TRIVIA !

[pk]

Altus Air Force Base is a military airbase in Oklahoma operated by the United States Air Force.

[AlumniClub]

wow...how did you find it that fast?! great answer! i was born in the base hospital there. heres the full story about it:

Altus Air Force Base - Born out of the cotton fields of southwestern
Oklahoma, Altus Air Force Base first became home to military aircraft and
personnel in 1943. With an average of over 300 days of weather favorable to
flying each year, a generally flat landscape and few obstructions, the base
was then and is still, ideally situated to be a perfect location for young
airmen to hone their skills. Originally called Altus Army Air Field (AAF),
construction of the new base began in May 1942. Over the next five decades,
the base evolved to become the premier air mobility training location in the
United States Air Force (USAF).

The base became operational on January 1943, training new pilots on
multi-engine aircraft. The primary training aircraft were the Cessna AT-17
Bobcat and the Curitss AT-9 Jeep. After the students perfected their skills
with these aircraft, they transferred to units that would prepare them to
fly the actual type of aircraft they would use in combat over Europe and in
the Pacific theaters during WW II. At the end of hostilities in Europe,
Altus AAF was slated for inactivation and on 15 May 1945 placed on temporary
inactive status.

The base would only sit idle for a few years. The onset of the Korean War
in June 1950 created the need for more men to fly and service aircraft.
During the early years of the conflict, many WWII airfields were examined
for reactivation. On 1 August 1953, Altus Air Force Base reactivated as a
training base for transport aircraft. The durable C-47 Skytrain and the
feisty C-45 Expediter were the main aircraft assigned to the base, run
briefly by the 63d Troop Carrier Wing from 8 January until 15 October 1953
under the watch of the Tactical Air Command. During the 1950s, the base
would undergo many changes in the new and maturing Air Force. Later that
same year, 18 November, the 96th Bombardment Wing, Medium, (96 BW) would
arrive and begin operations under Strategic Air Command (SAC) with three
squadrons of bombers and one air refueling squadron. These squadrons
eventually flew the first all jet-engine bomber, the B-47 Stratojet and the
KC-97 Stratofreighter, a dual-purpose cargo and air refueling aircraft. By
the end of the decade both of these aircraft would be replaced by aircraft
still in the Air Force inventory, the KC-135 Stratotanker and the B-52
Stratofortress. The KC-135 is the first all jet engine air refueling
aircraft and the B-52 remains the backbone of the bomber fleet. When the 96
BW moved to Dyess AFB Texas the 11th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, activated and
stood countless hours on alert during the Cold War with this formidable duo.
As the base moved into the 1960s, more changes would occur.

In June 1961, the personnel on the base witnessed the activation of twelve
Atlas "F" intercontinental ballistic missile sites within a 40-mile radius
of the base. Controlled by the 577th Missile Squadron, the missiles sat
inside a silo, constructed underground with a launch facility, manned around
the clock. The missile silos became operational on 10 October 1962 but the
activation would be short lived. By April 1965 the Atlas missile would be
outdated and was phased out of the national strategic defense plan.
However, a bigger plan was on the horizon for the base.

In August 1966, the 4th Mobile Communications Group transferred from Hunter
AFB, Georgia to Altus. The units mission consisted of providing mobile and
transportable communication services, aids to navigation and air traffic
control for use in any area of the world. The arrival of this unit also
offset the impact the local community experienced with the loss of the
missile squadron and B-52 mission. The arrival of this 800-person unit
helped offset the impact the community suffered as a result of the
deactivation of the missile squadron.

Then 1967 the Air Force searched for a base that could handle the training
for its most versatile transport or cargo aircraft, the C-141 Starlifter and
its newest and largest transport aircraft, the enormous C-5 Galaxy. Again,
the clear skies and wide expanses of land native to Oklahoma proved to be
best suited for the mission. At the end of the search, the Military Airlift
Command assumed control of the base and activated the 443d Military Airlift
Wing, Training, to fly alongside the SAC aircraft now just a tenant of the
base. By the start of the 1970s, Altus AFB would have three aircraft
assigned, the KC-135, the C-141, and the C-5. On 1 October 1984, the 11th
Bombardment Wing transferred to Bolling AFB, Washington D.C. To man the
KC-135s under SACs control the USAF activated 340th Air Refueling Wing.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, these three aircraft would be as common a sight
in the skies above southwestern Oklahoma as the local sparrows, meadowlarks,
and hawks.

