6/01/2009

May 29-31 – June 1, 2009 Planes and Animals and New Friends

On Friday, 29th, we scheduled a tour of Eielson Air Force Base which is about 20 miles southeast of Fairbanks.  This was their first tour of the year and we made reservations on Wednesday (and yes, we had to go thru a security clearance).

Lt. Hartnett was our guide (he is from PA).  We learned a lot about some of their activities here.  The only place where we could stop and take pictures was at Heritage Park.

Here is Andy next to a T-33.  When he was in the Air Force, this is what was used for training.

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 021 This is the POW/MIA monument:

 

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 006

This is the Airman’s Monument:

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 011

This is on the Airman’s Monument.  Notice the footprints on the left and right of the airman.  On the left, the plaque says “Those Who Came Before” and on the right, “Those Who Come After”:

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 026

This is the Unknown Airman/Soldier Monument:

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 049   The Avenue of the Flags:

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 008  

“Alaska is the most central place in the world, for aircraft, and that is true of Europe, Asia or North America. I believe in the future, he who holds Alaska will hold the world, and I think it is the most strategic place in the world”  Brigadier General Billy Mitchell 2/13/35

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 003

Other aircraft:

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 041

05-29-09 Eielson Air Force Base 029

What a wonderful tour.

This afternoon,  Andy did some work around the area and I did a little shopping (or course a stop to look at beads – :-))

Saturday was our work day.  One of our first visitors was Char and Ken.  We had communicated thru email and the Escapees Forum and it was great to meet and talk with them.  We are hoping to meet up later in this trip – maybe in the Kenai.

And we had a visitor in the evening.

 05-30-09 Creamers Field 008

05-30-09 Creamers Field 010

And another crane photo (The adults are the grey ones and the juveniles are the reddish brown):

05-28-09 Creamers Refuge 009

Sunday and today were work days for us - Slow days at the visitor center and Andy has been working real hard outdoors.

We will be doing more touring this week so stay tuned

No comments: