Photo By Sandy Owens | Public Works Department Fort Worth Leadership and construction management staff...... read more read more
NAS JRB FORT WORTH, Texas – November is recognized by the Library of Congress as National Aviation History Month, which is dedicated to exploring, recognizing, and celebrating America’s great contributions and achievements in the development of aviation.
Originating in 1941, Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth, has an enduring and rich aviation history. Once named Carswell Air Force Base, it served as a major Strategic Air Command base and contributor to World War II, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the Persian Gulf War. The airfield and its facilities housed some of the most iconic aircraft in America’s aviation history like the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-58 Hustler, and the F-111 Aardvark.
Over the years, the installation’s name and mission has evolved. The installation has been called Fort Worth Army Airfield, Carswell Air Force Base, and since 1993 has been known as NAS JRB Fort Worth. Now home to the Navy, Marine, Air Force, Army, and the Texas Air National Guard. Hosting 55 Joint Tenants, including US Air Force Plant # 4 which is the final assembly plant for production of every F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The installation’s mission is to support strategic military operations, many of which are centered around the airfield. On any given day, if you look up in the sky you may see a C-40 Clipper, a Black Hawk hovering, a C-130 doing touch-and-go landings, or hear the roar of an F-16 in full afterburner chasing an F-35 as they both cut paths around the airfield.
Lee Robinson, NAS JRB Fort Worth’s Airfield Manager, explained, “We are here to support the military in any way we can. Some of the ways we support is by providing a sanctuary for aircraft during hurricanes, supporting Federal Emergency Management Agency missions during local emergencies and natural disasters, and by providing pit stops for aircrews needing to fill up on gas to make it to their next destination.”
In order to ensure the airfield continues to stand the test of time regular maintenance is required.
“Currently, we have a massive runway repair project for about 1000 feet of the runway,” said LCDR William Husky. “We are using the largest amount of delpatch concrete ever used in the nation. It is about a 4.5-million-dollar project, that started in August and will be complete in December [of 2022].”
Everyone on the installation plays an essential role in continuing the legacy of this iconic base. It not only takes maintenance, but people to keep the airfield in tip-top shape.
“To make our airfield run we need our transient line personnel, usually we have four in the shop at minimum, they are there to help with parking, fueling aircraft, and to provide support in case any of the aircraft take a tail hook on the gear to stop them,” said Husky. “We have about 90 enlisted sailors with us including transient line, ground electronics, and tower personnel.”
The future of the installation is becoming clearer through the ongoing construction projects for the permanent home of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in 2024.
“The arrival of the F-35 will make NAS JRB Fort Worth home to one of the largest F-35 squadrons in the world,” said Husky.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2022 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 432914 |
| Location: | FORT WORTH , TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 286 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, An Homage to the Past, Present and Future of Aviation at NAS JRB Fort Worth, by Sandy Owens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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