Atterbury Army Air Field/Bakalar Air Force Base

[richard]

More information and stories of Atterbury Army Air Field and Bakalar Air Force Base can be found at this link. www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org

Gordon Lake, First Sergeant AUS (Ret.) Is the Webmaster.

[Rhonda]

Don't forget....

This Saturday, May 19th, at 11:00 a.m. is the dedication of the historical marker for Atterbury/Bakalar.

The post is already in the ground. The marker will be at the corner of Middle Road and Grissom........near the front door of the chapel.

[Deleted]

I remember seeing the gliders being pulled by the slow moving C-47 planes, they would come over the city almost daily and were a common sight doing their training. I remember once in a while there would be a mistake made and a glider would end up in some farmers field.
I also recall that there were some two story houses on River Rd. that had the upper story removed because the gliders would take off from the base going very low in that direction and some times would have been low enough to hit the upper story of the house.
Another thing I remember is the planes flying over down town an dropping imitation war bonds by the thousands to encourage people to buy them, they looked like the real thing as I remember.
I was just wondering if any one would have any pictures that we might post of this time of our history ?.

[Rhonda]

It was another great day for a marker dedication ceremony last Saturday! Here are just a couple photos. If you haven't driven past the marker yet, it is at the intersection of Middle Road and Grissom. The marker is in front of the chapel, which is the ONLY remaining former barracks building left on the grounds.

[Deleted]

This is now Middle Rd. going into the base.

[johnw]

As a child, (I was born in 62) I remember my dad had a govt contract to clean some of the buildings at Bakalar. I remember going with him and my mom many times. I met many soldiers that, missing their own kids, would tossel my hair or give me candy or rides in their jeeps. A particular Colonel, who will remain nameless, always left a certain drawer of his desk unlocked and standing orders to allow me to get a piece of candy from said drawer at will! I got to play in the plane at the side of the gaurd shack, that was so much fun! I have pictures of myself with Gov. Whitcome the Governor of Indiana and his son John on the Parade Deck on a hot summer day during a ceremony of some sort as well.

[larry]

Re: Bakalar AFB, I remember Dad and I sitting in the car, outside the fence, watching
the enormous Globemaster planes that visited there. I am guessing this was around 1950.
The Globemaster was the largest military aircraft of its day.
My second memory of Bakalar involved young lads in full AF uniforms coming to swim at Donner Pool. They were part of CAP, Civilian Air Patrol. I was bigtime impressed.
Third, I played guitar at a dance job at the Bakalar NCO Club the night my oldest son was born. 1963.