The end of the twentieth century and beginning of the twenty-first century
would see many changes for the base. First, on 1 June 1992, the Air Force
reorganized and the Military Airlift Command became the Air Mobility Command
(AMC). Second, the 443d Airlift Wing and the 340th Air Refueling Wing were
inactivated and on 1 October the first Air Mobility Wing (AMW), the 97th
arrived. Then on 1 July 1993 the 97 AMW transferred from AMC to the new Air
Education and Training Command.

However, more changes were on the horizon. In 1996, the latest addition to
Altus AFB, the agile C-17 Globemaster III, arrived. This "hot rod of the
heavies," with a unique winglet, an expansive cargo area, and powerful
engines, is the newest cargo aircraft in the Air Force. Even before its
arrival, the base began training pilots and loadmasters to operate and fly
the aircraft designed for use as an intermediate short airfield cargo
aircraft. Then, on 28 July 2001, the base witnessed the retirement of an
old friend. After 32 years at Altus AFB, the C-141, piloted by the men and
women of the 57th Airlift Squadron, was released from active duty and
transferred to the capable hands of the USAF Reserve.

The new millennium continues to bring changes to the base in August of 2002
the mission of the wing grew when the Air Force moved the basic loadmaster
course from Sheppard AFB Texas to Altus. This initiative combined similar
training programs to reduce the number of moves required by trainees while
cutting overall costs. In addition, in August 2002, the wing reorganized as
a "combat wing." The 97th Support Group became the Mission Support Group,
gaining the new 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron (comprised of the former
97th Supply and Transportation Squadrons and logistics plans flight) and the
97th Contracting Squadron. Also, the Logistics Group inactivated and the
97th Maintenance Directorate was activated. This directorate is comprised of
civil service personnel who are responsible for the care and maintenance of
all three aircraft at the base.

As the base moves into the twenty-first century it continues to perform the
basic mission it started in 1943, providing a safe, comfortable location to
train military personnel on the intricacies of operating multi-engine
aircraft.

[AlumniClub]

youre up pk...why is pauls wife letting him out so late?

[pk]

I thought it was your weekend to watch him greenbean! Guess he got off that leash again. Poor Mrs. Rudedog needs all the help she can get with him! lol lol

ok rude...we are watching you!

By the way, great question. And great story about it. Thanks.

pk

[pk]

OK, here is the next question:

In 1997-1998, more people died in what state, (19,736) than were born (19,281)?

Let's see how fast you can do that one greenbean!

(by the way rude...watch out, lillyofthevalley just joined the bubbler and I am going to get her to help watch you!)

[AlumniClub]

thought it was your weekend...mrs dog must be sleeping and forgot to lock the kennel...how did you get that answer so fast pk?

[pk]

fast?? Hey it's 1:00 a.m in the morning. I just got up to mind my own business and had to check things out here for a minute...I'm not doing anything fast! I'm still sleeping! lol

[AlumniClub]

florida?

[pk]

nope.

Now you have the rest of the night to figure it out since I am going to continue my sleep.

Have fun!

pk

[AlumniClub]

i WILL find this answer out pk....and dog, you can play too ya know...lol

[AlumniClub]

WEST VIRGINIA!!!!

[pk]

Great answer geenbean! also the CORRECT one!

OK, your turn, and I promise I am going to sit back for a while and let someone else jump in and get this next question....ok, ready, set

GO!

[AlumniClub]

geenbean?....someone steal your r pk?..lol



Who is the famous hard rocker that worked on the set of "Pee Wee's Playhouse" as a production assistant?

[pk]

geenbean?....someone steal your r pk?..lol

Oops! That is too funny. I had to read that several times before I realized what you were talking about! GEENBEAN! lol

It reminds me that one of my children use to call greenbeans, 'geenbeans' all the time. I thought it was kinda cute! LOL

[pk]

OK, I was going to stay off this one, but no one seems to be guessing.

So I have to at least try this since I have been trying sooo hard not to post to let someone else have a turn..but ok, can't wait...

Is it:

Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie (born Robert Cummings on January 12, 1966) is a hard rock/ heavy metal musician, director, and writer. His dreadlocks, gruff vocal style and fascination with B-Movies have helped him become a distinctive element in American heavy metal. He is best known as founder, lead singer and songwriter for White Zombie.