Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Pyote Army Airfield In Wold War II [Paperback]

Thomas E. Alexander (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . a fascinating read for the World War II history buff." -- Bryan-College Station Eagle

"Readers interested in learning more about America's home front during World War II should consider this book for their personal libraries." -- Journal of America's Military Past

"a fascinating story." -- Books-On-Line

About the Author

THOMAS E. ALEXANDER, a commissioner with the Texas Historical Commission, is the author of three other books on Texas military history, including The Wings of Change: The Army Air Force Experience in Texas During World War II, published by McWhiney Foundation Press in 2003. He lives in Kerrville.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: State House Press (April 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880510901
• ISBN-13: 978-1880510902
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas E. Alexander is the author of four books on Texas military history and a new book entitled Stanley Marcus: The Relentless Reign of a Merchant Prince. His first book, The Stars Were Big and Bright, Vol. I, was named "Publication of the Year" by the San Antonio Conservation Society in 2001. His fourth book The One and Only Rattlesnake Bomber Base received the Rupert Richardson Award from the West Texas Historical Association as the "Best Book on West Texas History" in 2006.

He is a former U.S. Air Force officer and rancher and is a graduate of the University of Colorado. He also holds a Masters Degree in Military Studies. He retired as Executive Vice President of Neiman Marcus after nearly twenty years of service to the company.

Alexander was reappointed to a second six year term as a Commissioner on the Texas Historical Commission by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2009. He received the History Award Medal from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2007.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Bare Land to 40,000 People, to a Historical Marker, May 11, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Pyote Army Airfield In Wold War II (Paperback)

The rise of Air Power in World War II is a story that is unprecedented in the United States. From ordering 435 airplanes in 1939, the US was to build 300,000 airplanes between July 1940 and August 1945. Planes are worthless without crews and the training organization expanded accordingly. Little Pyote Texas (population 100) was selected to be the site of a training base.

Texas was considered to be an ideal place for a training site. Lots of land, not so many people, low elevation (relative to Nevada, Wyoming, etc.) so air is denser, good flying weather most of the time. An Army base with a few hundred people would have done great things for Pyote businesses. No one expected 40,000 people.

This is the details of what happened at Pyote (and at many other sites around the west) as the Army Air Force expanded. It includes everything from the problems of inspecting the local restaurants for sanitation, to disposing of the thousands of rattlesnakes upset by the building of the base, to finally todays state of abandonded concrete and a historical market.

It's a fascinating story.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of a major military bomber airfield, June 5, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Pyote Army Airfield In Wold War II (Paperback)

Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Peyote Army Airfield In World War II by Thomas E. Alexander (a commissioner with the Texas Historical Commission) is the story of a major military bomber airfield that was established in a remote corner of West Texas in 1942. The base was nicknamed after the western diamondback rattlesnake because of their massive presence during the construction of the Peyote Army Airfield. Eventual the airfield expanded to include nearly three thousand acres of Texas. Rattlesnake Bomber Base is the story of this World War II microcosm that is fairly representative of what was happening to suddenly established and burgeoning military bases all over the country as a result of the pressures, needs, and demands of America's participation on the battlefields of the world. A very strongly recommended addition to World War II Military History library collections and supplemental studies lists, readers will encounter colorful characters and gain informed insights into how such feats as the establishment and maintenance of an American-based bomber facility and training ground was achieved.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars information of oil fields and area aroun winkler county Texas, March 2, 2009

By 

Billie J. Spencer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Pyote Army Airfield In Wold War II (Paperback)

This book I received about the rattlesnake air base during ww2 was very interinsting. Also the book on history of Winkler County was as good as the airbase book, bothwere shiped when I was told they would be.