/1965 to 8/1968 with the 861st MDG which was part of the 91st BW. ADC also had a unit there as well, 13th FIS. The base was pretty much closed by 1968 and I was one of about 250 USAF people there. It did re-open briefly in the 1970s. There is a small community there who reside in the housing area, St Marie, MT is the name. Otherwise the old base is owned by Boeing for there cold weather testing. I believe the name of the field is Montana Industrial Park or air reaerch. There are a few youtube videos to see.
Thanks for the look see. 35th TFW used to be there with F-4 Phantoms. I had friends who lived in base housing.. I was at Edwards AFB near Rosemond, California.
In 1962 my best friend had band that played at the George Airforce Base officers club. I drove my 1957 Porsche there from San Bernardino to listen to his band. The memories, amazing.
I was stationed there from 86-90 and you can't tell now, but it was once a very nice base with a lot of green grass and trees. The gate you came in was the housing gate and the road was lined with trees, grass, green shrubs, and flagpoles. My ex wife and I lived on base (137 Washington) in one of those singe story six plexes, and the parking was covered. We had "yard of the month" contests, and you could get in trouble with your commander if you didn't keep your own grass cut and watered nicely. Base hospital was state of the art and still fairly new when the base closed. Downstairs area was the dental clinic. I was told the Army used the housing area for urban assault training, which is one reason for so many holes...and then the copper thieves and spray painters came in.
Thank you for the video. It is sad to see what has become of George AFB but it does conjure up long ago memories of the place. My father (and our family) was stationed there in 1962 to 65. We lived on North Carolina Ave in the NCO housing section. I attended kindergarten and 1st grade on the base before we moved to nearby Apple Valley where my parents built our family home. I remember going to the north section of the base by the flightline and watching the planes take off and land. I always liked the sonic booms we heard. I remember having an Air Force ID card even as a kid on the base. We always had the best seats for the Thunderbird demonstrations. Again, it is so sad to see what has become of the place where I thought it was really cool to live.
I flew in and out of George many times in the early and mid 80's on my way to and from Kunia Army Base in Hawaii. It has changed big time from back then. There was green grass everywhere the times I was there.
I was stationed at George from 1974-1978. My oldest boy was born at The hospital there. Total bill for his birth was $4.25. $2.00 was for his birth certificate.
Another very interesting tour, Bethany and Drew. One thing the government in all of its many guises is expert at is discarding and/or abandoning things -- this time an entire community on an AF base. Best guess the two strange devices you saw in the abandoned base hospital are X-Ray machines.
You are correct Noah. That was the radiology department with two X-ray tables. The holes in the ceiling held the actual X-ray heads. That was right down the hall from the Emergency Department, where I worked from 1982 to 1987. It was once a very modern, full service Air Force Hospital. Now used for military training as well as making movies.
Have to take into consideration a lot, if not all; buildings from that era had asbestos or lead paint involved. Letting them rot in place probably cheaper than remediation expenses.
George was on the list of the BRAC act in the early 90s. At the time, the Air Force was downsizing and transferring training operations. I believe one Wild Weasel unit went to Nellis AFB which offers an immense range for training.
George AFB was a really nice base. I was USAF Security Police and did prisoner transfers from bases to whichever prison the person was being sent to. I spent a lot of time going to George AFB, really enjoyed the base and the area. Sad it was abandoned.
@@christopherhazell420 Reagan was President when they decided to close George AFB, I wonder how much of the base closures were from good old Dick Cheney's hatred for the military.
I've done some really good training up at George. On one occasion we flew from Camp Pendleton, landed on the south side of the housing area, then hit a bunch of houses. Some of the other guys from my unit got to fly in on C-130s with their vehicles all gunned up. They drove through a simulated ambush making all kinds of racket and even used one of the trucks to breach the wall a house in order to get to the "bad guys." We were pretty much given carte blanche, so we took advantage of it. I got into a bit of trouble when I used a flash-bang to breach a sliding glass door. Oops. We flew back to Pendleton, debriefed, cleaned our gear, then hopped on some trucks and went straight to the beach for a bbq. That op was so much fun. One of the best 24 hours of my career.
Your video brought back memories of when I was stationed at George AFB in 1969-70. Yes, that was indeed a golf course & it was the only place on the base that was green. When I was stationed there it was part of the 479th Tactical Air Command with F-4E Phantom squadrons. I was lucky enough to be assigned to the 479th Field Maintenance Squadron & repaired the radar system for those aircraft. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to get to visit the base again in the future.
I too stationed at George 69-70 479 th munitions squadron which was across the road from west gate near the fuel pumps for all the different fuels for vehicles and aircraft. That was a long time ago. I went on to become an Instructor at Lowery AFB munitions 46130
I participated in a big urban warfare exercise here back in 1999 or 2000. Much of the housing was still intact at that time, and we got to demolish quite a bit of it.. crazy that it is all still there.
My dad was a pilot stationed at George from 1985 to 1991. Spent most of his deployment attached to the 20th TFTS (Silver Lobos) training the German Luftwaffe pilots in the F-4s. We lived in Apple Valley. Lots of great memories and George was a really nice base, I can still see some of these locations in my mind back when everything was whole and green. Sad to see it in this state.
I was an AMMO troop in the 20th Lobos. That was all put together after they incorporated into CMU (combined maintenance units) around 84-85. I was stationed there 1983-85.
I almost certainly crossed paths with your dad then. I was avionics there from 85-87. (I was in the 21st, but the 20th and 21st were often short staffed in avionics so we covered each other a lot.) I was amazed, and saddened, when I took my family there in 2000. I lived in the dorms but I had friends in base housing and the yards were really nice. In 2000, the desert had made amazing progress reclaiming the area. It seemed like the set of some apocalyptic movie.
George did not close until almost 1993 ! I was there from 1986 till Jan 1992 ! The base is one of the biggest Superfund toxic bases in the country which is why it is not being used by the city as was planned originally! Radioactive dust from the old atomic tests was washed off aircraft onto the ground in the 50s& 60s and just left there, I was present when it was discovered in 1989 and certain parts of the west taxi ways and aircraft run pads were found to have extremely high levels of radioactivity in the soil which was blown in the air by running aircraft jet engines, after we were restricted from running engines on those pads due to the extreme hazard!! It’s still there!! The ground water was severely polluted to by hazardous waste which is one reason the gulf coarse was left to dry up the water came from wells that were severely polluted with toxic waste!!
I dunno...some of the artwork was pretty good and who would be affected by the "vandalism"? It's not like these buildings are habitable. It is sad though that everything there seems to have been broken or damaged in some manner.
September 10th 2001 Rumsfeld has a pentagon announcement saying 2.3trillon USD ‘missing’. September 11, 2001 the towers fall as well as building 7 I believe it was a few blocks away from the twins. All have proof of controlled demolition. I believe one or two of the pilots trained in Maricopa Arizona at a municipal airport. Not only that but where being tracked by multiple 3 letter orgs months in advance. Plus the 5 million other things that point it all to being staged. I’ll let the homies know to start spraying the truth on the walls of abandoned military bases instead. DONT vandalize rocks DO vandalize your local abandoned Fed building.
@@hillbillychic8417 yeah , and you probably believed that whole conspiracy theory about “Russiagate“ that the media and politicians pushed for 4 years , didn’t you ?
Great vid. Went there a few years ago. Crazy to see. My dad was stationed there in the 80s and flew F-4s, so a small chunk of my childhood was spent there and I remember it well when it was alive and active.
I was a kid there in 1966. I spent most of my spare time in the Mojave desert nearby. Crew cuts and leopard skin sting ray bikes! Pretty sad seeing it all run down. I lived at 112 Montana. It was a single level duplex. Man, what memories.
I spent about 14 months there in late 1973 to Jan 1975. Worked on the flight line. It is a shame to see it in such shape since I remember a bustling air base. A few years later, I went to Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas and the day I arrived, they announced its closure. I was part of the caretaker force after closure and stayed another year. I've been back there a number of times and they turned the housing area into lease/rentals and most of the new barracks were turned into a prison. The flight line is still used for commercial purposes. Not the same economy as the base provided to the local community but at least it isn't a total ruin like George.
i was stationed there from 1988 to 1992. So sad to see it like this. I helped close a lot of the facilities. We were the last family to live on 100 Idaho St. What I found hilarious was when we moved out the house, the housing office still conducted a full on white glove inspection on the house. My daughter was born there and I had 2 operations at that now creepy hospital.
