Roswell in Chaves County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Walker Air Force Base

1941-1967

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 10, 2017

1. Walker Air Force Base Marker

Inscription. Roswell Army Air Field was established in 1941 and renamed after New Mexico native Brig. Gen. Kenneth Walker in 1948. Once the Strategic Air Command’s largest base, its bomber fleet and Atlas missiles were key deterrents during the early years of the Cold War. WAFB closed in 1967 and became the Roswell International Air Center, home to public and private entities. Two world record free-fall parachute jumps took place here, including Alan Eustace’s 135,890-foot descent, which reached a speed of 822 miles per hour, in 2014.

Erected 2015 by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. (Marker Number 741.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 33° 19.838′ N, 104° 30.415′ W. Marker is in Roswell, New Mexico, in Chaves County. It is at the intersection of Relief Route and South Main Street (U.S. 285), on the right when traveling east on Relief Route. Marker is located at a pull-out on the south side of the road, west of US 285. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roswell NM 88203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Roswell (approx. 1.7 miles away); Home of the James Phelps White Family

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(approx. 4.6 miles away); New Mexico Navy Veterans Monument (approx. 4.7 miles away); a different marker also named Roswell (approx. 4.7 miles away); Roswell’s First General Store and Post Office (approx. 4.7 miles away); Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (approx. 4.7 miles away); Chaves County Court House (approx. 4.7 miles away); Justice in the Wild West (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roswell.

<i>Rear of:</i> Walker Air Force Base Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 10, 2017

2. Rear of: Walker Air Force Base Marker

Back of Marker
Points of Interest
New Mexico's Historic Markers typically have a map on the back side showing the location of other OSHM's. This is an excellent source of information when exploring for other Historical Markers and locations.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 10, 2017

3. Walker Air Force Base Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,372 times since then and 72 times this year. Last updated on July 6, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 15, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.