In Mar 1957 this gigantic 10-engined B-36 was delivered to Chanute AFB for use as an instructional ground airframe. This lasted until 1970, when it was transferred to the United States Air Force Museum. They loaned the aircraft back to the Chanute AFB collection and it was placed on display there in Sep 1971, falsely painted "492065". In 1990 it was dismantled for transport to the Castle Air Museum, where it arrived on 27 Oct 1990, reportedly in 167 sections. It was stored there in dismantled condition until reassembly in 1993/1994. The work was completed in Oct 1994. The tail number 113730 is on the fin, but it is hard to read due to the flaking paint.

Arrived at the museum in 1981.

Ex N880L, acquired by the United States Air Force Museum in 1981 and loaned to the Castle Air Museum. It was placed on display in August of that year.

Painted in fake markings. This Invader is ex USAAF 41-39472. Struck off charge in August 1957, it became N86482 in 1963 and was illegally sold to the El Salvador Air Force as 601 in August 1969. It had been withdrawn from service by 1972 and was sold as N26VC in April 1974 and flown from El Salvador to San Diego, CA that same month. The Invader was eventually delivered to the Castle Air Museum on 26 October 1980, where it was first displayed as "24-6093". This was later changed to the markings seen here.

"Flight of the Phoenix" arrived at the museum on 15 December 1980.

In the early 1980s the Castle Air Museum added many aircraft to its inventory. "Hog Hauler" was one of them, and it arrived in August 1981.

This B-29 is a composite airframe. It is the fuselage of 44-61535 (the original Raz'n Hell), fitted with the nose section of 44-70064 and the wings of 44-84084. All three aircraft were stored at NAWS China Lake, CA for use as ground targets for weapons testing, until recovered and restored in 1980. Following the restoration the aircraft was initially painted as 44-70064, but by 1988 this had been changed to 44-61535. The "Raz'n Hell" nose art is only carried on the other side.

Ex USAAF 42-89678. On 12 Nov 1959 this Valiant was registered to Larry Trapp (Winamac, IN) as N63952, and cancelled on 2 May 1974. It was transferred to the United States Air Force Museum and loaned to the Castle Air Museum In the early 1980s.
In 1959 this aircraft was incorrectly registered as c/n 6978, which is also the fake serial carried on the tail in this photo. This number is strikingly similar to the last four digits of its former USAAF serial, and it may in fact be the result of a clerical error, made in 1959.

Part of the museum's inventory since 16 June 1980.

Virgin's Delight was delivered to the museum on 26 November 1979. It is ex N3702G, a former airtanker.

Despite its markings here, this Harvard never saw service with the US military. It is ex RCAF 2951, which was taken on charge on 11 March 1941 and struck off charge on 11 December 1946. After many years of storage it spent some years in a museum in Ontario in the mid 1970s. It very briefly became C-GDJC in Dec 1975 before sale to Hawkins & Powers Aviation in March 1976 as N99839. The Harvard finally arrived at the museum here in the early 1980s. Its identity is also quoted as ex RCAF 2684 c/n 66-2417, but in 1976 N99839 was definitely officially registered as c/n "66-2684".

Remanufactured by Beech from T-7 42-56721 c/n 4340 to C-45G 51-11897 for the USAF in 1953. Later converted to an RC-45G and an RC-45H. To N87681 in 1963. To the Castle Air Museum in 1983 and marked as 44588. Markings changed to 11897 by 1998. A different aircraft is marked as 44588 at the March Air Museum.

Photographer: Bob Shane.

Returning to (former) Castle AFB in a bare silver colour scheme.

Registered as ZS-ASU then to the South African Air Force as 1373 in 1941. Back to ZS-ASU in 1945. To VP-KHW in 1950, ZS-DHK in 1953, SE-CDR then N6064V in 1957 and N102V in 1980. To the Castle Air Museum in 1984.

Delivered to the USAAF as 41-27369 in 1942. To N66668 in 1957 then to XA-MOL in 1958. To the USAF Museum at Castle AFB in 1981 and preserved unmarked. Left the museum in 1990 and went to Chino, CA. Last noted there around 1995, fate unknown.

93BW B-52G doing some pattern work at it's home station

This B-47 was used by the USN and retired to China Lake, CA. It was flown from there to Castle AFB on Jun 17, 1986; believed to be the last flight of a B-47.

Early morning shot of Mountain Home EF-111A on static display.

Registered N54510 until 2013 despite being a static exhibit at Castle AFB for the previous 30 years. It had been with the JASDF between 1955 and 1978.