Air Force Armament Museum
GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon on display in front of the museum
Air Force Armament Museum is located in Florida
Air Force Armament Museum
Location within Florida
Established1975 (1975)
LocationEglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, Florida
Coordinates30°27′59″N 86°33′42″W / 30.46625°N 86.56154°W / 30.46625; -86.56154
TypeMilitary aviation museum
Websitewww.afarmamentmuseum.com

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.

History

The 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]

Exhibits

A 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.[20] In addition, a BLU-82B was acquired in 2019.[21]

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.[22]

Programs

The 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.[23][24][25]

Collection

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Aircraft on display

Missiles on display

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Mission Reflected in Armament Museum". Pensacola News Journal. 23 June 1974. p. 1C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Chitwood, Jim (31 March 1981). "Valparaiso Considers Side Track to Museum". Pensacola Journal. p. 3C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Tennis, Bill (31 July 1976). "Sikes: Reprimand 'Public Hanging'". Pensacola Journal. p. B1. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Newell, Jeff (11 March 1980). "Both Sides of Armament Museum Debate Predict Victory". Pensacola Journal. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "West Florida Briefs". Pensacola Journal. 13 May 1981. p. 1C. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 Fifield, Margaret (3 November 1983). "Work on New Armaments Museum May Start in Spring". Pensacola Journal. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Air Force Foundation Sets Museum Plans". Pensacola News. 23 December 1982. p. 1D. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Fifield, Margaret (16 November 1985). "Armament Museum Opens Its Doors". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Donovan, Elizabeth (12 September 1986). "Eglin Museum to Honor Vietnam POWs, MIAs". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Lynn, Adam (29 November 1990). "Blackbird Folds Its Wings at Museum". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Tortorano, David (28 October 1991). "Bomber Finds Home at Museum". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "MiG Slips into Museum Under Cloud of Secrecy". Pensacola News Journal. Associated Press. 8 April 1992. p. 3B. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Museum to Dedicate Air Commando Room". Pensacola News Journal. 10 October 1996. p. 1C. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ King, Samuel (11 November 2019). "Wrap it up: vinyl adds new life to museum aircraft". Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Samuel, King (20 July 2020). "Wrap it up II: outdoor aircraft display gets vinyl treatment". Eglin Air Force Base. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "African American Military Heritage Hall". African American Military Heritage Society. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  18. ↑ Collins, Kimber (23 February 2022). "African American Heritage Hall opening at Air Force museum for BHM". News 5 WKRG. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  19. ↑ Tran-Ozuna, Tiffany (17 November 2020). "Air Force Armament Museum expands after more than three decades". WEAR. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Gentile, Dylan (16 October 2019). "Big Blue steals the show". 919th Special Operations Wing. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  22. ↑ "Gun Vault". Air Force Armament Museum. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ "Fifth Grade Science Initiative". Okaloosa County School District. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Bell UH-1M Iroquois". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "Boeing B-17 G Model Flying Fortress". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  28. ↑ "Boeing B-52 G Model Stratofortress". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  29. ↑ Forst, Lee, "B-52G comes home to Eglin", Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Wednesday 17 July 1991.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ "Boeing B-47 Stratojet". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  32. ↑ "North American P-51 Mustang". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  34. ↑ "Douglas AC-47 Spooky". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  35. ↑ "A-10A Thunderbolt II". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  36. ↑ "General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  37. ↑ "General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "Lockheed AC-130 Gunship". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  39. ↑ "Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  40. ↑ "Lockheed F-104D Starfighter". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  41. ↑ "Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "Martin EB-57B Canberra". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  44. ↑ "McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  45. ↑ "McDonnell F-101B Voodoo". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  46. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - McDonnell RF-4C-34-MC Phantom II, s/n 67-0452 USAF, c/n 3003". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  47. ↑ "McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  48. ↑ "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  49. ↑ "North American F-86F Sabre". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  50. ↑ "North American F-100C Super Sabre". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  51. ↑ "North American B-25 Mitchell". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  52. ↑ "Northrop F-89 D Model Scorpion". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  53. ↑ "Republic F-84F Thunderstreak". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  54. ↑ "Republic F-105 Thunderchief". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  55. ↑ "Republic P-47 Thunderbolt". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  56. ↑ "Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  57. ↑ 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.
  58. ↑ Johnson, Lauren (10 September 2008). "PAVE LOW dedicated into AF Armament Museum". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  59. ↑ "BGM-109A Missile". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  60. ↑ "CGM-13B Missle [sic] B Series". Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. Retrieved 13 June 2022.

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