Brian Norwood Art

The images on this page show the construction of the metal sculpture "Fortress on the Plains".  This life-size representation of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber is intended to honor the men, women and aircraft that served in Hobbs and throughout the world.  It stands 19 feet tall at the tail and stretches for 82 feet from end-to-end.  It was constructed from two sheets of 10ft. by 40ft. 1/4 inch steel plate and supported with 6 inch square by 1/2 inch thick steel tubing. 

"Fortress on the Plains" was officially dedicated at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month--Veteran's Day 2008!

Hobbs Army Air Field was one of many training bases constructed by the U.S. Army Air Corps (later the Army Air Force and eventually a separate branch of service, the U.S. Air Force) during the  Second World War.   Originally a bombardier  training base, its mission soon became that of training pilots to fly the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress".  

"It was a dream of mine to pay homage to the men, women and aircraft who served at HAAF, and I feel honored to have been given that opportunity...."

 "Fortress on the Plains" was featured on the cover of the Winter 2008 issue of "Airpower History" the membership magazine of the Air Force Historical Foundation.

To see "Fortress on the Plains", travel on New Mexico Highway 18 north of Hobbs.  The sculpture sits 500 feet west of the highway, just north of the entrance to Harry McAdams Park and Ocotillo Golf Course.

(Harry McAdams flew nearly 60  missions as a bombardier aboard B-17's. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with nine oak-leaf clusters and a Presidential Unit Citation.  Following his return from combat, he served as an instructor at Hobbs Army Air Field until the war's end.  He later served southeastern New Mexico as a state Senator.)