I was stationed at George AFB from 1987- 1989. The hospital was relatively new before they closed the base in the 90’s. We called the town Victimsville and the little town right outside of the base as Allegettho.
I was down the hill at Norton until it closed, but on the weekends I worked in Apple Valley and Victorville. My old boss on base came from George when it closed with all the realignments happened. March AFB by Norton was saved due to its nice golf course that brass liked to fly in and use. March was pretty new too at the time.
@@darylkik777Yes & no: March - as an AFB, was also closed. There is still an Air Force Reserve presence there, but they only occupy part of the old base.
I used to live there in 1967-1969 and it was a great place to live and go to school. There is lots I could say but it looks so depressing now. What a shame.
Grew up nearby and have been through the main gate many times. I even flew out of the base airport on a NATO media tour when I was working for the hometown newspaper. Believe the plans for re-using the base fell through when it was declared a super fund cleanup site. Yes, some of the base property was re-developed into a private, commercial air field.
Consistently some of the best content on RUclips, you two are rock stars. When I still lived in L.A., I drove out there once to scout for one of my videos. It's definitely a trippy place. I was in the hospital, as well, but I didn't go downstairs. I was solo and no one really knew my exact location, so I stayed ground level. People don't realize there are some sketchy characters that gather in those buildings for all kinds of activities. You should really do more URBEX videos, it was a nice change of pace to watch one without all the herky-jerky camera movement. As usual, excellent work, and stay safe out there!
Thank you so much for all your support, our friend. This is definitely a location that requires some kind of Buddy System, haha. We hope you've been able to find some amazing locations in Texas. Keep up the good work and hope you have a great week ahead.
You mentioned "Carolina" street early in your video. My wife and I were both active duty assigned to George from 1978 to 1982. We lived across from the Sound Barrier Bar on Highway 395 in a little duplex for a couple of years then moved to 615 Carolina on base from 1980 to 1982 where our son was born. It was a thriving base then. I was a Crew Chief with the 561st TFS of the 37th TFW, one of the 4 Wild Weasel squadrons in the world at the time.
@@denniswarren4080 Hey neighbor! I have a coworker who was stationed in the sheetmetal shop when we were, but we never crossed paths at George, but have been fast friends since. I was by the base in 2018 and didn't recognize shit.
Flashing back to the late 60’s when my dad was stationed there. I went to 5th and 6th grade there. You actually stood right in front of our house on base housing.
I grew up on George so this is really sad knowing how beautiful it used to be. It was covered in grass and huge cottonwood trees in it's heyday. Those were x-ray machines in the hospital you found, and it was a state of the art facility built only a few years before the base closed. The golf course was very popular and also beautiful. Look around, the base also housed several olympic sized swimming pools, and many other buildings. There are two large elementary schools on the base and they were used for a long time by the city of Adelanto. They may still be in use.
@@reptoidfancy666 ya, you're probably right. Better to leave to Veterans homeless. They face less danger and hardships being homeless. It's not like they did anything to at least try something. The contaminated area of those bases, and it's not every base ,are restricted. They deserve better.
These servicemen, and in some cases women, don't need employment. They need a roof over their heads. They need a clean, dry warm bed to get some decent sleep. They need food, good food. They need the company of others who are in the same condition. Some, most need medical attention. An old military base would be ideal. Not every base is contaminated everywhere, if they are, then we should be closing all the active bases, because they aren't in any better shape. As for jobs, these men don't need jobs. They are in most cases barley able to take care of themselves, they need help, and we owe it. Rehab work is simple. These bases all have maintenance equipment. Put them to work, cleaning, raking, shoveling, painting and in general taking care of the facility. They can pull K P and in general take part in there own care. Basic military training taught them most of this. And this would go a long way to giving them back their self esteem. After the American civil war, Old Soldier Homes were set up. They function much the same way. I'm a Vet. I don't drink or do drugs and through my own stupidity I wound up homeless for about six months. I clawed my way out of that trap, and it is a trap. We can all come up with reasons this wouldn't work. The biggest being not trying. There may be lots of reasons for not doing anything, but there are a couple reasons to do something, very important reasons. First, they answered a call to duty. They fought for and safeguarded freedom , yours and mine. For what ever reason they didn't come out of it whole. We owe them. Young people today see how this country is treating these Veterans and in response they want no part of defending this nation. If your freedom means anything to you, then we need to also show that service personnel are not forgotten and cast off with indifference. So far, as a nation we are failing.
I was station at George AFB in 1971 with the 434 TFS, F4E. Lived in wooden open bay barracks near flight line until we moved to new 2 man barracks. Had around 200 planes station there. My fondness memory was when 2 SR-71 were at transit alert and we went to the flight line and saw them take off at night and see those afterburners light up the night what a beautiful sight that was
I'm going to politely call BULLSHIT on SR71s being on alert. ( they never have) In 1978, the only Alert birds were F-106s belonging to ADC. They were absorbed by the Cali ANG around 1980.
We have always wanted to go and explore there just haven't had the opportunity. Those machines we believe to be x-ray tables. Love the look of abandoned hospitals always give off some resident evil type vibes. What a fun exploration.
Thanks for posting this video. I lived there when I was in 1st grade in 1971. My father was back from serving his tour in Vietnam and we moved from base housing in Bangor AFB to George. It's crazy to see the place like this because In those days of the cold war, fighter jets were always in the air and I remember take offs and landings every hour day and night....so much hustle and bustle. Anyways, looking at old pictures of all of us in 70's clothes and my dad's 71 Kingswood wagon sure brings me back, but this video brings me back at another level of recollection.
Lived there as a kid from 1969 - 73. Went to Harry R. Sheppard Elementary School and lived at 229 Oregon Street. Used to go to the base theater on Saturdays for matinees. 50¢ would get you in, plus popcorn and a soda pop. My son was a recon marine, he trained for urban warfare there vs. the Army. George was my mom's favorite base. I took here and dad back there about 10 or 12 years ago, to the house where we lived. It was trashed. She cried.
I am a retired firefighter. It is very obvious to me that local fire departments have spent a lot of time using these buildings for training. Roofs are open, and I see evidence of rescue practice in the buildings.
I was stationed at March AFB outside Riverside, California in 1973 - 75, and I visited George AFB one day while it was still an active base. They had F-4s and F-105s at George at the time.
Growing up on these Air Force Base’s. It sure hard to see them like this. You just can’t image all the family Christmas’s departures and hopefully returns that those walls have seen. There used to be whole squadrons of people that did nothing but take care of base housing and support structures. They were there own little cities. I was very lucky to see inside the house that we had at Wurtsmith AFB. In Oscoda Michigan in the early 70’s . The one thing that surprised me the most is that they had plans of trying to reuse the base for civilian business. And refurbish the houses for sale. There’s a nice advertisement for the housing on RUclips. Funny how my room seamed so much smaller.🤔🤔
K.I,SAWYER is managed by 4 townships that intersect in the middle of housing. Our son and his new wife rented the end unit of a quad plex, for 3 years before buying their first house. All the street signs haven't been changed. I was told that was the deal the Airforce offered because in a minutes notice they can reclaim it, so the old street maps could still be used. IDK. I just learned on you tube this past winter, that there was a weather station base somewhere up on the Keweenaw peninsula near Copper Harbor. It had black top street's, water tower, and those single level duplexes. I never knew it was there. Never saw any news about it from TV6 Marquette, like was it top secret? I don't live in MICHIGAN anymore so it would be a road trip to investigate this.
Some military bases have their own golf courses for their officers to play on. I know because I worked for a brief time in the early 1990s as a civilian graphic artist on a base in San Diego in which, among other things, I designed a printed promotional brochure for the base’s golf course. As for George AFB and its golf course, hospital, etc., they fell victim to America’s widespread military base decommissionings from the late 1980s onward. The base closings occurred as the Cold War ramped down from a decreased threat of Soviet nuclear attack during Mikhail Gorbachev’s "Glasnost" and, in 1991, from the collapse of the Soviet Union itself, which officially ended the Cold War (that is, until the rise of dictator Vladimir Putin in today’s Russia). Unlike George AFB, many former bases were transformed into industrial parks or other private/public land uses. Next you should check out the old, massive blimp hangars at the decommissioned military base in Tustin, California, which were originally built in 1942 for the Navy and then later used by the Marines for helicopter hangars during the Korean and Vietnam wars, and for many years afterwards. These hangars were also used in filming the 1975 movie, The Hindenburg. Visiting this former base in Tustin would make a fascinating episode of Oddity Odysseys. -from Thomas Lincoln Pilling
Didn't have a "country club" on an AF Base. It might have been an NCO Club or an Officers' Club. But you did find the golf club/course. Spooky place, that's for sure. What if there had been a button for the elevator and something started moving after you pushed the button? Talk about a jump scare!
