The Air Force Armament Museum is a military aviation museum adjacent to Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida, dedicated to the display of Air Force armament. It is supported by the private, non-profit Air Force Armament Museum Foundation.
![]() GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon on display in front of the museum | |
Established | 1975 |
---|---|
Location | Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, Florida |
Coordinates | 30°27′59″N 86°33′42″W / 30.46625°N 86.56154°W |
Type | Military aviation museum |
Website | www |
History
editThe museum opened to the public on 22 June 1974 in a converted 1940s era chapel.[1][2] Two years later, the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation was established with the goal of constructing a new building.[3] The foundation faced significant public opposition in its early years driven by a referendum to appropriate county funding for the new building.[4] After the referendum failed, the original building was condemned and the museum was forced to close in 1981.[5][6]
A new 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) square foot building located outside the base's west gate was eventually funded entirely through private donations.[7][6] The new museum building opened on 15 November 1985.[8] Shortly thereafter, an exhibit on prisoners of war was inaugurated.[9] Starting in 1990, a number of aircraft were received in quick succession, with an SR-71 arriving that year, a B-52 in 1991, and a MiG-21 in 1992.[10][11][12] An exhibit about Air Force Special Operations Command was dedicated in 1996.[13]
By 2007, the museum began raising funds for an educational annex.[14] In 2019 and 2020, a P-51 and F-86 respectively were experimentally wrapped in vinyl.[15][16] Following decades of planning, an African American Military Heritage Hall – the first of four Quonset hut styled structures – opened to the public in February 2022.[17][18][19] The B-52 on display was repainted the following April.[20]
Exhibits
editA wide variety of bombs, missiles, and rockets are exhibited, including the newest air-to-air missile, the AMRAAM, and the GBU-28 bunker-buster developed for use during Operation Desert Storm. Other missiles include the Paveway series, Falcons, the Tomahawk, Mace, Hound Dog, radar-controlled, laser-controlled and several guided by a TV camera in the nose. Also on display is the GBU-43 MOAB, Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or by its nickname, "Mother of All Bombs", the world's largest conventional explosive weapon. A predecessor, the T-12 Cloudmaker 38,600 lb (17,500 kg) earthquake bomb, is displayed outside, while a Fat Man casing is indoors.[21] In addition, a BLU-82B was acquired in 2019.[22]
A gun vault displays a variety of weapons ranging from a 1903 Springfield rifle to the GAU-8, which is capable of shooting 6,000 rounds per minute. Featured are the Sikes Antique Pistol Collection, with over 180 handguns, including flintlocks, duelling pistols, Western six-shooters, Civil War pistols, and a wide variety of early military weaponry.[23][failed verification]
Programs
editThe museum hosts the Engineers for America education program, which involves a school classroom tour of the museum with basic engineering experiments led by teachers and volunteers.[24][25][26]
Collection
editAircraft on display
edit- Bell UH-1M Iroquois 66-15186[27]
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-83863[28]
- Boeing B-52G Stratofortress 58-0185, "El Lobo II"[29][30][31]
- Boeing RB-47H Stratojet 53-4296[32]
- Cavalier F-51D Mustang 68-15796[33]
- Cessna O-2A Skymaster 68-6864[34]
- Douglas TC-47B Skytrain 44-76486[35]
- Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 75-0288[36]
- General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon 80-0573[37]
- General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark 68-0058[38]
- Lockheed AC-130A Spectre 53-3129[39]
- Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star 49-0432[40]
- Lockheed F-104D Starfighter 57-1331[41]
- Lockheed MQM-105 Aquila – mock-up[citation needed]
- Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 61-7959[42]
- Lockheed T-33A 53-5947[43]
- Martin EB-57B Canberra 52-1516[44]
- McDonnell F-4C Phantom II 64-0817[45]
- McDonnell JF-101B Voodoo 56-0250[46]
- McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II 67-0452[47]
- McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle 74-0124[48]
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13 14[49]
- North American F-86F Sabre 52-5513[50]
- North American F-100C Super Sabre 54-1986[51]
- North American TB-25J Mitchell 44-30854[52]
- Northrop F-89D Scorpion 53-2610[53]
- Republic F-84F Thunderjet 51-9495[54]
- Republic F-105D Thunderchief 58-1155[55]
- Republic P-47N Thunderbolt 44-89320[56]
- Ryan BQM-34A Firebee[citation needed]
- Ryan BQM-34F Firebee 70-1410[citation needed]
- Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV 73-1652[57][58][59]
Missiles on display
edit- General Dynamics BGM-109A Tomahawk[60]
- Martin CGM-13 Mace 59-4860[61]
- North American AGM-28 Hound Dog 59-2794[citation needed]
- Republic-Ford JB-2 – on loan from the National Air and Space Museum[citation needed]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "Mission Reflected in Armament Museum". Pensacola News Journal. 23 June 1974. p. 1C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Chitwood, Jim (31 March 1981). "Valparaiso Considers Side Track to Museum". Pensacola Journal. p. 3C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Tennis, Bill (31 July 1976). "Sikes: Reprimand 'Public Hanging'". Pensacola Journal. p. B1. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Newell, Jeff (11 March 1980). "Both Sides of Armament Museum Debate Predict Victory". Pensacola Journal. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "West Florida Briefs". Pensacola Journal. 13 May 1981. p. 1C. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b Fifield, Margaret (3 November 1983). "Work on New Armaments Museum May Start in Spring". Pensacola Journal. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Air Force Foundation Sets Museum Plans". Pensacola News. 23 December 1982. p. 1D. