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FS2004 Scenery--Dyess AFB, TX, USA. Dyess Air Force located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Abilene, Texas. The base is named after Lt Col William Edwin Dyess, a native of Albany, Texas, who was captured by the Japanese on Bataan in April 1942. Dyess escaped in April 1943 and fought with guerilla forces on Mindanao until evacuated by submarine in July 1943. During retraining in the United States, his P-38 Lightning caught fire in flight on 23 December 1943. He refused to bail out over a populated area and died in the crash of his P-38. Dyess AFB is a 6409-acre base with over 13,000 military and civilian people. It is home to the 7th Bomb Wing, which consists of four groups. Two squadrons, the 9th and 28th Bomb Squadrons, fly the B-1B. In addition, the 28th Bomb Squadron is the Air Force schoolhouse for all B-1B aircrew members. By John Stinstrom.