A more recent acquisition, delivered to the museum on 5 December 2007.

On display at the museum since early 1983.

Delivered to the USAF in 1953 as a C-45G (rebuilt from an AT-7). Converted to an RC-45G the following year, then to an RC-45H in 1958. Became N87681 in 1963 and went through several governmental owners. Was on display at the museum by September 1982, initially in camo markings as "44588" and coded "V". Later repainted in these authentic markings.

Salvaged from NAWS China Lake, CA and brought to the museum in 1980. For reasons unknown it has been fitted with a B-45C canopy.

has been on display at the Castle Air Museum as 'Thunderbird #6' for many years. In 2013 she was restored and repainted. The restoration was funded by 1972 TB solo pilot Steve Dwelle 'Thunderbird 5', hence tailnumber #5

parked in front of 412 TW HQ

part of the museum inventory, but parked at the corner of Rosamond Blvd, and Sparks Dr

This is ex N13744, former Hemet Valley Tanker 86. It came to the museum in 1993 and was initially displayed in its airtanker markings. By May 2000 that paint had been removed, and by Sep 2003 it had been restored in its original USAF markings as seen here.

MiG-killer : Capt. Howman and 1Lt. Kullman shot down a MiG-21 on Jan 8th, 1973. This was the last USAF air-to-air kill before the North Vietnamese signed the cease-fire agreement, which went into effect on Jan 29th, 1973

While in service with the USAF, this Albatross was loaned to Pan Am in 1969. It operated a weekly service as PA163 from Mombasa, Kenya to a satellite tracking station at Mahe, Seychelles, on a joint contract with the Philco Radio Corp. and the US government. It flew in bare metal as "0-17163", with a Pan Am logo on the nose. It was withdrawn from use on 3 Nov 1971, and stored at Long Beach, CA. It became N70725 in Sep 1977, and in 1987 it was restored to flying condition and flown to the Castle Air Museum, where it was restored in the markings seen here. The Albatross was first noted on display as such in Nov 1988.

This Phantom served with the Thunderbirds until December 1973, when it went to Edwards AFB for use an an NF-4E chase plane. Its last flight as such was on 21 March 1991, and it went to AMARC a few days later. It was delivered to the Castle Air Museum in January 1995 and placed on display as Thunderbird "6" in April of that year. It actually flew as such in 1972/1973.

In Mar 1957 this gigantic 10-engined B-36 was delivered to Chanute AFB for use as an instructional ground airframe. This lasted until 1970, when it was transferred to the United States Air Force Museum. They loaned the aircraft back to the Chanute AFB collection and it was placed on display there in Sep 1971, falsely painted "492065". In 1990 it was dismantled for transport to the Castle Air Museum, where it arrived on 27 Oct 1990, reportedly in 167 sections. It was stored there in dismantled condition until reassembly in 1993/1994. The work was completed in Oct 1994. The tail number 113730 is on the fin, but it is hard to read due to the flaking paint.

Ex N880L, acquired by the United States Air Force Museum in 1981 and loaned to the Castle Air Museum. It was placed on display in August of that year.

Painted in fake markings. This Invader is ex USAAF 41-39472. Struck off charge in August 1957, it became N86482 in 1963 and was illegally sold to the El Salvador Air Force as 601 in August 1969. It had been withdrawn from service by 1972 and was sold as N26VC in April 1974 and flown from El Salvador to San Diego, CA that same month. The Invader was eventually delivered to the Castle Air Museum on 26 October 1980, where it was first displayed as "24-6093". This was later changed to the markings seen here.

"Flight of the Phoenix" arrived at the museum on 15 December 1980.

In the early 1980s the Castle Air Museum added many aircraft to its inventory. "Hog Hauler" was one of them, and it arrived in August 1981.

This B-29 is a composite airframe. It is the fuselage of 44-61535 (the original Raz'n Hell), fitted with the nose section of 44-70064 and the wings of 44-84084. All three aircraft were stored at NAWS China Lake, CA for use as ground targets for weapons testing, until recovered and restored in 1980. Following the restoration the aircraft was initially painted as 44-70064, but by 1988 this had been changed to 44-61535. The "Raz'n Hell" nose art is only carried on the other side.

Ex USAAF 42-89678. On 12 Nov 1959 this Valiant was registered to Larry Trapp (Winamac, IN) as N63952, and cancelled on 2 May 1974. It was transferred to the United States Air Force Museum and loaned to the Castle Air Museum In the early 1980s.
In 1959 this aircraft was incorrectly registered as c/n 6978, which is also the fake serial carried on the tail in this photo. This number is strikingly similar to the last four digits of its former USAAF serial, and it may in fact be the result of a clerical error, made in 1959.