The design of the Convair B-58 Hustler bombers began in 1968 and the planes went active in March 1960. This B-58 on display in San Antonio, TX was the 40th B-58 built. It was retired after its landing gear was damaged while landing at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. By January 1970, the surviving B-58 bombers were retired from use.
These B-58 Hustlers set several speed records for its class. The Air Force's Kelly Field in San Antonio was an important maintenance center repairing and upgrading these planes. This B-58 on display is near the entrance to the now repurposed Kelly Field, but they both are still remembered as key contributors to the employment opportunities and growth of San Antonio, Texas.
There are two plaques near the cockpit of this B-58 Hustler bomber that reference the strategic role of the B-58 planes. The top plaque tells the history of the B-58 bombers while the second plaque tells of the support the 2954th Combat Logistics Support Squadron gave to make this airplane into this display aircraft.
The top plaque on display reads as follows:
"(Seal of Kelly Air Force Base, Texas)
B-58 Hustler No. 59-2437
Dedicated 17 November 1991
to the
Kelly Field Heritage Foundation
by
Lt. Gen (RET) Thomas McMullen,
MAJ Gen (RET) Lewis G. Curtis
and
MAJ Gen Richard D. Smith
The B-58 was the world's first supersonic
strategic bomber and set numerous
records over its ten years of operation.
Designed under the weapons system
concept, the B-58 represented a leap
into the future. The challenge of
managing the B-58 spurred creation of a
new directorate at Kelly AFB, a key step
in the fundamental revision of Air Force
management practices."
The second plaque reads as follows:
"(Seal of Kelly Air Force Base, Texas)
In gratitude for the countless
hours spent turning a B-58
shell into the gallant bomber
display here, the Kelly Field
Heritage Foundation salutes
the men and women of the 2954th
Combat Logistics Support
Squadron for their skill,
dedication, and hard work."
Link to the B-58 Hustler Association website in which this plane is included:
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Link to the Port San Antonio website focused on this plane:
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Link to Wikipedia site about the B-58 bomber:
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