Castle Air Museum

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.

The B-45 was the first jet bomber put into production. It was designed to replace the WWII B-25s and B-26s. It served only from 1948 to 1958. This aircraft displayed at Castle Air Museum was the eighth production Tornado and holds the distinction of being oldest jet in the Museum. After serving in the USAF, this plane was used by the Navy as a drone controller, and later as a photographic ground target at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where it was recovered in pieces and restored here at Castle.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

A long range, all-weather interceptor, the CF-100 was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Canada. One of the largest fighters every built, the Royal Canadian Air Force used it to defend against a trans-polar bomber attack. It was first produced in 1950 and by the 1970s was used to simulate enemy attacks and thus served to test North American air defenses. The last ones were retired in 1981. This one was flown to Castle in January of 1982 and was a gift of the Canadian government.

This aircraft is one of 29 Model 18 Lodestars ordered by South African Airways in the late 1930s. War broke out before they were delivered in 1940-41 and all but one went straight to the South African Air Force where they were used as intermediate range personnel transports, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of 3. The Lodestars were assigned to 5 Wing based at Air Force Station Germiston. It was returned to South African Airways in 1944, registered as ZS-ASU and named "Piet Retief." It was withdrawn from SAA service in October 1950 and sold to East African Airways. The USAAF operated Lodestars during World War II, some taken over from civil airlines as C-56 and C-57, some purchased new as C-60s. The US Navy also purchased some under designation R-50. The aircraft at Castle Air Museum displays WWII markings of the South African Air Force.

This aircraft is one of 29 Model 18 Lodestars ordered by South African Airways in the late 1930s. War broke out before they were delivered in 1940-41 and all but one went straight to the South African Air Force where they were used as intermediate range personnel transports, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of 3. The Lodestars were assigned to 5 Wing based at Air Force Station Germiston. It was returned to South African Airways in 1944, registered as ZS-ASU and named "Piet Retief." It was withdrawn from SAA service in October 1950 and sold to East African Airways. The USAAF operated Lodestars during World War II, some taken over from civil airlines as C-56 and C-57, some purchased new as C-60s. The US Navy also purchased some under designation R-50. The aircraft at Castle Air Museum displays WWII markings of the South African Air Force.

This aircraft is one of 29 Model 18 Lodestars ordered by South African Airways in the late 1930s. War broke out before they were delivered in 1940-41 and all but one went straight to the South African Air Force where they were used as intermediate range personnel transports, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of 3. The Lodestars were assigned to 5 Wing based at Air Force Station Germiston. It was returned to South African Airways in 1944, registered as ZS-ASU and named "Piet Retief." It was withdrawn from SAA service in October 1950 and sold to East African Airways. The USAAF operated Lodestars during World War II, some taken over from civil airlines as C-56 and C-57, some purchased new as C-60s. The US Navy also purchased some under designation R-50. The aircraft at Castle Air Museum displays WWII markings of the South African Air Force.

This aircraft is one of 29 Model 18 Lodestars ordered by South African Airways in the late 1930s. War broke out before they were delivered in 1940-41 and all but one went straight to the South African Air Force where they were used as intermediate range personnel transports, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of 3. The Lodestars were assigned to 5 Wing based at Air Force Station Germiston. It was returned to South African Airways in 1944, registered as ZS-ASU and named "Piet Retief." It was withdrawn from SAA service in October 1950 and sold to East African Airways. The USAAF operated Lodestars during World War II, some taken over from civil airlines as C-56 and C-57, some purchased new as C-60s. The US Navy also purchased some under designation R-50. The aircraft at Castle Air Museum displays WWII markings of the South African Air Force.