The Walnut Ridge Air Field may best be known for the post-war aircraft salvage operation.
America produced some 294,000 Warbird Aircraft for WWII. Of that number, 21,583 were lost in the U.S. in test flights, ferrying, training accidents, etc. Another 43,581 were lost en route to the war and in overseas operations.
Beginning in late 1944, domestic aircraft declared surplus were turned over to the Reconstruction Finance Corp. (RFC). The RFC established depots around the country to store and sell surplus aircraft.
Between 1945 and June 1947, the RFC, WAC (War Assets Corporation) and the WAA (War Assets Administration) processed approximately 61,600 WWII aircraft, of which 34,700 were sold for flyable purposes and 26,900, primarily combat types, were sold for scrapping.
Most of the transports and trainers could be used in the civilian fleet, and trainers sold for $450 to $2,400. The fighters and bombers were of little peacetime use, although some were sold.
Typical prices for surplus aircraft were:
For a minimal fee, many aircraft were transferred to schools for educational purposes, and some, to communities for memorial use. A Boy Scout Troop bought a B-17 for $350.
The WWII Aircraft Boneyards
In 1945 the RFC established five large storage, sales and scrapping centers for Army Air Forces aircraft. Tens of thousands of aircraft were flown from overseas bases to these centers.
These were located at:
A sixth facility for storing, selling and scrapping Navy and Marine aircraft was located at Clinton, OK.
General aircraft sales were conducted from these six centers for a short time; however, the idea for long term storage was soon discarded, considering the storage cost of around $20 per month per aircraft, and in June, 1946, the remaining aircraft, except those at Altus, were put up for scrap bid.
It is estimated that about 10,000 warbirds were flown to Walnut Ridge in 1945 and 1946 for storage and sale. Some sources report the number to be over 11,000. It is reported that at least 67 of the 118 B-32 Heavy Bombers built were flown to Walnut Ridge, many straight from the assembly line. Of the remaining B-32’s, at least 37, perhaps more were flown to Kingman.
A Walnut Ridge institution, Southern Baptist College, purchased two of the transport aircraft stored at Walnut Ridge, a C-47 and a C-46. The exact purchase price for these is unknown, but is believed to have been around $600 to $800 each.
As sales dwindled, the price of remaining BT-15 trainers at Walnut Ridge was dropped to $250.00 each.
Four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-five (4,865) of the aircraft stored at Walnut Ridge, primarily fighters and bombers, were sold to the Texas Railway Equipment Company in September 1946, to be scrapped. The bid was $1,838,798.19 for the entire lot. Later, the U.S. Air Force purchased spare parts from these aircraft, paying Texas Railway Equipment $3.5 million.
Two giant smelters were soon constructed on the southwest corner of the ramp, in which the scrap aluminum was melted, and then formed into huge ingots for shipping.
The aircraft at Altus were put up for scrap bid in 1947, and sold on May 12, 1947, to Esperado Mining Company of Walnut Ridge. (Probably owned in whole or part by Texas Railway Equipment Company, the company that scrapped the warbirds at Walnut Ridge.)
By late 1947 scrapping had been completed at Clinton and the big five scrapping facilities, except Altus, which finished by mid 1948.
The tens of thousands of proud warbirds that had survived the enemy fighter planes and fierce anti-aircraft fire could not escape the smelters at Albuquerque, Altus, Kingman, Ontario, Walnut Ridge and Clinton.
America produced some 294,000 Warbird Aircraft for WWII. Of that number, 21,583 were lost in the U.S. in test flights, ferrying, training accidents, etc. Another 43,581 were lost en route to the war and in overseas operations.
Beginning in late 1944, domestic aircraft declared surplus were turned over to the Reconstruction Finance Corp. (RFC). The RFC established depots around the country to store and sell surplus aircraft.
Between 1945 and June 1947, the RFC, WAC (War Assets Corporation) and the WAA (War Assets Administration) processed approximately 61,600 WWII aircraft, of which 34,700 were sold for flyable purposes and 26,900, primarily combat types, were sold for scrapping.
Most of the transports and trainers could be used in the civilian fleet, and trainers sold for $450 to $2,400. The fighters and bombers were of little peacetime use, although some were sold.
Typical prices for surplus aircraft were:
- BT-13, $ 450
- P-38, 1,250
- AT-6, 1,500
- A-26, 2,000
- P-51, 3,500
- B-25, 8,250
- B-17, 13,750
- B-24, 13,750
- B-32, 32,500
For a minimal fee, many aircraft were transferred to schools for educational purposes, and some, to communities for memorial use. A Boy Scout Troop bought a B-17 for $350.
The WWII Aircraft Boneyards
In 1945 the RFC established five large storage, sales and scrapping centers for Army Air Forces aircraft. Tens of thousands of aircraft were flown from overseas bases to these centers.
These were located at:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Altus, OK
- Kingman, AZ
- Ontario, CA
- Walnut Ridge, AR
A sixth facility for storing, selling and scrapping Navy and Marine aircraft was located at Clinton, OK.
General aircraft sales were conducted from these six centers for a short time; however, the idea for long term storage was soon discarded, considering the storage cost of around $20 per month per aircraft, and in June, 1946, the remaining aircraft, except those at Altus, were put up for scrap bid.
It is estimated that about 10,000 warbirds were flown to Walnut Ridge in 1945 and 1946 for storage and sale. Some sources report the number to be over 11,000. It is reported that at least 67 of the 118 B-32 Heavy Bombers built were flown to Walnut Ridge, many straight from the assembly line. Of the remaining B-32’s, at least 37, perhaps more were flown to Kingman.
A Walnut Ridge institution, Southern Baptist College, purchased two of the transport aircraft stored at Walnut Ridge, a C-47 and a C-46. The exact purchase price for these is unknown, but is believed to have been around $600 to $800 each.
As sales dwindled, the price of remaining BT-15 trainers at Walnut Ridge was dropped to $250.00 each.
Four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-five (4,865) of the aircraft stored at Walnut Ridge, primarily fighters and bombers, were sold to the Texas Railway Equipment Company in September 1946, to be scrapped. The bid was $1,838,798.19 for the entire lot. Later, the U.S. Air Force purchased spare parts from these aircraft, paying Texas Railway Equipment $3.5 million.
Two giant smelters were soon constructed on the southwest corner of the ramp, in which the scrap aluminum was melted, and then formed into huge ingots for shipping.
The aircraft at Altus were put up for scrap bid in 1947, and sold on May 12, 1947, to Esperado Mining Company of Walnut Ridge. (Probably owned in whole or part by Texas Railway Equipment Company, the company that scrapped the warbirds at Walnut Ridge.)
By late 1947 scrapping had been completed at Clinton and the big five scrapping facilities, except Altus, which finished by mid 1948.
The tens of thousands of proud warbirds that had survived the enemy fighter planes and fierce anti-aircraft fire could not escape the smelters at Albuquerque, Altus, Kingman, Ontario, Walnut Ridge and Clinton.
Consolidated B-32 Dominators awaiting the smelter at RFC Walnut Ridge, 1946 (Serial 42-108562 visible)
