In a remote corner of West Texas in 1942, the dreaded western
diamondback rattlesnake was awarded the unique distinction of
having a mighty airfield named in its honor.
Although the installation originally bore the official title of Pyote
Army Airfield, the massive quantity of serpents encountered during
the construction of the base quickly earned it the nickname of "The
Rattlesnake Bomber Base." For the thousands of military men and
women who served on the airfield and the additional thousands of
civilians who worked there, what is now only a ghostly ruin will always
be a vibrant and undying monument to a brief time when men and
snakes and giant silvery bombers all came together on the West
Texas desert to share a legendary chapter of American history.
This book tells the story of what happened when an American
bomber base aptly named for a serpent arose, Brigadoon-like, from
the sun-baked caliche desert located just east of the fabled Pecos
River and just west of nearly every place else. Although the huge
airfield was eventually to sprawl over nearly three thousand acres of
Texas hardscrabble, its important and colorful history should by no
means be considered merely a regional wartime episode. What
happened at Pyote, Texas, before, during, and after World War II
represents instead a microcosm of what took place all across the
North American continent.
_________________________________________________________
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.
What people are saying about this book
"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
For a review of this book, see the August 2006 issue of the Southwestern
Historical Review.
Listed on Military Trader's Winter Reading Recommendations 2006.
". . . a fascinating read for the World War II history buff."—Bryan-College
Station Eagle
"If you want to learn more about the war efforts in Texas during World
War II, get a copy of Rattlesnake Bomber Base —you'll get your money's
worth. It's a good book to read just for the fun of reading."—Mexia Daily
News
". . . well researched, smoothly written resource."—Glenn M. Busset,
Manhattan Mercury
"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."—Midwest Book Review
"a fascinating story."—Books-On-Line, www.books-on-line.com
Other World War II Titles
Winner of the 2006 Rupert Richardson Award for the Best Book on West Texas History presented by the West Texas Historical Association.