This brings back many memories. I was stationed here from 1967 until 1969. I have to admit that I don't recognize much of the facilities. To may years have passed. I worked near the flight at the flight simulator building. Thanks for putting this online.
My father was stationed at George from about Feb 67 to Sept 68 when we then went to Bentwaters, England. The address 134 Idaho sticks in my mind, but I was only 10 when we left so I can't be sure. The first unit you showed looked very similar to what I remmber the apartment to look like, or at least certain aspects. Thank you for the cool trip down memory lane! We lived there for 20 months and it rained 3 times and snowed once. The first snow in 20 years fell on Christmas Eve and we were able to make ONE snowman... in the neighbor's yard. The base ball got too heavy for us to move further, so we left it there.
I was at 115 Idaho and was also about 10. We were there in '67 and '68 though at some point we moved to Adelanto when my dad went to Vietnam. I can remember after ball practice walking past the end of the flight line at dusk and watching F4s taking off. Also long hikes into the desert and crawling through the drainage system under the streets.
This base is not as abandoned as it looks. It gets used for some really large hosted events at times. I know at one point it was used for a very large well known airsoft event where two massive teams fought against one another to conquer areas. I've seen videos of this base from airsoft players here on RUclips back in 2016. It made a really impressive airsoft playing field and gave a very realistic war zone scenery. I am not sure how often events happen here or how often the airsoft events occur, but I am sure it's a yearly thing. Whoever owns it, is obviously making good money by leaving it there.
Been waiting on pins and needles since I got the alert that this episode was coming and not at all disappointed love watching y'all freak each other out well worth the wait
The runways and airfield at George are cureently being used by airlines around the world to store temporarily unused aircraft. The desert climate reduces contamination of the aircraft.
Came across your video and it brought back some great memories for me. I stayed here back in the 80s. Place and people were always very friendly. It's a shame to hear that it was abandoned like it is. Thank you for your video 👍👍👍
They go with the intent to paint. And I dunno that I mind… at least it’s an old abandoned space instead of gang graffiti out on our street. People stealing copper wire seems skeevier.
I guess there are a few people that think that execution is too harsh, but tagging buildings with spray paint should at least be a felony. People who do that are absolutely disgusting and should be removed from society
I used to play West Winds Golf Course when the base was open. It lasted for a while, the City of Victorville took it over after the Air Force left. It was only a nine hole course, so you played it twice.
When the base was first closed, it was proposed the housing be used for welfare people... before the housing was ruined, but it was deemed "Sub-Standard".... sad... housing was OK for Airforce Families... but not good enough for welfare!
Went to school there from 1991 - 2000 still live a couple of miles away from the base. The base is still open for church and league baseball and soccer. The school is still open
This is so sad and it angers me, the waste of the Federal government and especially today with the incompetency of Joe Biden. I was stationed at George from 1977 thru 1980
My parents lived at 318 Montana Street (Jul 85 to Jun 88). I left for Air Force Basic from there in Jan 86 and ended up stationed there 4 months later Apr 86 to Jul 88, and I didn't even put it on my dream sheet. My wife's parents lived at 110 Virginia Ave then 614 or 612 Utah Street. They were there from Jan 86 to Jan 92 or so. Several of my classmates from Bitburg Germany ended up there also, as their parents got stationed there also.
Forgot to mention, my dad was Production Super over in the 20th TFS, my father-in-law worked Weapons at the 20th and I was next door in the 27th TASS as Aircrew Life Support. My dorm was next door to the 35th dorm, by the baseball fields.
@@michaelbernhardt2679 I probably crossed paths with your dad, father in law and maybe you at times then. I worked avionics in the 20th and 21st from 85-87. (I worked mostly in the 21st, but avionics was often short staffed in the 20th and 21st so we often worked together.) It's been enough years that I can't say I recall a Production named Bernhardt over in the 20th, but maybe. And I lived in the 35th dorm so I'd guess we ate in the same chow hall.
@@robertjackson4054 My dad went by Bernie and my FIL (Groff) went from Weapons to Dorm Manager, in yalls dorm. Oh yeah, we were lucky the Chow Hall was right behind our dorms. Made getting food easy that is for sure.
My infantry platoon went up there in 1989, from Camp Pendleton. Our Plt Commander Lt. Wright knew some of the Victorville cops and he got us cleared to go up there on a weekend and do MOUT training. (Military Operations Urban Terrain) 2 squads were good guys, rwo squads were OPFOR (Opposition/Opposing Forces). We used MILES gear, which was the norm at the time. It was like military laser tag. Best MOUT training I ever had was there. Base was just recently closed so everything was pretty much still intact. My squad took control of that hospital and used that courtyard with the concrete benches as a temporary hide sight, overnight.
My brother Ray was stationed there while I was in the Navy. Was easy to get on the base. Typical military station. Not exactly beautiful, but had everything bases normally have access to. Your video did bring back memories of my visit there. What I like is you guys sharing history of the base as well. Well done.
My dad was stationed there in '67-'68, and then he went to Ubon, Thailand. If I remember correctly, our base housing was the same as the second house they went into, the one with the concrete block fences.
Useless trivia for you folks! Did ja' know....? George AFB was closed pursuant to a decision by the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission at the end of the Cold War. It is now the site of the Southern California Logistics Airport. Since 2009, the California Air National Guard's 196th Reconnaissance Squadron (96 RS) has operated an MQ-1 Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) training facility at the sit. In recent history, the abandoned, but still intact military housing block has been used by private companies for various purposes. The site was a filming location for the films Jarhead, an episode of the TV series Mythbusters, as well in an episode of Roadkill. The abandoned housing is also used extensively for airsoft games, particularly milsim ones. The airsoft event organizer Milsim West has used the location over five times, Milsim organizer Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series (O.L.C.M.S.S.) has hosted an annual, Memorial Day Weekend event since 2001, and the event organizer/storefront Evike has used the site as well. To meet mission requirements, the base engaged in a variety of support operations such as aircraft maintenance and firefighting training that mandated the use and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials. At least 50 years of military aircraft operations resulted in various contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) being released into soil and leaching into groundwater, potentially impacting human health and the environment. Eighty-four Installation Restoration Program sites with potential chemical contamination have been identified at George AFB. Five Operational Units (OUs) have been created under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to manage these sites. As of 2019, OU1, OU3, and OU5 remain active at George AFB. OU2 and OU4 have been dissolved and were realigned into other OUs or identified as non-CERCLA sites. Reference link: cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0902737
I was never stationed at George (I was in the USAF in the '80's), but am an aviation buff that grew up in L.A., and used to go to the air shows - and boy, the Air Force put on some great air shows at March, Norton, and George! I'll never forget riding with friends up 395 to go to the one (and only, due to a fatal crash of a female aerobatic pilot during her performance) air show at El Mirage, and getting buzzed by several F-4's that were literally at treetop level - VERY cool!!! I was brokenhearted when the three bases were closed - even moreso with how that impacted the area: San Bernadino, once on the list of "All America Cities", has been Gangland USA ever since: I'll never forget driving through downtown back in 2000 at noon on a weekday, and the streets were totally empty. Politicians didn't think (or care) about the number of civilian jobs & businesses that supported the bases, and the majority of them failed or moved elsewhere as a result - and it didn't help that the rise of the internet took place at the same time.
Having been a high desert resident since 1988, I remember when this base was still open. I also remember when it closed in the early 90's. I have been to the base numerous times since then but never explored it like you guys have. As far as I know that Golf Course was open up until somewhat recently and the Westwinds recreation center is still open to my knowledge. I played basketball there many times in the mid 2000's. That spot was still well kept and clean. Many Hollywood movies have been shot out here since the base closed, the most Notable being Jarhead, The Hulk (2003 version) and Face/Off
This is heartbreaking for me. I lived there with my husband, 27 TASS, from 85-91. I worked at FT. Sam Houston Bank for several years as well as the NCO club, O club, NAF office. It was a beautiful base. We lived on Utah street. Unfortunately, many of us who lived there were affected by health issues as a result of contaminated water.
