The
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Complex preserves history, educates and honors those in
uniform who serve and have served.
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum front entrance
Museum
Location:
The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum is located near the control tower across
the street from the F4C Phantom Jet Fighter static display at the Columbus
Indiana Municipal Airport, the former location of the Atterbury Army Air Field
and Bakalar Air Force Base.
The
Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel is part of the Museum complex on
the Airport property at the corner of Middle Road and Grissom Streets. The
Chapel is available for tour by special request only. Bakalar Green is located
between the control tower and rotating beacon.
Columbus, Indiana tower frequency 118.6. Runways 14-32
5000 ft X 100 ft, 5-23 6401 ft X 100 ft. The museum is just a few steps from the
ramp and control tower.
The
museum's open hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10AM-2PM and
Saturday 10AM-4PM, Closed Sunday and Monday. Special tours may be scheduled during regular open hours or
other than regular open hours by contacting the museum.
Mission
Statement: "The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum is
dedicated to the memory of all military and civilian personnel who served in any
capacity in the wars and conflicts from 1942 to 1970. It serves to recall events
of WWII, The Korea, Cuban and Vietnam conflicts which touched many of our lives."
The history, photos and personal stories of those
who served are here for you to see and read. Learn about the World War II Glider
pilots, The Tuskegee Airmen, 2466th, 434th, 71st Special Operation Squadron in
Vietnam, the base, the leaders, the airmen, the equipment, the aircraft and
The Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame™
Snapshot in time: Atterbury
Air Force Base Columbus, Indiana 1951
Here is a great photo taken in 1951 on
the ramp at Atterbury Air Force Base of a B-25, a follow-me jeep with 434th C-46's in
the background. According to Phil Peabody an airman at the base remembers, the
color of the follow me jeep was kind of light, dull yellow.
The
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum hosts the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans
and Walk of Honor information.
To schedule a
tour: Call the Museum (812) 372-4356 or E-mail us.
Museum Volunteers:
The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum
and the Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel is staffed by
volunteers called the 95ers. This group is composed of Veterans, former
base service members, and citizens who maintain the museum and Chapel.
The
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum web site contains many historical photographs
and may require a little download time but is well worth the wait. The
photographs help tell the story of the former air base and those who served. If
you have artifacts, photographs or historical documents you wish to share with
the museum, please let us know.
Museum Contact Information
Board of Directors:
President: Gordon Lake, Vice President: Glenn Leonhart, Treasurer: Wendell Ross,
Secretary: John Walter, Member Aviation Board: Richard P. Gaynor, Member: Jim Sellars, Member: James Porter.
- Telephone
-
812 372-4356
- Postal address
-
Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum
- 4742 Ray Boll Boulevard
- Columbus, Indiana
47203
-
- Webmaster: Gordon Lake, 1SG Army (Ret.)
-
lakegc@aol.com
