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bsmart · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

- Joe_D

Bob,
Dad is retired Air Force NCO, I lived there from 73-80, graduated HS that summer, left and haven't been back. Lived behind the old Riches grocery store off LaSalle until we moved to the LTA housing area. Remembered when we got there the only fighters were the F106's from the 48th FIS. Then 1st TFW came in with the Eagles, I remember they'd put on a demonstration 2-3 times a month. Got a real kick watching that bird go verticle and disappear. My mind was elsewhere at the time so I didn't appreciate all the history in the area. I sure did appreciate the brewery tour at Busch Gardens Williamsburg though.

Joe D

Then we overlapped. You didn't own a VW bug that got T-boned when you turned in front of a Vega station wagon did you Smile

The 'Friday Afternoon Air Show' was always a treat but what I really liked were some of the odd aircraft that came to do flight demo's for TAC HQ.

The YC-14 & YC-15 put on real impressive shows considering they were 'C-130 replacements' but maybe the wildest performance was the NASA XV-15 (The 'technology demonstrator' that grew into the MV-22)

The LTA area they were the old houses around the End of Runway from the main base weren't they? For an Air Force base Langley was 'old corps'. Main base was all brick Tudor style buildings built in the '20s and '30s. The main hangers were all brick and on the runway side had old style USAAC stars inset into the brick and brass letters designating 'GROUP' on the set of buildings on either side of the central hanger with the tower. That was back when you had a Bomber group ( 3 Squadrons, equivalant to a modern Wing) and a Fighter Group assigned there. The LTA in LTA area stood for Lighter Than Air, where there were Blimps or even Dirigibles moored.

Every now and then, especially when working a slow night shift, I would start wondering about the history of that flight line. Then there were the footprints. The parking ramp at Langley was concrete. Poured in squares with grounding pins built in. I think the concrete was poured in about 1932, probably a Depression era PWA project. on one series of squares in our squadron area there were a series of footprints in the concrete where someone, a worker or a GI walked across the wet concrete. I always wondered if they realised that 50 years later their mark would still be there? Also whether they caught hell for doing it Smile

Joe_D · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:52 am Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

Bob,
Dad is retired Air Force NCO, I lived there from 73-80, graduated HS that summer, left and haven't been back. Lived behind the old Riches grocery store off LaSalle until we moved to the LTA housing area. Remembered when we got there the only fighters were the F106's from the 48th FIS. Then 1st TFW came in with the Eagles, I remember they'd put on a demonstration 2-3 times a month. Got a real kick watching that bird go verticle and disappear. My mind was elsewhere at the time so I didn't appreciate all the history in the area. I sure did appreciate the brewery tour at Busch Gardens Williamsburg though.

Joe D

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

Well I guess I know where I'm going next weekend if time permits, the Virginia War Museum. I'm sure most of you know by now, I'll have my camera and will take as many pictures as possible, while noting all USA and serial numbers. I have already documented all the aircraft on display at the Eustis museum and around the post. I took at least one picture of each item and a picture of the acompanying information board. The problem I have is that the info/pictures are all on my laptop. I don't have wireless e-mail access with it so I cant transfer them to photobucket for posting. But I do have them and will eventually post them.
I'm staying in Newport News at a hotel (Point Plaza)the Army put me in. I have a two room suite thats real nice. Also provided a rental car so I will be checking things out as time permits. Gotta run.

bsmart · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

- Joe_D

Jeff,
Area around there is pretty nice, some cool places to visit. There used to be small park located where LaSalle and Mercury intersected in Hampton not far from Langley AFB. Had some interesting aircraft there. Also the Virginia war museum is at the corner of Warwick and Mercury just before you get to the James River bridge. They had some old tanks out front from what I remember. Other cool stuff was the NASA center at North Langely and the Mariners museum which I can't remember where it's at now. Been over 25 years since I've been there. You find any M60's I sure would like to know.

Joe D

When were you down there? I was stationed at Langley from 76-85. The Mariners Museum is on Warwick Blvd (US 60) where it intersects with J. Clyde Morris Blvd (US 17) just drive down Warwick until you see a BIG propeller (especially on sunny days you couldn't miss it with the sun gleaming off the big bronze blades) The Virginia War Memorial is further down Warwick, I think just before Mercury Blvd.

Newport News is an interesting city to give directions in. It is 33 miles long and only 3 miles wide at it's widest part. Warwick Blvd runs the length of the City so everything is easily referenced by which cross street it is near. I don't know if they are building anything big at the shipyard right now but it was always interesting just to drive down by it and look at what is taking shape. Just don't try to do it during shift change.

Langley is 'on the other side of the penninsula' in Hampton VA. The airplane park is on Mercuray Blvd at LaSalle (The main road into the base). Also in Hampton (further down Mercury Blvd) is Fortress Monroe. The casemate museum there is interesting but that whole base was a neat place to drive around. The old moated Fortress is in the center of the base and the later Coast Defense positions are along the water. There are old cannon stuck all over base. Some are rather unique (muzzle loaders converted to breech loaders, etc. I don't now what is going to happen when it closes under BRAC.

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

Sorry, my mistake - Virginia War Museum - its in Newport News.

www.warmuseum.org/

Neil

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Hello,
The Virginia War Memorial, in which town/city is this located?? I can not find it in my list of wrecks and relics.

Regards,
Lesley

Neil_Baumgardner · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

The Virginia War Museum is worth a visit. They have an M1917 light tank, an M1917 artillery tractor and an M5A1 Stuart inside. Outside is an M53 SPH, M60A3, M42 Duster, and one of those prototype 280mm atomic cannons. Plus a lot of other artillery.

Norfolk is worth seeing just for the USS Wisconsin. You can also take a pretty cool harbor tour of the naval base there - I advise taking the harbor tour over the bus tour of the base.

Neil

Joe_D · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

Jeff,
Area around there is pretty nice, some cool places to visit. There used to be small park located where LaSalle and Mercury intersected in Hampton not far from Langley AFB. Had some interesting aircraft there. Also the Virginia war museum is at the corner of Warwick and Mercury just before you get to the James River bridge. They had some old tanks out front from what I remember. Other cool stuff was the NASA center at North Langely and the Mariners museum which I can't remember where it's at now. Been over 25 years since I've been there. You find any M60's I sure would like to know.

Joe D

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:25 am Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

Does he work in the museum? Can I ask for him by name? The indoor displays were most impressive. The outdoor pieces, especially the BRAC 3 and other"swimming trucks" looked poor, which is sad considering their relative rarity. I plan at LEAST 3 more trips to the museum to photograph everything. Thats only getting 1-2 pics of each vehicle and one pic of the description board that accompanies each picture. Once my classes start, time willl be limited so I want to get the pictures this weekend if possible.

Sabot · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Report from Fort Eustis

One of Armorama's staff members, Dave Willet (aka animal), builds most of the display models in the museum.

SFC_Jeff_Button · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject: Report from Fort Eustis

Hello gents,
Been at Fort Eustis for one day now. I have visited the museum and am actually quite impressed, especially with the inside displays. I am shooting pictures left and right but am having difficulty being able to get them from my files to photobucket. It may be a few weeks but I'll have them soon. Many aircraft, trucks, watercraft, and rail of course. I did see an M29 Weasel with a recoiless rifle mounted on it, but it was a picture, not a display. "Eve of Destruction" gun truck is gorgeous! I don't think my camera will do her justice but I will try. I have to run, these 0430 wake-ups are no fun! If my sons reads this, I know you'd like the displays, be good!

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