Clark Air Base Scrapbook

by Thomas C. Utts

Here's a totally revolutionary idea for the Scrapbook,  pictures of airplanes. You folks
remember those big metal things -- the professed reason for having an Air Force.
Okay, so many of us never really got that close to the fancy flying machines,
unless  it was a MAC flight. But what the hey, that's why we were there.
So here are pictures from the flightline during the 1950s and 1960s.

1956
Flightline isn't
that great, but what
a wonderful view
of Mt. Arayat.
(Photo by
Len Silverman)
 
 
 
 
 

1956 -- Cargo terminal, with "old shaky," a C-124, and a Chinese Nationalist C-46.
(Photo by Len Silverman)
 

1956
Must have been a
VIP arriving, either that
or the band hard pressed
for something to do.
(Photo by
Len Silverman)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1956
Cat on the flight line!
A CAT as in a China Air
Transport plane. It was
supposedly a civilian
contract outfit. Later the
company was revealed
as a CIA front. Maybe
that's why the flight
attendant is being
carefully observed by
the ever alert GI cargo
handlers. Likely checking
her for contraband.

David Esmann was an Airman Second Class when he arrived at Clark in 1955 where he
was assigned to the 6424th Aircraft Repair Squadron. He said the unit's mission was
repair and overhaul of C-47 and B-26 aircraft for the Far East area. Now one may wonder
why there was a unit at Clark that worked on aircraft such as the B-26 that was no longer
flown by the U.S. Air Force, and the old Gooney Birds. However, one should remember that
these aircraft were an indispensable to many of America's allies in the Pacific, including
"special operations" units supporting the French against the communist Viet Minh in
Vietnam. The pictures below show one B-26 being rehabed by Esmann and cohorts.

When they got a plane in for rebuilding,
the process started with the engines being
removed and taken to the engine shop. Then
the wings are removed and all the wiring is
taken out. At the same time the paint is
stripped and new zinc chromate primer
applied. Here the aircraft is on the wash
rack before going to the hanger.
 

Once in the hanger the work
aircraft mechanics set to
work reassembling
the the bird.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Left) David Essman completing an engine
inspection after it was reinstalled. (Above)
Final inspection of a B-26 by Staff
Sergeant Bill King and two others
whose names escaped Essman.
 

Jobs well down, (above) a B-26
during its initial run up prior to
a functional check flight before
delivery to the owning unit.
(Left) Two C-47 Gooney
Birds pose in front
of Mt. Arayat.
 
 

Essman said he never seen much information about the activities of the 6424th,
which may have been because many of the planes they worked on were loaned
to the French. He said they unit was still in business and going strong when he
left in 1955 having been promoted to Staff Sergeant. He added that there is 
a group of about ten couples who still get together for a yearly reunion.
All had been instructors at the aircraft and engine mechanics
school at Sheppard AFB, Texas before going to Clark.

Wallace Looney, from the
Easternshore of  Virginia,
was in the Air Force from
1959 to 1963. He spent two
years at Clark from 1959
to 1961, as an AP in the
405th Air Police Squadron.
He took these pictures at
 a 1960 Open House.
 
 
 
 
 
 

This earlier model
F-86 from the
Philippine Air Force.
The Diamond logo with
the first part of Phil Air
Force is covered for
some reason.
 
 

This is the U.S. Navy's
hot fighter at the time,
the F-8 Crusader.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Looks like a
U.S. Marine
Skyhawk.
 
 
 
 
 
 

I know this is an early model C-130 because the props are only 3 blades.
This is the way most Air Force planes looked before they were
painted camouflage for the war in Vietnam.
 
 

This picture shows how getting the wrong exposure can sometimes create a nifty effect.

And everybody's
favorite, as long
as you didn't have
to go any great
distance:
Old Shakey.