Thank you. Your video warms this AF brat's heart. I haven't been on that base since June 1972 when my Dad retired (he had been in charge of T-38 operations and helped set up the base for Air Training Command flight training). We retired to Arkansas, by the way. Our house on State Loop appears to have been torn down and rebuilt, but it was the old officer's housing area at the time. I liked it because it was just a block from the O Club pool where I spent a lot of time. So many bases where we were stationed have been decommissioned, my childhood's physical sites are gone. Price of getting old, of surviving, I guess. Thanks again.
I used to live there in 1972 when my dad was in the Air force before he retired, i lived on Topeka dr. It may have been a small base but when your a dependent it seemed mighty big at the time we were there. I remember going out the south gate getting a hair cut.
This brings back some memories. I was stationed there in the mid 1980s. I was a Deputy Chief BEET member, among other things. It was one of my best assignments. I had PCS’d from Vandenberg AFB and it was a big change for us. Thanks for the video!
Columbus AFB was my first duty station after basic training in 1970. It looks like the entire base has been rebuilt because I don’t recognize any of it in this video. It looks much bigger and nicer.
This was nice to see. I used to live there in the late 1980's. During this video, I thought you referenced Chanute A.F.B as well. Funny to hear as that is where my dad was stationed after Columbus. Really appreciate the video's as the base has changed drastically. I actually stayed on Capitol Avenue, didn't see or hear you mention it. Thank You Elizabeth Hawkins
Thank you for posting this. My father was stationed at Columbus from around 70 to 76. We lived on Hamilton Ave. They definitely improved base housing beyond recognition. I went to Kindergarten next door to the bowling alley. I remember burying a time capsule at Freedom Park. It had pictures of my little league team and cub scout troops in it. I wonder if they ever dug it up? I remember the nursery you mention several times very well. I also remember the graveyard you talked about. I remember walking through Columbus Circle and cutting through some back yards to get there. I played in those woods all day during the summers. Thanks for helping kill some time during an extremely slow day at work and taking a stroll down memory lane.
I lived at 143 Vernon Ave from 1969 to 1973 (1st grade thru 4th). I remember the chapel and the cemetery but everything else has changed. My father said they tore down the old housing because of asbestos. Like Yogi, we also played in the woods all the time and probably encountered him. An interesting side note: Air Force kids attended Columbus public schools in town. In 1970 Columbus "desegregated" the schools but only Air Force kids were integrated with the local black kids (I attended Union Academy). The local white kids were not integrated. I didn't know this until about 5 years ago. This explains why I remember many of the black kids from Columbus but none of the white.
I was there, then, too. My younger sisters were bussed to black elementary schools that first fall, too. The high school (since re-named) actually was integrated that fall. The ratio was about 70/30. We got there in January, 1970. My first new friends were black AP students already attending the white high school. So, when desegregation happened that next fall, I had friends in several groups (typical of a military brat). We had more trouble between students and the administration than between black and white kids as I remember it. The administration did not appreciate that we kids wanted dual black/white royalty awards for at least the first year. We argued that people in the two groups did not know each other yet, and the black kids would win nothing because of that and sheer numbers. It wasn't fair to them. I still think that was a wise, compassionate choice
My wife taught reading at “Plum Grove Colored School” in 1970 when we were stationed at Columbus AFB. Many schools had not been integrated at the time.
I lived there during middle school and high school. Played softball and bowled at both of those places. Great memories!
Thank you. Your video warms this AF brat's heart. I haven't been on that base since June 1972 when my Dad retired (he had been in charge of T-38 operations and helped set up the base for Air Training Command flight training). We retired to Arkansas, by the way. Our house on State Loop appears to have been torn down and rebuilt, but it was the old officer's housing area at the time. I liked it because it was just a block from the O Club pool where I spent a lot of time. So many bases where we were stationed have been decommissioned, my childhood's physical sites are gone. Price of getting old, of surviving, I guess. Thanks again.
I used to live there in 1972 when my dad was in the Air force before he retired, i lived on Topeka dr. It may have been a small base but when your a dependent it seemed mighty big at the time we were there. I remember going out the south gate getting a hair cut.
This brings back some memories. I was stationed there in the mid 1980s. I was a Deputy Chief BEET member, among other things. It was one of my best assignments. I had PCS’d from Vandenberg AFB and it was a big change for us. Thanks for the video!
Columbus AFB was my first duty station after basic training in 1970.
It looks like the entire base has been rebuilt because I don’t recognize any of it in this video.
It looks much bigger and nicer.
Thanks for this. This was my first duty station in 1981. Hated the place at the time but I was just an e-3. Not bad looking back.
I didn't care for it, but it had it's benefits, as I reflect.
This was nice to see. I used to live there in the late 1980's. During this video, I thought you referenced Chanute A.F.B as well. Funny to hear as that is where my dad was stationed after Columbus. Really appreciate the video's as the base has changed drastically.
I actually stayed on Capitol Avenue, didn't see or hear you mention it.
Thank You
Elizabeth Hawkins
Thank you for posting this. My father was stationed at Columbus from around 70 to 76. We lived on Hamilton Ave. They definitely improved base housing beyond recognition. I went to Kindergarten next door to the bowling alley. I remember burying a time capsule at Freedom Park. It had pictures of my little league team and cub scout troops in it. I wonder if they ever dug it up? I remember the nursery you mention several times very well. I also remember the graveyard you talked about. I remember walking through Columbus Circle and cutting through some back yards to get there. I played in those woods all day during the summers. Thanks for helping kill some time during an extremely slow day at work and taking a stroll down memory lane.
Yogi B Yogi - the time capsule is supposed to be opened in 2026. It's still there between the softball fields.
Maestrohbill is it all officers, my family is done there. and want to be stationed here.
I was stationed there from 09 to 13. You passed my old house.
I remember the Club made an amazing artichoke sandwich. I didn't like it that much at CAFB, but it was peaceful
Lived on 134 Mississippi Avenue in Columbus mid-90’s.
I lived at 143 Vernon Ave from 1969 to 1973 (1st grade thru 4th). I remember the chapel and the cemetery but everything else has changed. My father said they tore down the old housing because of asbestos. Like Yogi, we also played in the woods all the time and probably encountered him. An interesting side note: Air Force kids attended Columbus public schools in town. In 1970 Columbus "desegregated" the schools but only Air Force kids were integrated with the local black kids (I attended Union Academy). The local white kids were not integrated. I didn't know this until about 5 years ago. This explains why I remember many of the black kids from Columbus but none of the white.
I lived there 1970-74.7-9 grades.Augusta Ave.Check Facebook.CAFB Brat of the 70's.
I was there, then, too. My younger sisters were bussed to black elementary schools that first fall, too. The high school (since re-named) actually was integrated that fall. The ratio was about 70/30. We got there in January, 1970. My first new friends were black AP students already attending the white high school. So, when desegregation happened that next fall, I had friends in several groups (typical of a military brat). We had more trouble between students and the administration than between black and white kids as I remember it. The administration did not appreciate that we kids wanted dual black/white royalty awards for at least the first year. We argued that people in the two groups did not know each other yet, and the black kids would win nothing because of that and sheer numbers. It wasn't fair to them. I still think that was a wise, compassionate choice
My wife taught reading at “Plum Grove Colored School” in 1970 when we were stationed at Columbus AFB. Many schools had not been integrated at the time.
I was in UPT class 82-06 here.
Class 86-06 for me... then T37 FAIP until Nov Sep 1989
7328B Topeka Dr. mid 80s!!!
at 2:06 the bilding whas tarde downe in 2016
is it all pilots?
Lived on Topeka in 2000