0286 on the move!

After nearly 14 years sitting atop of a pedestal at the entrance of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, FB-111A 68-0286 has been moved to a new location. On Thursday, August 4, 2005, the FB-111A and B-47E on display in Plattsburgh were moved across Route 9 to a new display ground which will be called Clyde Lewis Airpark. The airpark, located next to the entrance of the old base is to honor Clyde Lewis, who almost single-handedly brought the Air Force to Plattsburgh in the 1950s. Mr. Clyde Lewis, a local attorney and former Army Air Corps pilot has been Plattsburgh AFB biggest fan and supporter. He was chairman of the Plattsburgh Air Base Liaison committee and honorary wing commander. The 92-year-old Harvard law school graduate has been an active part of Plattsburgh AFB since its inception when he headed a committee destined to put an Air Force base in Plattsburgh. Mr. Lewis served in Europe during World War II as a B-17 pilot and lacked only one mission to give him two complete tours in his 20 months there. After the war he became active in veteran's affairs and served as national commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1949 and 1950. He is also a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Malta.

In 1951, Mr. Lewis was approached by Plattsburgh Mayor John Tyrell to head a committee to look into the feasibility of establishing a military unit on the site of the old Plattsburgh Barracks, then occupied by Champlain College. They had learned that General Curtis E. LeMay and the Strategic Air Command were very much interested in the site if the property could be "recaptured" for military use from the state of New York. Mr. Lewis made 18 trips in 12 months to Washington, D.C. in 1952 and 1953 to arrange the establishment of the base. Ground-breaking ceremonies took place on January 29, 1954. Formerly Champlain College, Plattsburgh AFB was first occupied by 24 maintenance, law enforcement and firefighting specialists with its first base commander, Lt. Col. Richard H. Hackford.

On December 20, 1983, Clyde Lewis received what he called "the best Christmas present ever" from Colonel George W. Larson Jr., 380th Bomb Wing commander, a ride in an FB-111A. Mr. Lewis' pilot for the two-hour flight was Major Raymond Wilson, B flight commander and an instructor pilot in the 528th Bomb Squadron.

The following photos depict the move of 68-0286 from its previous location at the entrance of former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. Photos taken by Todd Munsell.

Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.