You have brought back some fond memories for me after watching this video. While reviewing the remarks of many, I have not found anyone listed who was stationed at GAFB near the years that I walked these grounds. My entire adult life is wrapped up in this facility. I was married at George AFB in November 1952. I first set foot on this base in May 1951. In November this year my wife and I will celebrate 70 years of marriage! We were in Air Weather Service, attached to 4th Weather Sqdn, 2nd Weather Detachment , USAF. The AFB you are reviewing here is not the AFB that I and my wife were associated with.
I grew up in Hesperia back in the 80's and early 90's. My father took me to several air shows they held at George AFB. Good times back then.
Interesting. My Dad was stationed at GeorgeAFB (ca 1954-55) He is now 89, and will mention how much he loved his time in the desert. Can't wait to show him this video. He talked about hitchhiking, as a young Airman, from Victorville to San Bernardino. You can just see his face light up as he recalls celebrating his 19th birthday at George. Awesome stuff.
My dad was stationed at George. Went to school on base, I remember the walk to school and hanging out at the youth center waiting to get picked up by mom. I fondly remember the base during Halloween, trick o treating our neighbors and being able to stay out at night. My friend's mom ran the golf course restaurant, I remember going there and eating for free so many times. Truly sad to see what it's become. Thanks for the tour!
I was born there in 1979!!! In the hospital, my parents had a house outside. But this was both of their 1st duty stations, where they met and had me 🥰
My dad was a cook at the bases’ NCO club back in the 80’s. My mom would take us shopping for school clothes and groceries at GAFB. The exchange also sold really cheap Dungeons and Dragons games there😊
Bought my first D&D box set there!
I was stationed at George AFB from 1980 through 1986. Note my screen name, Wild Weasel. The hospital you explored was less than 10 years old when the base closed and state of the art to serve both active duty and retirees. In base housing there was actually a competition for Lawn of the Month.
@WildWeasel, I was stationed there in 1986 and I remember that they had just upgraded the hospital for over a million dollars. I was a nurse there in the maternity wing. Some crazy things went on there. The emergency call system in the labor and delivery area was non functioning despite all the upgrades. It made no sense.
Hey Wild Weasel I was stationed there from 82 to 84. Crew chief 563rd AMU tail number 69-7252
Ah, the legendary F-4 Phantom. Loud and dirty jets with an impeccable history. I was a Squadron Medical Element assigned to the 39th TFS. A great time in my twenties.
@@johnwozniak5323 I was ECM at the 562st before moving over to FTD to teach APR-38 maintenance and repair.
@@fabergeartist5273Was Capt Rose still around? I worked with her to get the first EMT class off the ground at the hospital.
I was born in the GAFB in 1961. We have photos of the housing unit that we lived in. It was nice to see you exploring the old base.
Wife and I were stationed at George from May '83 to Dec '88. We lived at 615 Utah in base housing, which is just across the street from the base chapel. It's hard to see a place we lived and worked at for so long just descend into a crumbling abandoned mess.
We lived at 601 Utah. Right on the corner across from the little ball field. Lucky we had an odd numbered house so we got a bonus day of watering if the month had 31 days.
552 Utah. We were here in the late 60's, Dad worked on F-4's and Mom worked on raising kids and keeping hydraulic fluid out of Dad's fatigues.
My uncle was stationed at this base from the late 1960s until 1970. As a kid I have fond memories visiting my cousins, aunt and uncle at George afb.I remember the base was so beautiful. It was very hot in the summer time right in the dessert. It is so sad to see the base in ruins.
I also lived on Utah Ave from 85-89. Enjoyed my time there.
Never served at George but I remember a great Steakhouse on 395 outside the gate..The Cocky Bull.. good times and great food!
That place was SO good!
Can’t wait to see this. I use to work there for 3 years. We would go through the old base housing after work sometimes. Looked like something from the Walking Dead.
😪This was my first Air Force assignment to the 35th Tactical Wing, George AFB, in 1987. Was deployed to Bahrain (Isa AB) with the 831Air Division in 1990. I have fond memories of my first base! Thanks for the memories and the friendship made there.
Went there in 1990 to cover fire while you guys were deployed
I'm a base brat, dad was in the Air Force, and I used to live at George for 5 years. It kind of saddens me a bit to see one of my old homes falling apart like this. I came back one time in 2003, leaving from the airfield on a private charter with my national guard unit after completing 2 week training. I can still remember what most of the base used to look like.
Do you happen to remember what the building you took the charter from used to be back when the base was still open? I work at that FBO now and we were just saying we wish we knew what all of the current buildings used to be back then.
@@debbiebecker8893 Can't really say for sure, the charter was parked by one of the old hangers. My dad worked on loading munitions on the aircraft, I think they were F-4's. I'll have to ask him about it.
My first AF assignment (1988-1992). Have been back twice since then and broke my heart to see what had come of it. 24 years in the military, this was by far my favorite assignment.
Same here. Stationed at GAFB from 85-91.
The rips around the light switches and electrical outlets are the result of scavengers tearing out the wiring for the copper. At the 12:00 minute mark, that's the x-ray department. At 12:30 are the x-ray tables. My daughter was born in that hospital. I was stationed at George AFB from 1980-1984, and lived in two different houses on base.
This was a nuke base and had higher ups stationed at it. Do u know anything about the underground facilities? I've also heard that the "signal hill" across the Mojave river right there has a large fallout bunker?
@@BigRichfrank If it had nukes that was not the stated mission of the base. All bases in the 50s to 70s had fallout bunkers built into them. An important base like George would have an underground command facility to coordinate any resources left as well as rescue, and decontamination. I used to work in defense when I wasn't working on the Space Shuttle or some other experimental projects for long-term space travel. Challenger blowing up started drying up funding. After the Star Wars program was cancelled by Congress we kept on secretly building it by attaching its funding to other military expenditures.
Was sent to the base on San Nicholas Island 80 miles out of LA Harbor. Went out there several times to work on projects in the 80s and 90s, outside was done mostly at night, early morning. It was a favorite because of the Marine layer practically every morning hides what they do. If you look at it on Google Earth there isn't much to see except the 2nd longest runway in the 48 states. Almost everything is underground there including hangars. I think it has been cut back supposedly and it has a research facility to study Elephant Seals as they use the west end beaches for breeding. Marine charts had a warning to stay 300 or 400 yards offshore, I forget which. In the 70s used to go out there fishing on my dad's boat and we had to head back to Santa Barbara Island every afternoon because you were not allowed to anchor there on the lee side. Never thought I was going to work there one day.
@@MountainFisher I was told by more than one person stationed there that it had nukes that could be attached to fighterjets . There are land bunkers right next to the runways with big hanger doors. I was told holding and loading went on in them . was told it was like " minute man" ready.. I would call bullsheet BUT I was told by more than one person .a decade apart and they did not know each other...
one of our local urban explorers found a hidden, key card only access command center in the movie house. Has big rooms and a big command unit .with a bunch of air lock tubes running out of it .( Like the ones the banks used to use for car dropoffs) also a still locked vault . (909 explorers I think is the name.) They also showed at least one building had a fake floor. 2 feet off of the foundation. I know they have hydraulic manholes that would fit in-between... I'm still on the look !!😜😜😎😎
@@BigRichfrank George AFB was primarily a training facility for F-4 units. Prior to that, they had F-104s, F-100s, and F-86s. The Wild Weasel F4s called George home, and would later see action during the first Gulf War.
@@douglaslorin739 I seen pictures of a stealth with the weasel on it. I no that they had nukes for the stealth. Also the weasels were "trainers" that means they had some skilled pilots who at anytime could be tossed into war.
I'm still in search of!!😉😁😎
Definitely looking forward to this episode. This Place was a secret gem but now is being discovered by many. Can't wait to see what they cover in this episode for this place. The hospital there is supposedly haunted
What's is upsetting to me having been to George AFB many of times is the total disrespect for a sacred place for which it served. For many this was home as Mom and Dad served their country. I can imagine many a child wanting to go back there to see their home, first school they attended, the park space and ball field they once played upon, the hospital visits and yes where they played their first round of golf with Mom or Dad (when they were home from duty) on that once lush golf course and that really nice club house. Thank you to those who served and past thru George and to those children that grew up there....embrace those memories of this once vibrant community of which you called home. God Bless you all!
its still being used atleast twice a month
How has the "sacred" base been totally disrespected?
That’s life, champ.
Sacred? Really?!?
@@kendoman3150it’s called vandalism! That’s how.
