Page 15 - Nov2024Communicator

Looking back at Carswell AFB in the ‘50s
By Harvey West *
On April 9, 1954 I rotated from 1932nd AACS,
Goose Bay, Labrador to Carswell AFB, TX, 2048th
AACS switching center. I came to the base back
gate where an artisan well was pouring into a
small lake.
My friend from high school, SSgt Norman
Martindale, flew in to Goose Bay on a B36. He was
a Prop specialist and where that plane went he
went on all flights. A B36 had crashed north of the
Goose the year before. This crew came up to see if
anything needed to be done to improve the
approach.
When I told him I was coming to Carswell he
said he would help get us settled in an apartment.
Rent was less than $100 a month. He and his wife
were living there. This took the edge off of
rotating.
Entrance to the base was across the highway.
Down the street was the 2048 Comm Center.
th
Living close was great. Right away I was to work
one of the traffic monitor positions–A1C William
Watkins (lead monitor
position), A2C Gene Bickel,
another A2C, and my
position. Each position
covered six circuits. They
were in an aisle of a dozen
transmitter receivers. Our
position each had two M15
teletype machines. We would
check to see the messages
M15 teletype
were forwarded correctly. The
transmitter and receiver positions were linked to
one of our monitors. The four positions covered all
traffic coming and going.
The WAF Barracks for the Base were on the back
street. The Airmen’s was up the street near the
Squadron orderly room. Across the street was the
Lunch Room. Food was served on plates.
The Air Force quit cooking. The Mess Halls are
gone, the open Barracks are gone with four to a
room.
In the new setup the Barracks at Goose Bay each
had two floors. Same was at Carswell AFB.
CARSWELL AFB TX Redesignated 2048th Airways
LINEAGE and Air Communications
1064th USAF Service Squadron 15 Dec 1954
Communications Squadron Redesignated 2048th
designated 18 Dec 1950 Communications Squadron
Organized 1 Jan 1951 1 July 1961
Redesignated 2048th Airways Redesignated 2048th
and Air Communications Information Systems
Service Squadron 1 Jan 1953 Squadron 1 July 1984
Redesignated 2048th Airways Redesignated 2048th
and Air Communications Communications Squadron
Service Squadron (Point-to- 1 Nov 1986
Point) 1 Apr 1954
Air Force Cyberspace and Air Traffic Control Association
2048 AACS Switching Center at Carswell
th
AFB, 1950s.
Carswell was a SAC Base where the B36s flew out
of all over the world. B52 Bombers were coming in.
Actor Jimmy Stewart was stationed there during
my time on the Base. I have since learned one of
my first grade friends, Capt Harvey Lewis, loved to
fly the B36s for him–“a thrill of a lifetime”. These
were long range Bombers under Strategic Air
Command.
Back at the switching center we worked the three
shifts same as at the Goose, 24/7. 24/7 bases had
Midnight Chow, a regular meal, and sometimes
breakfast.
* Harvey West passed away August 3,
following a brief illness. Sincere condolences
to his family.
Editor’s notes:
- Carswell AFB was one of the sites for the filming
of James Stewart's 1955 film, Strategic Air
Command.
- Air Force One (VC-137C 62-6000) landed at
Carswell AFB shortly after 11 PM on Nov 21, 1963
carrying President Kennedy and his entourage to
Fort Worth. The next morning, Nov 22, President
Kennedy returned to Carswell AFB at 11:25 AM
and boarded Air Force One for a 15-minute flight
to Love Field, Dallas, TX. It was the last use of Air
Force One by President Kennedy before he was
assassinated later that day in Dallas.
- Carswell AFB was selected for closure under the
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of
1990 during Round II Base Closure Commission
deliberations (BRAC 91).
B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II
preparing to take off from Carswell
AFB for the first circumnavigation
of the globe, 1949.
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