History of Lowry Air Force Base | Behind the Wings
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.พ. 2017
- Join Curator Matthew Burchette as he explores the history of Lowry Air Force Base and takes you behind the scenes at some of the historic buildings that surround Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
* Correction: There are 3 buildings on Lowry that are on the National Registry of Historic Places, including the Headquarters Building, Lowry Heritage Center, and Chapel 1.
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Host, Curator:
Matthew Burchette
Creator, Producer:
Ben Theune
Camera, Editor:
Scott Hennelly
Music:
Joakim Karud - / joakimkarud
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I was stationed at Lowery from 10/68 - 3/69. Went there right out of Basic Training; spent the first two weeks in a PATS Squadron (Personnel Awaiting Tech School) a very discouraging "make work" situation that airmen were put in until enough folks were available to start a class. I was trained as a 462X0 Weapons Technician, we learned how to work with, maintain and test the weapons delivery systems of various aircraft in the Air Force. Ultimately I ended up working on F-4 Phantoms, the primary fighter aircraft in the inventory at the time. Most of our classes were in the so called Black Shack. At the time and for what ever reason (we didn't know why) the entire building was painted - yep - black, hence the most fitting moniker - Black Shack. During my time there Lowery was something to be endured, survived and moved on from; now, fifty plus years later I look back on it as the stepping stone to what was to be an under appreciated adventure that was my time in the military. Great memories attached to Lowery - it's funny how time smooths over what we perceived as rough spots back then into smooth highways of fond memories in a life well lived.
I was there March to June 1980 for 462X0 tech school. TAC guys went to the silver shack and the SAC guys went to the black shack. The airmens club was right across from the dorms. The chow halls were inside the dorms. I went through on the F-4 but the aircraft was deemed structurally not sound so we got to go to Buckley ANG base to load on F-4D's flown in just for training. Totally enjoyed my time there, the Colfax Street tours were memorable!
I was trained on the F-111, finished and got orders to homestead
Glad to see you mentioned the Titan I sites on the Lowry Bombing Range. My father was one of the four men killed in August of '61 at site 724A near the corner of Quincy and Gun Club Road. The story was in the New York Times and papers throughout the US. The history of the construction and deployment of the Titan is fascinating and was part of the leading edge of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I play hockey there now. Had no idea of the history it contained. Can you explain what happened in Aug of '61? I can't find anything on it
@@809hockey If you send me your email I have about 30 written pages and photos. I keep finding more information all the time and have written about 90%of a book.
Went to my first tech school at Lowry from beginning of August 76 to the end of January 77. Dormed in barracks 1477 (next to the black hangar) and my electronics and AIM/AGM missile maintenance schools were in the old wooden buildings that were built as the original Air Force Academy near the Aurora gate. At that time the "black shack" was where load training was for munitions loaders (then AFSC 462) and maybe the nuclear maintenance 463s but I dont remember. My roommate was a 462 loader so I know he trained in the black hangar.
When I attended college at Metro State, I used to ride the #6 RTD route down 6th Avenue... The route went trough Lowry AFB and the guard would get on the bus at the gate and check the ID's of anyone who was getting off on-base. Then the guard would ride through the base on the bus until the exit gate where they would dis-embark (I'm assuming to ride the other way when the bus running the opposite direction would come through). I always loved it when we would turn and run down the old runway which had been repurposed as a street. Lowry was still operating as a school/training base but also as the accounting headquarters--which drew protestors to the gates.
I was there in late 1945 just out of basic in mississippi and sent to lowry field . They were discharging soldiers wholesale at that time. I workrd at the separation center escorting squads of GI's through the separation process. They were a bunch of guys just happy they made it back home alive
Attended "Special Electronics" training school at Lowry AFB. 1965-1966 This was the beginning of a great career in aerospace.
Lowry. 1982-1983. Went to the PMEL school there. Last time I drove through the base there were tumble weeds blowing down the main drags that used to be clogged with traffic. Nice to see it's being re-used.
Not many of us around, was a Marine at Lowry PMEL schools and lived in barracks the other services had condemned. It was better living than Camp Lejeune and civilians cooked!!!
Four hundred hours of PMEL heaven, seven hundred hours of radar schools before that gave me an edge. Got out in 79 and still look back.
I went to that same school in 1971. I like what the developers have done with the place, I was there about 3 years ago.
I was at PMEL school in 76, then went to Beale AFB for the SR-71 and U2.
@@johnbabiarz8565 I ended up at 100 SRW at Davis-Monthan , which had U2s while I was there (72-74). Also had DC130s and recon drones, along with recovery helicopters.
I miss my time at Lowery AFB. Munitions Technical School 1987.
I was one of the last classes to graduate from Lowry before they closed it in 1994. 461 (Ammo), the AF switched it to the 2W0X1 system halfway during our class. What made Lowry even more fun is I grew up in Aurora, so I was basically home for four months.
Went to Lowry for F-111 Avionics school Feb to Aug 1987. The old class rooms we used were the original Air Force Academy facilities before the campus was built in Colorado Springs. Also my old dorm building is still there and is being used by a college I believe.
I loved being at Lowry in 1987. Avionics flir/laser pave .
I used to play golf there from '87-90.
I attended the PMEL school there in 1978-79 and my 1st wife attended the TV Production school during the same time frame. We were both Army.
My father was stationed there ‘79-‘80. I didn’t particularly like it there then, but from a reminiscing standpoint it’s still pretty interesting.