I've never understood why people destroy things, not even as a teen did I have a desire to destroy things, especially if it did not belong to me.
I agree! We just got a brand new sign at our library. It wasn't even up for 3 months before someone just decided to destroy it. It's not an abandoned area. We just can't have nice things.
The lower level housed the Dental Clinic with a separate entrance on the south side. GAFB 1984/1988. I find it interesting, some of the comments about the military being good at abandoning equipment etc. While blaming the military, remember the folks you vote into political office are the ones who closed the bases under Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC). The military do the bidding of politicians. The equipment "abandoned" by the military is abandoned because politicians do not provide money to transport and store the equipment. A good example of political control is the withdrawel of troops from Afghanistan and the abundance of equipment we gave to the Taliban and the lives needlessly lost. MY OPINION
You are correct! Dick Cheney closed Webb AFB, in Big Spring, Texas, (I was there73-76) and half the bases in Texas 'cause he couldn't kill the V-22 Osprey Program....P***k!!!
@@michaelteems5813 When folks see military leaving equipment behind they forget the military are working on time constraints. The closure of operations in Afghanistan was known for several years, yet this administration waited too long before addressing shutdown and withdrawal. As a result lives were lost and equipment left for friendly Afghan forces was lost to enemy forces. You would think politicians would learn from Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. I only hope Ukraine can stand against Russia
You are spot on and explained it very well. They know it alls who like to quickly blame the military for everything where blinders preventing them from seeing the big picture. Of course none of these spoiled AH’s have never served or given anything back to their country they just keep taking and using. Yep it’s the military’s fault ah huh.
I'm glad to live in a country where elected politicians, rather than the military, run the government.
Kendo Man I agree with you on that. Unfortunately, we, the people have handed over too much control to politicians and politicians have lost perspective. They no longer provide for the common good but line their own pockets and we let them get away with it. We should have NO career politicians. They should be put into jail for their insider trading. Are there any who retire who are not millionaires? Some have never held jobs other tha political and they are in their 80 's.
As a GI stationed at Edwards AFB in the late 1970's I would run aircraft parts to GAFB, it is sad to see the base in such poor condition.
Did you ever meet Pete Knight he flew the X-15 out of edwards
@@mistervacation23 No I did not, the aircraft I was around were F-4, T-38, F-16, F-15, space shuttle and a few others of that time period as well as the ALCM project, didn't know anyone important I was just a grunt aircraft mechanic.
I was in the Air Force for 8 years, 69 to 77 and I never heard any Airman refer to himself, as a "GI". Army, yes, Air Force, not even one time.
@@bentnickel7487 Also, I've associated the term "grunt" with the USMC.
@@kenweller2032 I won't go as far as saying, he wasn't in the Air Force, but he's choosing odd language to describe his experiences.
The Duplex "apartment" style house was usually for Enlisted personnel with family's and the "house" style living quarters were for Officers with family's. The strange table device you guys were looking at is an X-ray machine. Every Air Forces base I have been on has had a Golf Course, it gives the residents something to do...lol
I was stationed at Glasgow AFB, MT. and we had no golf course or much of anything. You have probably heard of Minot AFB, ND, well Glasgow was worse.
Glasgow is one I’ve never heard of. Used to have a guy in my squadron who did research on closed bases of all services. He had this huge list of bases I’d never heard of. Most of them were closed either shortly after WWII or Korea.
Every AFB I lived in growing up as an officer’s kid we lived in duplexes. It wan’t limited to Enlisted personnel.
My dad was enlisted and we lived in one of the houses while he was stationed there in the late 80’s
@@deanaltman6841 Hi, I was stationed at Glasgow AFB, MT from 9/1965 to 8/1968 with the 861st MDG which was part of the 91st BW. ADC also had a unit there as well, 13th FIS. The base was pretty much closed by 1968 and I was one of about 250 USAF people there. It did re-open briefly in the 1970s. There is a small community there who reside in the housing area, St Marie, MT is the name. Otherwise the old base is owned by Boeing for there cold weather testing. I believe the name of the field is Montana Industrial Park or air reaerch. There are a few youtube videos to see.
My son went to school on George AFB, hated to see the base close.
It's so sad to see. Many fond memories of George, and those wonderful F-4 Phantom Wild Weasles on takeoff.
I've been watching you guys for about 5 years and I never get bored with your videos :) you're awesome:)
Thank you so much for the support!
Thanks for the look see. 35th TFW used to be there with F-4 Phantoms. I had friends who lived in base housing.. I was at Edwards AFB near Rosemond, California.
In 1962 my best friend had band that played at the George Airforce Base officers club. I drove my 1957 Porsche there from San Bernardino to listen to his band. The memories, amazing.
Thanks for sharing that..I was stationed there 84-90. Lived in base housing and my daughter was born in that hospital. It was such a great base.
My dad was stationed there from 85-90 I was also born in that hospital, sad to see how it looks far from the pictures have of my early childhood.
I was stationed there from 86-90 and you can't tell now, but it was once a very nice base with a lot of green grass and trees. The gate you came in was the housing gate and the road was lined with trees, grass, green shrubs, and flagpoles. My ex wife and I lived on base (137 Washington) in one of those singe story six plexes, and the parking was covered. We had "yard of the month" contests, and you could get in trouble with your commander if you didn't keep your own grass cut and watered nicely. Base hospital was state of the art and still fairly new when the base closed. Downstairs area was the dental clinic. I was told the Army used the housing area for urban assault training, which is one reason for so many holes...and then the copper thieves and spray painters came in.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your memories of this place with us!
Thank you for the video. It is sad to see what has become of George AFB but it does conjure up long ago memories of the place. My father (and our family) was stationed there in 1962 to 65. We lived on North Carolina Ave in the NCO housing section. I attended kindergarten and 1st grade on the base before we moved to nearby Apple Valley where my parents built our family home. I remember going to the north section of the base by the flightline and watching the planes take off and land. I always liked the sonic booms we heard. I remember having an Air Force ID card even as a kid on the base. We always had the best seats for the Thunderbird demonstrations. Again, it is so sad to see what has become of the place where I thought it was really cool to live.
I flew in and out of George many times in the early and mid 80's on my way to and from Kunia Army Base in Hawaii. It has changed big time from back then. There was green grass everywhere the times I was there.
I was stationed at George from 1974-1978. My oldest boy was born at The hospital there. Total bill for his birth was $4.25. $2.00 was for his birth certificate.
My kids were born in military hospitals and the price is pretty damn cheap....one in CA and two in WA state. :)
I was there 1975 to 1979. 35th Security Police Squadron.....
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing 😁
Another very interesting tour, Bethany and Drew. One thing the government in all of its many guises is expert at is discarding and/or abandoning things -- this time an entire community on an AF base. Best guess the two strange devices you saw in the abandoned base hospital are X-Ray machines.
You are correct Noah. That was the radiology department with two X-ray tables. The holes in the ceiling held the actual X-ray heads. That was right down the hall from the Emergency Department, where I worked from 1982 to 1987. It was once a very modern, full service Air Force Hospital. Now used for military training as well as making movies.
Have to take into consideration a lot, if not all; buildings from that era had asbestos or lead paint involved. Letting them rot in place probably cheaper than remediation expenses.
@@jamessimms415 no they got rid of asbestos eat before they closed
George was on the list of the BRAC act in the early 90s. At the time, the Air Force was downsizing and transferring training operations. I believe one Wild Weasel unit went to Nellis AFB which offers an immense range for training.
My husband and I were stationed at George AFB from 1985-1989; we lived on Utah Avenue
This video breaks my heart. .
We lived on Utah as well, from 87-91. My neighbors were the Chevaliers. My husband was on the 27 TASS.
George AFB was a really nice base. I was USAF Security Police and did prisoner transfers from bases to whichever prison the person was being sent to. I spent a lot of time going to George AFB, really enjoyed the base and the area. Sad it was abandoned.
Hmmmmm......................I was in Security Police there at George 1975 to 1979. 35th Security Police Squadron.
Some of the crazy stuff airmen and officers did to get court-marshaled was truly mind boggling, several cases come to mind.
BRAC took out George in 1992...
@@christopherhazell420 Reagan was President when they decided to close George AFB, I wonder how much of the base closures were from good old Dick Cheney's hatred for the military.
@@wildweasel8564 well you gotta give a couple good stories after saying something like that.
