Military Relics: Castle AFB

Underground Castle ::::: The partially underground, barracks at Castle AFB, where air crews lived on 2 week shifts.Underground Castle ::::: The partially underground, barracks at Castle AFB, where air crews lived on 2 week shifts.
Scramble! ::::: Imagine flight-suited crews sprinting out of this tunnel to their idling nuke-laden jets. They could be in the air in minutes.Scramble! ::::: Imagine flight-suited crews sprinting out of this tunnel to their idling nuke-laden jets. They could be in the air in minutes.
Wooden Console ::::: Inside the surprisingly low tech War Room.Wooden Console ::::: Inside the surprisingly low tech War Room.
War Room ::::: Castle was a Strategic Air Command base.War Room ::::: Castle was a Strategic Air Command base.
Secret ::::: This backlit marker board was used for tracking the planes in the air and on alert, hidden behind curtains inside the War Room.Secret ::::: This backlit marker board was used for tracking the planes in the air and on alert, hidden behind curtains inside the War Room.
Disaster Tracking ::::: Disaster Tracking :::::
Hot Lines ::::: War Room phones.Hot Lines ::::: War Room phones.
Do Not Discuss ::::: Do Not Discuss :::::
Out Of Time ::::: Dead digital clocks dangle from the wall inside the War Room.Out Of Time ::::: Dead digital clocks dangle from the wall inside the War Room.
Air Combat Command ::::: The War Room overlook.Air Combat Command ::::: The War Room overlook.
Stratotanker in Action ::::: KC-135 and F-106 Delta Darts painted on the wall inside the barracks-bunker.Stratotanker in Action ::::: KC-135 and F-106 Delta Darts painted on the wall inside the barracks-bunker.
Building 752 ::::: Thousands of blueprints and vellums in storage.Building 752 ::::: Thousands of blueprints and vellums in storage.
The Summit ::::: Architectural rendering of one of the base dorm complexes, found in a storeroom.The Summit ::::: Architectural rendering of one of the base dorm complexes, found in a storeroom.
Juniper Tower ::::: Juniper Tower ::::: "The Summit" base dorm complex.
On the Quad ::::: Built in 1990 at a cost of $8,385,290 and abandoned in 1995 when the base was decommissioned. Now razed.On the Quad ::::: Built in 1990 at a cost of $8,385,290 and abandoned in 1995 when the base was decommissioned. Now razed.
The Dorm Lobby ::::: The Dorm Lobby :::::
The Manager's Office ::::: The Manager's Office :::::
The Pointy Room ::::: Inside a second story rec-room in the abandoned dormitory building.The Pointy Room ::::: Inside a second story rec-room in the abandoned dormitory building.
Interior Ivy ::::: Abandoned perimeter building.Interior Ivy ::::: Abandoned perimeter building.
Checkpoint ::::: High security gatehouse, bypassed and forgotten.Checkpoint ::::: High security gatehouse, bypassed and forgotten.
Stairs and Hoses ::::: Stairs and Hoses :::::
To the Outer Moons ::::: To the Outer Moons :::::
Engine Test Building ::::: Far away from everything else.Engine Test Building ::::: Far away from everything else.
  • Underground Castle ::::: The partially underground, barracks at Castle AFB, where air crews lived on 2 week shifts.
  • Scramble! ::::: Imagine flight-suited crews sprinting out of this tunnel to their idling nuke-laden jets. They could be in the air in minutes.
  • Wooden Console ::::: Inside the surprisingly low tech War Room.
  • War Room ::::: Castle was a Strategic Air Command base.
  • Secret ::::: This backlit marker board was used for tracking the planes in the air and on alert, hidden behind curtains inside the War Room.
  • Disaster Tracking :::::
  • Hot Lines ::::: War Room phones.
  • Do Not Discuss :::::
  • Out Of Time ::::: Dead digital clocks dangle from the wall inside the War Room.
  • Air Combat Command ::::: The War Room overlook.
  • Stratotanker in Action ::::: KC-135 and F-106 Delta Darts painted on the wall inside the barracks-bunker.
  • Building 752 ::::: Thousands of blueprints and vellums in storage.
  • The Summit ::::: Architectural rendering of one of the base dorm complexes, found in a storeroom.
  • Juniper Tower :::::
  • On the Quad ::::: Built in 1990 at a cost of $8,385,290 and abandoned in 1995 when the base was decommissioned. Now razed.
  • The Dorm Lobby :::::
  • The Manager's Office :::::
  • The Pointy Room ::::: Inside a second story rec-room in the abandoned dormitory building.
  • Interior Ivy ::::: Abandoned perimeter building.
  • Checkpoint ::::: High security gatehouse, bypassed and forgotten.
  • Stairs and Hoses :::::
  • To the Outer Moons :::::
  • Engine Test Building ::::: Far away from everything else.

Castle AFB was a Cold War era Strategic Air Command installation in central California. It was converted to civilian use in 1995, but it has some still restricted areas that are spectacular relics of the war on American soil that never happened.

Image locations include; the “War Room”, the nerve center of the base, a blast-proof, partially underground, barracks-bunker where B52 and KC135 crews lived on 24-hour alert, an engine test structure and a few of the dozens of abandoned dorm buildings.  This work was shot in February and May, 2008, updated May 2024.