M&A - Randolph AFB TX - 2016

Randolph AFB TX 2016

Randolph AFB TX

Located at Universal City, Texas and off Route 78, Randolph Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, is under the jurisdiction of the 902nd Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and is the headquarters of AETC's Nineteenth Air Force and the home to the 12th Flight Training Wing (FTW) and 340th Flight Training Group. Randolph AFB is named after Captain William Millican Randolph, who was on the base naming committee at the time of his death in the crash of a Curtiss Hawk in 1928.

Today, the 12 FTW provides instructor pilot training and refresher training in the T-6 “Texan II”, T-38 “Talon” and T-1A “Jayhawk”. They bear the tailcode RA, of course standing for Randolph.

Randolph AFB is known as "the Showplace of the Air Force" because of the Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture in which all structures including hangars were constructed. The symbol of the base is a large water tower atop Building 100, housing the headquarters for Randolph's major flying unit. The 12th FTW With its distinctive architecture, the wing's headquarters has come to be known throughout the Air Force as "the Taj Mahal," or simply "The Taj".

Situated inside the main base, is the small heritage air park with an excellent representation of the training types once operated from the base. These aircraft are in excellent condition and are maintained in a well-presented display which affords good photographic opportunities, so if you have applied to visit the AFB, why not take some time to view and photograph these lovely preserved aircraft types.

Author & photography

Nigel Roling