I've done some really good training up at George. On one occasion we flew from Camp Pendleton, landed on the south side of the housing area, then hit a bunch of houses. Some of the other guys from my unit got to fly in on C-130s with their vehicles all gunned up. They drove through a simulated ambush making all kinds of racket and even used one of the trucks to breach the wall a house in order to get to the "bad guys." We were pretty much given carte blanche, so we took advantage of it. I got into a bit of trouble when I used a flash-bang to breach a sliding glass door. Oops. We flew back to Pendleton, debriefed, cleaned our gear, then hopped on some trucks and went straight to the beach for a bbq. That op was so much fun. One of the best 24 hours of my career.
Your video brought back memories of when I was stationed at George AFB in 1969-70. Yes, that was indeed a golf course & it was the only place on the base that was green. When I was stationed there it was part of the 479th Tactical Air Command with F-4E Phantom squadrons. I was lucky enough to be assigned to the 479th Field Maintenance Squadron & repaired the radar system for those aircraft. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to get to visit the base again in the future.
I too stationed at George 69-70 479 th munitions squadron which was across the road from west gate near the fuel pumps for all the different fuels for vehicles and aircraft. That was a long time ago. I went on to become an Instructor at Lowery AFB munitions 46130
I was born on this base in that hospital in 1988 and one of those houses could have been the one i came home to. Thanks for sharing 😊
I participated in a big urban warfare exercise here back in 1999 or 2000. Much of the housing was still intact at that time, and we got to demolish quite a bit of it.. crazy that it is all still there.
My dad was a pilot stationed at George from 1985 to 1991. Spent most of his deployment attached to the 20th TFTS (Silver Lobos) training the German Luftwaffe pilots in the F-4s. We lived in Apple Valley. Lots of great memories and George was a really nice base, I can still see some of these locations in my mind back when everything was whole and green. Sad to see it in this state.
I remember those German pilots! They would not let the dentist give the anesthetic, because they wouldn’t be allowed to fly. They were a tough bunch.
I was an AMMO troop in the 20th Lobos. That was all put together after they incorporated into CMU (combined maintenance units) around 84-85. I was stationed there 1983-85.
I almost certainly crossed paths with your dad then. I was avionics there from 85-87. (I was in the 21st, but the 20th and 21st were often short staffed in avionics so we covered each other a lot.) I was amazed, and saddened, when I took my family there in 2000. I lived in the dorms but I had friends in base housing and the yards were really nice. In 2000, the desert had made amazing progress reclaiming the area. It seemed like the set of some apocalyptic movie.
George did not close until almost 1993 ! I was there from 1986 till Jan 1992 ! The base is one of the biggest Superfund toxic bases in the country which is why it is not being used by the city as was planned originally! Radioactive dust from the old atomic tests was washed off aircraft onto the ground in the 50s& 60s and just left there, I was present when it was discovered in 1989 and certain parts of the west taxi ways and aircraft run pads were found to have extremely high levels of radioactivity in the soil which was blown in the air by running aircraft jet engines, after we were restricted from running engines on those pads due to the extreme hazard!! It’s still there!! The ground water was severely polluted to by hazardous waste which is one reason the gulf coarse was left to dry up the water came from wells that were severely polluted with toxic waste!!
Same, stationed and worked there as a dependent from 85-81. I worked at FT. Sam Houston Bank from 85-89
Its a real shame that every abandoned building and rock has to be vandalised with spray can paint.
I dunno...some of the artwork was pretty good and who would be affected by the "vandalism"? It's not like these buildings are habitable. It is sad though that everything there seems to have been broken or damaged in some manner.
September 10th 2001 Rumsfeld has a pentagon announcement saying 2.3trillon USD ‘missing’. September 11, 2001 the towers fall as well as building 7 I believe it was a few blocks away from the twins. All have proof of controlled demolition. I believe one or two of the pilots trained in Maricopa Arizona at a municipal airport. Not only that but where being tracked by multiple 3 letter orgs months in advance. Plus the 5 million other things that point it all to being staged. I’ll let the homies know to start spraying the truth on the walls of abandoned military bases instead. DONT vandalize rocks DO vandalize your local abandoned Fed building.
Ok looney tune.
@@hillbillychic8417 yeah , and you probably believed that whole conspiracy theory about “Russiagate“ that the media and politicians pushed for 4 years , didn’t you ?
@@johnnada1222 Whatever goober.
Great vid. Went there a few years ago. Crazy to see. My dad was stationed there in the 80s and flew F-4s, so a small chunk of my childhood was spent there and I remember it well when it was alive and active.
I was stationed there in 1968. Assigned to the 8th Tac Fighter Wing. You were viewing Base Housing and Airmen's billeting.
I worked on that base in the 80's. I'm shocked at the condition it is in now. Thanks for the video.
I was a kid there in 1966. I spent most of my spare time in the Mojave desert nearby. Crew cuts and leopard skin sting ray bikes! Pretty sad seeing it all run down. I lived at 112 Montana. It was a single level duplex. Man, what memories.
I spent about 14 months there in late 1973 to Jan 1975. Worked on the flight line. It is a shame to see it in such shape since I remember a bustling air base. A few years later, I went to Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas and the day I arrived, they announced its closure. I was part of the caretaker force after closure and stayed another year. I've been back there a number of times and they turned the housing area into lease/rentals and most of the new barracks were turned into a prison. The flight line is still used for commercial purposes. Not the same economy as the base provided to the local community but at least it isn't a total ruin like George.
i was stationed there from 1988 to 1992. So sad to see it like this. I helped close a lot of the facilities. We were the last family to live on 100 Idaho St. What I found hilarious was when we moved out the house, the housing office still conducted a full on white glove inspection on the house. My daughter was born there and I had 2 operations at that now creepy hospital.
I was stationed at George AFB from 1987- 1989. The hospital was relatively new before they closed the base in the 90’s. We called the town Victimsville and the little town right outside of the base as Allegettho.
I was down the hill at Norton until it closed, but on the weekends I worked in Apple Valley and Victorville. My old boss on base came from George when it closed with all the realignments happened. March AFB by Norton was saved due to its nice golf course that brass liked to fly in and use. March was pretty new too at the time.
@@darylkik777Yes & no: March - as an AFB, was also closed. There is still an Air Force Reserve presence there, but they only occupy part of the old base.
I used to live there in 1967-1969 and it was a great place to live and go to school. There is lots I could say but it looks so depressing now. What a shame.
Grew up nearby and have been through the main gate many times. I even flew out of the base airport on a NATO media tour when I was working for the hometown newspaper. Believe the plans for re-using the base fell through when it was declared a super fund cleanup site. Yes, some of the base property was re-developed into a private, commercial air field.
Consistently some of the best content on RUclips, you two are rock stars. When I still lived in L.A., I drove out there once to scout for one of my videos. It's definitely a trippy place. I was in the hospital, as well, but I didn't go downstairs. I was solo and no one really knew my exact location, so I stayed ground level. People don't realize there are some sketchy characters that gather in those buildings for all kinds of activities. You should really do more URBEX videos, it was a nice change of pace to watch one without all the herky-jerky camera movement. As usual, excellent work, and stay safe out there!
Thank you so much for all your support, our friend. This is definitely a location that requires some kind of Buddy System, haha. We hope you've been able to find some amazing locations in Texas. Keep up the good work and hope you have a great week ahead.
You mentioned "Carolina" street early in your video. My wife and I were both active duty assigned to George from 1978 to 1982. We lived across from the Sound Barrier Bar on Highway 395 in a little duplex for a couple of years then moved to 615 Carolina on base from 1980 to 1982 where our son was born. It was a thriving base then. I was a Crew Chief with the 561st TFS of the 37th TFW, one of the 4 Wild Weasel squadrons in the world at the time.
Transient Alert 1978 1980
I lived on 663 Caroline st from 1980-1984
@@denniswarren4080 Hey neighbor! I have a coworker who was stationed in the sheetmetal shop when we were, but we never crossed paths at George, but have been fast friends since. I was by the base in 2018 and didn't recognize shit.
I have not been to the base in years. It is sad how much it has changed. I guess the base has another purpose now
Flashing back to the late 60’s when my dad was stationed there. I went to 5th and 6th grade there. You actually stood right in front of our house on base housing.
I grew up on George so this is really sad knowing how beautiful it used to be. It was covered in grass and huge cottonwood trees in it's heyday. Those were x-ray machines in the hospital you found, and it was a state of the art facility built only a few years before the base closed. The golf course was very popular and also beautiful. Look around, the base also housed several olympic sized swimming pools, and many other buildings. There are two large elementary schools on the base and they were used for a long time by the city of Adelanto. They may still be in use.
