Bill,
I was stationed in Ft Bliss, Texas from 1953 to early 1955. Ft Bliss is adjacent to Biggs AF Base east of El Paso, and just to the SW of Biggs. A group of B-36's flew in and out of Biggs - I believe there was a Wing permanently based there at the time. The take-off/landing path was often directly over Ft. Bliss. When a B-36 was landing, there was no question that it had arrived. But when one took off over Ft Bliss, all conversation stopped because everything around was shaking and rattling! It was the noisiest airplane I have heard - they used all six propeller engines as well as the jets at full throttle to take off.
I never got to see one up close but they were beautiful in the air. Mary and I lived off base at the foot of and immediately south of the mountain (North Franklin Mountain) located north of El Paso and west of Biggs/Ft Bliss. The B-36's had to fly low over the mountain on their approach to Biggs. Unfortunately, one cloudy and stormy morning, one flew too low and hit the mountain top. Of course, the crew was killed and the plane was completely destroyed and burned as it tumbled down the mountain. We could see the crash site from our home - a horrible big black area on the rocks and scrub trees. The cause was never publicly disclosed. But many times I thought of that crash - an object as big as the B-36 probably traveling at 150-200 MPH flying straight into the almost vertical rock face of the mountain - it was an immediate and complete total destruction of the plane and crew!
But that airplane did the job they were designed for - to maintain the ability to destroy any country that would be foolish enough to start another war! Thanks for posting those beautiful photos of an imposing and successful plane.
Jim Hand
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