Eglin Test Site C5

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C5, also known as Eglin Auxiliary Airfield #1 and Wagner Field, is one of Eglin Air Force Base's auxiliary airfields constructed during WWII for the Army Air Force. Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's “Raiders” trained here from March 9-5, 1942 for their historic carrier-based B-25 bomber raid on Japan. The original configuration of the airfield was triangular in shape; the north-south runway was extended sometime between 1949 and 1969.

Sometime after 1949, an area next to the southeastern corner of the field was prepared as a German V-2 test area. A metal launch structure was constructed in this area to support the tests. This structure still exists.

Between August 1980 and October 1980, C5 was used as the Operation Credible Sport program test site. Credible Sport, in response to the failed first attempt to release the Iranian hostages, involved modifying three C-130H airframes for short landings and take-offs. The aircraft were to land in Amjadien Stadium, which was located across the street from the American Embassy in Iran, airlift out the captured Delta Force personnel and hostages, and take them to the USS Nimitz waiting in the Persian Gulf. To accomplish this, the airframes were modified with various avionics and 30 rockets.

The first Credible Sport plane, YMC-130H Credible Sport #1, flew a total of four test flights before crashing on 29 October 1980 during a demonstration. The accident was caused by firing the retrorockets before the plane touched the landing strip. This in turn caused the plane to lose lift and drop to the ground. The destroyed airframe was buried at the airfield. Credible Sport was not implemented due to the Algiers Accords of January 19, 1981.

Today, C5 is used as a satellite field for airdrops of troops and equipment.

www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Eglin.htm#wag...



www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKCl3lfAx1Q
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagner_Field
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   30°40'2"N   86°21'18"W

Comments

  • This appears to be the field where Doolittle's Raider's trained, according to statements made by USAF rep's at the 2007 Eglin Open House/Airshow. Some details can be seen on the following link- http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Eglin.htm
This article was last modified 14 years ago