Wow...thanks for doing this video. George AFB was my first base and I was on the base closure team in 1990. Brought back memories.
These bases should be opened up and refurbished, then used to house homeless vets. Hell the Vets themselves could work on up keep. 1:47
Except there are contaminants everywhere... so probably not a good idea
@@reptoidfancy666 ya, you're probably right. Better to leave to Veterans homeless. They face less danger and hardships being homeless. It's not like they did anything to at least try something. The contaminated area of those bases, and it's not every base ,are restricted. They deserve better.
That's right put them somewhere that has no employment in the area.
These servicemen, and in some cases women, don't need employment. They need a roof over their heads. They need a clean, dry warm bed to get some decent sleep. They need food, good food. They need the company of others who are in the same condition. Some, most need medical attention. An old military base would be ideal. Not every base is contaminated everywhere, if they are, then we should be closing all the active bases, because they aren't in any better shape. As for jobs, these men don't need jobs. They are in most cases barley able to take care of themselves, they need help, and we owe it. Rehab work is simple. These bases all have maintenance equipment. Put them to work, cleaning, raking, shoveling, painting and in general taking care of the facility. They can pull K P and in general take part in there own care. Basic military training taught them most of this. And this would go a long way to giving them back their self esteem. After the American civil war, Old Soldier Homes were set up. They function much the same way. I'm a Vet. I don't drink or do drugs and through my own stupidity I wound up homeless for about six months. I clawed my way out of that trap, and it is a trap. We can all come up with reasons this wouldn't work. The biggest being not trying. There may be lots of reasons for not doing anything, but there are a couple reasons to do something, very important reasons. First, they answered a call to duty. They fought for and safeguarded freedom , yours and mine. For what ever reason they didn't come out of it whole. We owe them. Young people today see how this country is treating these Veterans and in response they want no part of defending this nation. If your freedom means anything to you, then we need to also show that service personnel are not forgotten and cast off with indifference. So far, as a nation we are failing.
I was station at George AFB in 1971 with the 434 TFS, F4E. Lived in wooden open bay barracks near flight line until we moved to new 2 man barracks. Had around 200 planes station there. My fondness memory was when 2 SR-71 were at transit alert and we went to the flight line and saw them take off at night and see those afterburners light up the night what a beautiful sight that was
I'm going to politely call BULLSHIT on SR71s being on alert. ( they never have) In 1978, the only Alert birds were F-106s belonging to ADC. They were absorbed by the Cali ANG around 1980.
We have always wanted to go and explore there just haven't had the opportunity. Those machines we believe to be x-ray tables. Love the look of abandoned hospitals always give off some resident evil type vibes. What a fun exploration.
I was stationed there 1974. Used to watch Roy Rogers shoot skeet on base. Great place to be stationed.
Thanks for posting this video. I lived there when I was in 1st grade in 1971. My father was back from serving his tour in Vietnam and we moved from base housing in Bangor AFB to George. It's crazy to see the place like this because In those days of the cold war, fighter jets were always in the air and I remember take offs and landings every hour day and night....so much hustle and bustle.
Anyways, looking at old pictures of all of us in 70's clothes and my dad's 71 Kingswood wagon sure brings me back, but this video brings me back at another level of recollection.
Lived there as a kid from 1969 - 73. Went to Harry R. Sheppard Elementary School and lived at 229 Oregon Street. Used to go to the base theater on Saturdays for matinees. 50¢ would get you in, plus popcorn and a soda pop. My son was a recon marine, he trained for urban warfare there vs. the Army. George was my mom's favorite base. I took here and dad back there about 10 or 12 years ago, to the house where we lived. It was trashed. She cried.
I am a retired firefighter. It is very obvious to me that local fire departments have spent a lot of time using these buildings for training. Roofs are open, and I see evidence of rescue practice in the buildings.
I was stationed at March AFB outside Riverside, California in 1973 - 75, and I visited George AFB one day while it was still an active base. They had F-4s and F-105s at George at the time.
I used to work at that base, I drove sweepers on the runway, they shot Jarhead there, sux its ruined now
Growing up on these Air Force Base’s. It sure hard to see them like this. You just can’t image all the family Christmas’s departures and hopefully returns that those walls have seen. There used to be whole squadrons of people that did nothing but take care of base housing and support structures. They were there own little cities. I was very lucky to see inside the house that we had at Wurtsmith AFB. In Oscoda Michigan in the early 70’s . The one thing that surprised me the most is that they had plans of trying to reuse the base for civilian business. And refurbish the houses for sale. There’s a nice advertisement for the housing on RUclips. Funny how my room seamed so much smaller.🤔🤔
K.I,SAWYER is managed by 4 townships that intersect in the middle of housing. Our son and his new wife rented the end unit of a quad plex, for 3 years before buying their first house. All the street signs haven't been changed. I was told that was the deal the Airforce offered because in a minutes notice they can reclaim it, so the old street maps could still be used. IDK. I just learned on you tube this past winter, that there was a weather station base somewhere up on the Keweenaw peninsula near Copper Harbor. It had black top street's, water tower, and those single level duplexes. I never knew it was there. Never saw any news about it from TV6 Marquette, like was it top secret? I don't live in MICHIGAN anymore so it would be a road trip to investigate this.
Dad was stationed there in the early 80’s. Lot of memories. Perfect place to film a small movie, I’ve always thought.
Some military bases have their own golf courses for their officers to play on. I know because I worked for a brief time in the early 1990s as a civilian graphic artist on a base in San Diego in which, among other things, I designed a printed promotional brochure for the base’s golf course.
As for George AFB and its golf course, hospital, etc., they fell victim to America’s widespread military base decommissionings from the late 1980s onward. The base closings occurred as the Cold War ramped down from a decreased threat of Soviet nuclear attack during Mikhail Gorbachev’s "Glasnost" and, in 1991, from the collapse of the Soviet Union itself, which officially ended the Cold War (that is, until the rise of dictator Vladimir Putin in today’s Russia). Unlike George AFB, many former bases were transformed into industrial parks or other private/public land uses.
Next you should check out the old, massive blimp hangars at the decommissioned military base in Tustin, California, which were originally built in 1942 for the Navy and then later used by the Marines for helicopter hangars during the Korean and Vietnam wars, and for many years afterwards. These hangars were also used in filming the 1975 movie, The Hindenburg. Visiting this former base in Tustin would make a fascinating episode of Oddity Odysseys.
-from Thomas Lincoln Pilling
The golf courses on air force bases are for all military members, their family and DoD civilians. Not just officers.
Good adventure of the old air base. Watch out for the hole ... classic! Always look forward to a new Oddity Odysseys... 👍🏻
Didn't have a "country club" on an AF Base. It might have been an NCO Club or an Officers' Club. But you did find the golf club/course. Spooky place, that's for sure. What if there had been a button for the elevator and something started moving after you pushed the button? Talk about a jump scare!
I was waiting for her to call that number on the golf card and the ringing.....somewhere in the building. lol👻
This brings back many memories. I was stationed here from 1967 until 1969. I have to admit that I don't recognize much of the facilities. To may years have passed. I worked near the flight at the flight simulator building. Thanks for putting this online.
I never have understood why random people destroy places like that.
Me neither.. leave it alone
My father was stationed at George from about Feb 67 to Sept 68 when we then went to Bentwaters, England. The address 134 Idaho sticks in my mind, but I was only 10 when we left so I can't be sure. The first unit you showed looked very similar to what I remmber the apartment to look like, or at least certain aspects. Thank you for the cool trip down memory lane!
We lived there for 20 months and it rained 3 times and snowed once. The first snow in 20 years fell on Christmas Eve and we were able to make ONE snowman... in the neighbor's yard. The base ball got too heavy for us to move further, so we left it there.
I was at 115 Idaho and was also about 10. We were there in '67 and '68 though at some point we moved to Adelanto when my dad went to Vietnam. I can remember after ball practice walking past the end of the flight line at dusk and watching F4s taking off. Also long hikes into the desert and crawling through the drainage system under the streets.
This base is not as abandoned as it looks. It gets used for some really large hosted events at times. I know at one point it was used for a very large well known airsoft event where two massive teams fought against one another to conquer areas. I've seen videos of this base from airsoft players here on RUclips back in 2016. It made a really impressive airsoft playing field and gave a very realistic war zone scenery. I am not sure how often events happen here or how often the airsoft events occur, but I am sure it's a yearly thing. Whoever owns it, is obviously making good money by leaving it there.