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Fifield, Margaret (16 November 1985). "Armament Museum Opens Its Doors". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Donovan, Elizabeth (12 September 1986). "Eglin Museum to Honor Vietnam POWs, MIAs". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Lynn, Adam (29 November 1990). "Blackbird Folds Its Wings at Museum". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Tortorano, David (28 October 1991). "Bomber Finds Home at Museum". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "MiG Slips into Museum Under Cloud of Secrecy". Pensacola News Journal. Associated Press. 8 April 1992. p. 3B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Museum to Dedicate Air Commando Room". Pensacola News Journal. 10 October 1996. p. 1C. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Role Of the Air Force Aramament [sic] Museum Foundation". Air Force Armament Museum. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ King, Samuel (11 November 2019). "Wrap it up: vinyl adds new life to museum aircraft". Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Samuel, King (20 July 2020). "Wrap it up II: outdoor aircraft display gets vinyl treatment". Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "African American Military Heritage Hall". African American Military Heritage Society. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ Collins, Kimber (23 February 2022). "African American Heritage Hall opening at Air Force museum for BHM". News 5 WKRG. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ Tran-Ozuna, Tiffany (17 November 2020). "Air Force Armament Museum expands after more than three decades". WEAR. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Snyder, Michael (13 April 2022). "Air Force History on Display: B-52 Bomber Gets Facelift at Armament Museum". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Doman, Joan, compiler; Savoir, Timothy; and Jones, George, eds., Air Force Armament Museum, Air Force Armament Museum Foundation, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Reprint rights 2010 by The Creative Company, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 47025, p. 9.
- ^ Gentile, Dylan (16 October 2019). "Big Blue steals the show". 919th Special Operations Wing. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Gun Vault". Air Force Armament Museum. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ Doman, Joan, compiler, Savoir, Timothy and Jones, George, editors, Air Force Armament Museum, Air Force Armament Museum Foundation, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Reprint rights 2010 by The Creative Company, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 47025, inside back cover.
- ^ Cuttita, Chrissy (23 February 2009). "Nomads team up with local school to bring math, science to life at museum". Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Fifth Grade Science Initiative". Okaloosa County School District. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Bell UH-1M Iroquois". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Boeing B-17 G Model Flying Fortress". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Boeing B-52 G Model Stratofortress". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ Forst, Lee, "B-52G comes home to Eglin", Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Wednesday 17 July 1991.
- ^ Snyder, Michael (13 April 2022). "Air Force history on display: B-52 bomber gets facelift at Armament Museum". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Boeing B-47 Stratojet". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "North American P-51 Mustang". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Douglas AC-47 Spooky". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "A-10A Thunderbolt II". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Lockheed AC-130 Gunship". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Lockheed F-104D Starfighter". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Martin EB-57B Canberra". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "McDonnell F-101B Voodoo". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - McDonnell RF-4C-34-MC Phantom II, s/n 67-0452 USAF, c/n 3003". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "North American F-86F Sabre". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "North American F-100C Super Sabre". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "North American B-25 Mitchell". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Northrop F-89 D Model Scorpion". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Republic F-84F Thunderstreak". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Republic F-105 Thunderchief". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Republic P-47 Thunderbolt". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ Getlin, Noel (5 September 2008). "Hurlburt MH-53 flies last mission to where it is displayed at the Air Force Armament Museum" (PDF). Eglin Dispatch. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Lauren (10 September 2008). "PAVE LOW dedicated into AF Armament Museum". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "BGM-109A Missile". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "CGM-13B Missle [sic] B Series". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
Bibliography
edit- "Airman Refurbishes Museum Aircraft". Hilltop Times. AFPN. 30 September 2004. p. 12. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- Museum News, "SPAD-13 and Air Force Armament Museum", Aerospace Historian, Air Force Historical Foundation, Manhattan, Kansas, Spring/March 1976, Vol. 23, no. 1, p. 50.
- Newell, Jeff (11 March 1981). "State Closes Escape Hatch on Museum". Pensacola Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- Nichols, Gary (28 January 2005). "It's a Blast: Air Force Armament Museum". Gosport. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- O'Connell, Marc (6 December 1978). "Board Mulls Amount of Museum Bond". Pensacola Journal. p. 2C. Retrieved 21 June 2022.