Here’s how White Settlement cops will salute 80 years of manufactured military aircraft
White Settlement police officers will soon wear commemorative badges honoring one of the biggest employers in town.
That’s because White Settlement police in coordination with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Lockheed Martin Corp. have commissioned a police badge and coin set to highlight the 80 years of partnership between the city of White Settlement and Air Force Plant #4, as it relates to military aircraft production.
The new badges will be worn by police officers observing the special milestone of aviation history in North Texas.
“As I hear the sounds of freedom buzzing overhead in our city, I know firsthand how important Lockheed Martin and Air Force Plant #4 are for our country and the freedoms we stand for,” said White Settlement Mayor Ronald A. White in a news release. “This commemorative badge and coin highlights how much our hometown cares for the outstanding work that is being done at the facility.”
The special commemorative badge contains the following elements to celebrate 80 years of aircraft innovation:
▪ B-24 Liberator
▪ F-16 Fighting Falcon
▪ F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter
▪ 1942-2022 Aircraft Manufacturing
▪ United States Air Force Plant #4
The coin also will highlight the partnership with Naval Air Station – Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and the military community.
“Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is a vital partner for our community with billions of dollars of positive economic impact to North Texas,” said White Settlement City Manager Jeffrey James in the news release. “With the more than 18,000 employees that either live or pass through our community, we have the deepest respect and admiration for the work they do to protect our national interests while preserving our freedom.”
At a press conference Wednesday morning, White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook said that with the aviation history in the area and the number of people in the area who worked for Lockheed, the commemorative badge made sense.
“They’re producing the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft in the world that again, you know, from a free world perspective, this guarantees our liberties as United States Americans,” Cook said.
Air Force Plant #4 is a U.S. government-owned and contractor-operated defense manufacturing facility. The plant shares access to the runways and support facilities at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, formerly Carswell Air Force Base.
Construction of Air Force Plant #4 began in 1941, and the first B-24 Liberator Bomber rolled off the production line less than a year later in 1942, built by Consolidated Aircraft Co. (later Convair).
Over 3,000 B-24s were constructed in North Texas to support World War II. White Settlement became known as “Liberator Village” due to the government housing units spread across the city. The B-24 Liberator holds the record as the world’s most produced heavy bomber, with more than 18,500 planes built across the country.
In 1953, General Dynamics took over operation of the facility where a variety of aircraft were produced over the years, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the most formidable military fighters in the world and still in operation today.
Lockheed Corp. (which became Lockheed Martin in 1995) assumed operations of the plant where F-16s and center fuselages for the F-22 Raptors were produced in 1992.
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is being produced on the assembly line as the world’s most advanced stealth strike fighter.
“I want to recognize the incredible partnership that we have with Lockheed Martin, their force protection team, and employees that protect our democracy through defense production of military assets,” said Cook said in the news release. “This new badge will be worn with the utmost distinction, reverence, and honor of our defense contractor community.”
This story was originally published November 2, 2022 at 9:56 AM.