Still happens, multiple times a year. Thank you all for your service.
Been waiting on pins and needles since I got the alert that this episode was coming and not at all disappointed love watching y'all freak each other out well worth the wait
Thank you so much!
The runways and airfield at George are cureently being used by airlines around the world to store temporarily unused aircraft. The desert climate reduces contamination of the aircraft.
Came across your video and it brought back some great memories for me. I stayed here back in the 80s. Place and people were always very friendly.
It's a shame to hear that it was abandoned like it is.
Thank you for your video 👍👍👍
Thanks for the interesting vid. I hate seeing all the stupid graffiti. Do those people carry paint cans in their back pockets??
They go with the intent to paint. And I dunno that I mind… at least it’s an old abandoned space instead of gang graffiti out on our street. People stealing copper wire seems skeevier.
I can not believe it! My Brother and I came here to see a air show in the early 70s as teenagers. I never new the military base was abandoned.
I guess there are a few people that think that execution is too harsh, but tagging buildings with spray paint should at least be a felony. People who do that are absolutely disgusting and should be removed from society
I used to play West Winds Golf Course when the base was open. It lasted for a while, the City of Victorville took it over after the Air Force left. It was only a nine hole course, so you played it twice.
When the base was first closed, it was proposed the housing be used for welfare people... before the housing was ruined, but it was deemed "Sub-Standard".... sad... housing was OK for Airforce Families... but not good enough for welfare!
And contaminated land and water...not fit for ANYONE. 😫😫
@@random22026 probably still better than the Streets of San Francisco, Seattle or Oakland
@@davedammitt7691 And that's the saddest assessment of all...😥😥
It was deemed substandard because of the contamination. That area is an EPA superfund site!
@@toddgrundy4506 Thank you for the clarification: inhaling exhaust fumes is bad enough; living on top of contamination is a No Go Zone... 😷😷
Went to school there from 1991 - 2000 still live a couple of miles away from the base. The base is still open for church and league baseball and soccer. The school is still open
This is so sad and it angers me, the waste of the Federal government and especially today with the incompetency of Joe Biden. I was stationed at George from 1977 thru 1980
What does Joe Biden have to do with GAFB ? I was stationed there73-76
Most deactivated military bases have contaminated soil.
They were deactivated before Biden.
Like trump is a model of a good human being 😂
My parents lived at 318 Montana Street (Jul 85 to Jun 88). I left for Air Force Basic from there in Jan 86 and ended up stationed there 4 months later Apr 86 to Jul 88, and I didn't even put it on my dream sheet.
My wife's parents lived at 110 Virginia Ave then 614 or 612 Utah Street. They were there from Jan 86 to Jan 92 or so.
Several of my classmates from Bitburg Germany ended up there also, as their parents got stationed there also.
Forgot to mention, my dad was Production Super over in the 20th TFS, my father-in-law worked Weapons at the 20th and I was next door in the 27th TASS as Aircrew Life Support.
My dorm was next door to the 35th dorm, by the baseball fields.
I also lived on Utah from 86-91. My husband was with the 27 TASS, OV-10 squadron.
@@michaelbernhardt2679 I probably crossed paths with your dad, father in law and maybe you at times then. I worked avionics in the 20th and 21st from 85-87. (I worked mostly in the 21st, but avionics was often short staffed in the 20th and 21st so we often worked together.) It's been enough years that I can't say I recall a Production named Bernhardt over in the 20th, but maybe. And I lived in the 35th dorm so I'd guess we ate in the same chow hall.
@@robertjackson4054
My dad went by Bernie and my FIL (Groff) went from Weapons to Dorm Manager, in yalls dorm.
Oh yeah, we were lucky the Chow Hall was right behind our dorms. Made getting food easy that is for sure.
My infantry platoon went up there in 1989, from Camp Pendleton. Our Plt Commander Lt. Wright knew some of the Victorville cops and he got us cleared to go up there on a weekend and do MOUT training.
(Military Operations Urban Terrain)
2 squads were good guys, rwo squads were OPFOR (Opposition/Opposing Forces). We used MILES gear, which was the norm at the time. It was like military laser tag.
Best MOUT training I ever had was there. Base was just recently closed so everything was pretty much still intact. My squad took control of that hospital and used that courtyard with the concrete benches as a temporary hide sight, overnight.
My brother Ray was stationed there while I was in the Navy. Was easy to get on the base. Typical military station. Not exactly beautiful, but had everything bases normally have access to. Your video did bring back memories of my visit there. What I like is you guys sharing history of the base as well. Well done.
My dad was stationed there in '67-'68, and then he went to Ubon, Thailand. If I remember correctly, our base housing was the same as the second house they went into, the one with the concrete block fences.
Wow. This video ended up in my you tube stream. Awesome video! I love old abandond stuff.
Thanks for checking it out!
Thank you for sharing this. We lived at Edwards but would visit George every now and then so sad to see if like this.
I love abandoned places! that hospital in particular is so creepy! great video as always 🙌
Useless trivia for you folks! Did ja' know....? George AFB was closed pursuant to a decision by the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission at the end of the Cold War. It is now the site of the Southern California Logistics Airport. Since 2009, the California Air National Guard's 196th Reconnaissance Squadron (96 RS) has operated an MQ-1 Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) training facility at the sit.
In recent history, the abandoned, but still intact military housing block has been used by private companies for various purposes. The site was a filming location for the films Jarhead, an episode of the TV series Mythbusters, as well in an episode of Roadkill. The abandoned housing is also used extensively for airsoft games, particularly milsim ones. The airsoft event organizer Milsim West has used the location over five times, Milsim organizer Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series (O.L.C.M.S.S.) has hosted an annual, Memorial Day Weekend event since 2001, and the event organizer/storefront Evike has used the site as well.
To meet mission requirements, the base engaged in a variety of support operations such as aircraft maintenance and firefighting training that mandated the use and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials. At least 50 years of military aircraft operations resulted in various contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) being released into soil and leaching into groundwater, potentially impacting human health and the environment.
Eighty-four Installation Restoration Program sites with potential chemical contamination have been identified at George AFB. Five Operational Units (OUs) have been created under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to manage these sites. As of 2019, OU1, OU3, and OU5 remain active at George AFB. OU2 and OU4 have been dissolved and were realigned into other OUs or identified as non-CERCLA sites.
Reference link: cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0902737
Was stationed there from 87 to 91, was in the Gulf. I lived in the dorms there. It is sad to see it like this
its sad that some only know how to vandalize instead enjoying it and leaving it as they found it.
Here we go, been waiting for this!
I was never stationed at George (I was in the USAF in the '80's), but am an aviation buff that grew up in L.A., and used to go to the air shows - and boy, the Air Force put on some great air shows at March, Norton, and George!
I'll never forget riding with friends up 395 to go to the one (and only, due to a fatal crash of a female aerobatic pilot during her performance) air show at El Mirage, and getting buzzed by several F-4's that were literally at treetop level - VERY cool!!!
I was brokenhearted when the three bases were closed - even moreso with how that impacted the area: San Bernadino, once on the list of "All America Cities", has been Gangland USA ever since: I'll never forget driving through downtown back in 2000 at noon on a weekday, and the streets were totally empty.
Politicians didn't think (or care) about the number of civilian jobs & businesses that supported the bases, and the majority of them failed or moved elsewhere as a result - and it didn't help that the rise of the internet took place at the same time.
Having been a high desert resident since 1988, I remember when this base was still open. I also remember when it closed in the early 90's. I have been to the base numerous times since then but never explored it like you guys have. As far as I know that Golf Course was open up until somewhat recently and the Westwinds recreation center is still open to my knowledge. I played basketball there many times in the mid 2000's. That spot was still well kept and clean. Many Hollywood movies have been shot out here since the base closed, the most Notable being Jarhead, The Hulk (2003 version) and Face/Off
Keep up your adventurous exploring, we all really enjoy it.
This is heartbreaking for me. I lived there with my husband, 27 TASS, from 85-91. I worked at FT. Sam Houston Bank for several years as well as the NCO club, O club, NAF office. It was a beautiful base. We lived on Utah street. Unfortunately, many of us who lived there were affected by health issues as a result of contaminated water.
The question is why did they let it become destroyed? They should have kept it in case they needed it to reopen in the future!
I used to live there back in the early 70's when my dad was stationed there, we left '73 or '74. I plan to go visit either this year or next