CA-62: Rice Army Airfield (0651)

Apron (parking and maintenance area) of former Rice Army Airfield.

Looking up the Rice airfield on the web reveals three interesting facts. One is that the airfield had been one of about a dozen airfields that had been used in the desert for training during WW II, and then abandoned. A second was that the airfield was much larger than one would guess just based on the immediately visible evidence from this viewpoint. The third was the reminder of how permanent is construction in the desert. A look at the satellite view (see map) will show this large concrete pad, plus some nearby abandoned buildings, plus the outline of very long runways that were asphalt (see adjacent picture).

Though this and related pictures may look drab, I document these areas because of the importance of reflecting on what it was like to be here in the vast and empty desert, learning to fly and preparing for combat missions (and possible death) in WW II.

Note that plans have been announced to convert the former airfield to a solar energy plant