Post by Al on Aug 30, 2023 12:22:42 GMT -5
Given the lack of anything in the civil scenery area happening on this forum of late, time for another cold war Calclassic airbase.
Ken and I decided to build this scenery after doing Wheelus AFB in Tripoli Libya. The 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron was stationed at Wheelus until 1958 when it was reassigned to Zaragoza AB. Given we had a custom painted F-86D by Deltadart of this squadron and Mike Pearson provides the squadron's paint scheme for the F-102 they converted to in 1960, various Spanish AF repaints by Jorge Rechani and some others, along with a very good FS9 Zaragosa AB (modern) we could backdate, we decided to make a retro version covering the period of 1959 through about 1962 or so.
A little about Zaragoza AB
Zaragoza (LEZG) was one of three major Cold War US air bases in Spain, the others being Torrejon and Moron AB and remained in use by the USAF until 1992. As a result of the Pact of Madrid between General Franco and the US in September 1953 construction work began on the existing Spanish facilities in September 1954. The existing runway was strengthened, and the building of a new concrete 12,200 feet long runway began in 1956 and was completed in 1958. Zaragosa served as a Reflex base for Strategic Air Command hosting various B-47 units doing rotational duty at the base along with permanently assigned fighters for air defense purposes. The base was shared with the Spanish air Force who flew the F-86F from their side of the base.
The USA side from the 1962 Traffic
An aerial view with the USA side to the Left and the Spanish side to the right
A photo from John Hewson's album showing the USA side in 1961
Here is a shot from our 1962 Traffic
A closeup of the 431st FIS F-102s
From the 1959 traffic, F-86Ds painted by Deltadart for the Wheelus AB Scenery now assigned to Zaragoza in 1958
The Spanish side of the airbase
Jorge Rechani paints of the Spanish F-86F
Overview of the Spanish side
This scenery is nearly complete and should be released shortly.
Al
Ken and I decided to build this scenery after doing Wheelus AFB in Tripoli Libya. The 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron was stationed at Wheelus until 1958 when it was reassigned to Zaragoza AB. Given we had a custom painted F-86D by Deltadart of this squadron and Mike Pearson provides the squadron's paint scheme for the F-102 they converted to in 1960, various Spanish AF repaints by Jorge Rechani and some others, along with a very good FS9 Zaragosa AB (modern) we could backdate, we decided to make a retro version covering the period of 1959 through about 1962 or so.
A little about Zaragoza AB
Zaragoza (LEZG) was one of three major Cold War US air bases in Spain, the others being Torrejon and Moron AB and remained in use by the USAF until 1992. As a result of the Pact of Madrid between General Franco and the US in September 1953 construction work began on the existing Spanish facilities in September 1954. The existing runway was strengthened, and the building of a new concrete 12,200 feet long runway began in 1956 and was completed in 1958. Zaragosa served as a Reflex base for Strategic Air Command hosting various B-47 units doing rotational duty at the base along with permanently assigned fighters for air defense purposes. The base was shared with the Spanish air Force who flew the F-86F from their side of the base.
The USA side from the 1962 Traffic
An aerial view with the USA side to the Left and the Spanish side to the right
A photo from John Hewson's album showing the USA side in 1961
Here is a shot from our 1962 Traffic
A closeup of the 431st FIS F-102s
From the 1959 traffic, F-86Ds painted by Deltadart for the Wheelus AB Scenery now assigned to Zaragoza in 1958
The Spanish side of the airbase
Jorge Rechani paints of the Spanish F-86F
Overview of the Spanish side
This scenery is nearly complete and should be released shortly.
Al