I was there in 1968 for my inventory management specialist training. After that i was assigned to Laredo AFB, Texas.
I went through Munitions School in 1965 and was back as an Instructor 1971-73. Our missile block of instruction was conducted in the "Black Shack"
I went to 462 Tech School at Lowry AFB in 1978, I was only 18 years old!! My Basic Trainee mate.. Mike Hodum did also!! But he assembled and disassembled nuclear weapons!! He was a 461, headed to Guam AFB.. Me I was headed to dear old and frightfully cold Grand Forks AFB.. Beautiful North Dakota!!!! Lol
My grandfather actually was stationed at Lowerys AFB and he worked on the turrets on the base. I even have his wings pin that my grandmother gave me after his passing three years ago due to being diagnosed with cancer. My grandfather is buried at the Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, New York.
the old stem building is now lofts.did some work there as plumber.pretty sweet what they did with it.
I was there in 1984,I remember lot’s of open land where there’s now streets and houses
Went to Lowry AFB 1981 for Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist or Weapons Loader tech school on the F4E Phantom II
I was there for munitions school in the fall of 1978
I attended Bomb/Nav school for B-52's there in 1959. Lived in the old Air Force Academy buildings.
Aerospace Ground Equipment 1986 !!
With all due respect, unless President and First Lady Eisenhower actually started a family there, the proper phrase would be "born and raised'. Being bred there implies she became pregnant there, which may be what you meant. It is so cool that instead of tearing down history, they just repurposed it. I would love to live in one of those apartments if I didn't have so much aviation memorabilia. Thank you for posting and God Bless from Florida.
Black shack, munitions matinace 1966. Still have the group photo standing beside the F-105.
Munitions 1968
Share photo
Yup. I went thru the Photo Interpreter school in 1981.
Fire Control B52 G 1977
Intell School 1975-76. There were tumble weeds too when I was there.
During WW-II my uncle Vic worked at Lowery installing ball turrets in the belly of B-17's and latter on B-29's. The bombers flew over our house every day. I got to go to the base and ride in the Sperry turret trainer.
When you mentioned the chapel where Eisenhower sat, at the Pima Air and Space Museum is one of the predecessors to Air Force One, that was used by Eisenhower and Kennedy! I remember staring in the bathroom mirror and imagining them staring back!
A base I never got to before it closed. I'd love to know more "little known" tidbits about the base. I bet you could do almost an hour long video! I'd also like to know more about some of the bases I was stationed at like Minot AFB, ND, and Langley AFB, VA, but I know that's outside of your realm.
I was there in 82 for aircraft armament school.I remember black shack !! 😎
was there in Dec 77 to March 78 , come back to be instructor in May of 81 thru 84 , I taught 462's electronics classes ,
I thought you looked familiar !! 😂
attended the TV Maintenance Course in 1983 and Broadcast Maintenance instructor in 1992.
Munitions training 1978
Still amazed how better you look clean cut.
MTI Avionics 84-85 Played softball for the Lowry Lobos.
Worked GCA and Tower in1960 great base and town
Nov-Dec 1988 - Services Tech School!
MY DAD TRAINED THERE IN 1959 FOR FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALIST, AND THEN TO KIMPO AIR BASE KOREA.
Electronics tech school, 1982
Went there in April to June of 71 for material facilities specialist school A shift, then got order's for Okinawa Kadena AFB 18th tactical figher sqaudron FMS, then assigned to 824th special services at Naha AFB housing supply off base housing.
Munitions & Weapons school in 1968. We trained on the ol' BUFF now on static display.
Munitions 1968.
hi guys.as i live in england and going over to the states a .little later this year.can you advise me of your opening times please.thanks tom
We are open 7 days a week, from 10am - 5pm (12pm - 5pm on Sundays). Please come to visit!
@@Wings_Museum thankyou for getting back to me.i will visit you all soon
1991 F-16 Backshop Training. Stayed in the VAQ. Wonder what happened to the Visiting Airmen's Quarters? In 1994, the base was already reduced from its former height of glory. Glad to see they repurposed some of the buildings. It is my understanding there was an Air Force Finance Building left. Is it still there in operation?
The Finace moved to Buckley....what the building is now I have no clue....it's to the right of the museum
Munitions 1993
Is the ships anchor that was delivered by mistake still there ?
461 school, spring of 1989. Anyone know if the dorms are still standing? Also, a 462 trainee died during my time there during PT after smacking his head on a pylon hours prior.. Anyone remember his name?
Don't recall his name, but he was from San Diego, if memory serves. PT that day was DDG
1969-1970 3420th Squadron, Special Electronics.
Photography training 1986
Aircraft Armament System Dec. 81-Feb-82. 462X0 E Black Shack
I was an instructor during that time in black shack
born and BRED
462 school summer of 76
my father send by former iranian air force to learn about f4 fighter jet
F-4 Weapons Fire Control 1974
If you think you know so much about lowry where was the aero club in the 60's and where was the white house west located on the base. I see a lot of the fact in this vid that are not true.
It was called the Black Shack because it was Black.
Bomb navy systems B-52 E, F, G and H. 1968 - 69.
Women! To weapons school at Lowery in 68.
WAAAAAY to cutsie for grownups.
Too bad...........us old folks with time there "could" have enhoyed it.
Your hand wringing and waving reminds me of Nancy Pelosi.
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