I was in the 5th grade when I grew up over night. I lived on Clendenin right off by 1 mile or shorter from the runway at mather .we were in the new neighborhood in a new area called Rosemont. I witnessed a B-52 from Castle Airforce Base doing touch n goes of the left runway. I noticed number 2 B-52 not gaining air and I knew something wasn't right. It banked left.. after looking like it was coming straight to our play ground. Well as it banked left .I kept watching..recess was going on but..I was on bathroom brake. I saw it all. As the 52 banked left..it disappear then the ground rumbled and windows shook. My teacher got up to yell at me for standing between the door and outside. As I was frozen in shock my teacher ushered me back inside and i pointed to the black smoke..he said "oh my god" I knew at that point .something bad just happened. Is there anyone on here who was there that day?or witnessed it. ?? It's hard to find stuff being so long ago. Reason being..my step dad..SSGT JOHN R BURNS he was with the 126th medical unit. He was on the news with his copter..landing at the site on the news.id like to find that.
I will visit is this Mather in 1982 with my cousin Col Edwin Hodges who serve there for many years. He showed me around the place with so much pride and it was a fascinating tour. I remember asking him why three b-52s with KC135 behind them. He explained to me that they ready to go and a moments notice and to be re-fueled off to take off. I asked him how long you been doing that he replied since 1968. That amazed me being are young Englishman I've only 22 years. All the energy and work carried out add this Air Force Base it saddens me to see the state of the place now
I was stationed at Beale from 1974 to 1977. That sound and all the black smoke from water injection sure brings back a lot of memories. My aircraft was 1464.
My dad was stationed here. I grew up going to Mather and seeing the Blackhawks. My dad finally retired in 2023. SSG A. Corrales. He was one of the last original “phantoms”
I was at Mather 1986-1989. I worked in the AR shop in FMS. I was at this ceremony and I remember how loud it was--no ear defenders or plugs! No wonder that all of those years working on the BUFF, I have over 10% hearing loss!
So they traded the racetrack for a ballpark, nice. They should put the racetrack back since the Raiders have left again and the A's wants to leave also.
I live just up the street towards US50 in former military housing right on Mather Field Road. All you see there now are Civilian and United Parcel Service planes
I have read that the KC-135A was actually louder than a B-52G at takeoff when both use water injection but one would think the B-52G would be much louder as it had twice as many engines.
I read that the noise from a bomber, on the ground, doing power checks, would disable folks from the noise. Never had that issue on the tanker It had something to do with the noise frequency
A great base! Went through UNT/EWOT there in ‘86-‘87, then got assigned to the Buff squadron (441st BMS) from ‘87 til closure in ‘89. I designed our squadron’s final T-shirt (pictured above)! Then, it was off to Griffiss in upstate NY to freeze my ass off in the winters! Quite a change weather wise!
Saw him in December of 1985 at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. What a man, hero and legend! Got a picture of an F-16 autographed by Mr. Chuck Yeager that day and had my picture taken with him at the signing. That single autographed picture along with an autographed WORK AND WIN 9-11 bumper sticker by the pilot of the Memphis Belle, remain cherished items in my collection of American history! God bless Chuck and all the heroes who stand for American Liberty and the Right Stuff!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟❤🇺🇸
Got stationed there from 86-92. 453rd FTS. What a blast. PCS'd from F.E. Warren AFB, WY. Talk about going from hell to heaven. It was 25 degrees, early October in Cheyenne when I left. After 2 weeks at home I flew to Sactown. 80 degrees in Sac when I got off the plane. The difference in morale from F.E.W. AFB and Mather was like night and day. Folsom Lake, Frisco, Tahoe, Reno, Sana Cruz... Loved it. Met my wife there.
