Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum

{{Infobox museum

| name = Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum

| logo =

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| map_type = Indiana

| coordinates = {{coord|39.2549|-85.8980|display=inline,title}}

| former_name =

| established = {{start date|1992|df=y}}

| dissolved =

| location = Columbus, Indiana

| type = Aviation museum

| founder = Wendell Ross{{cite news |title=Wendell Ross |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/146494455 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=22 December 2015 |page=A9}}

| director =

| president =

| curator =

| website = {{URL|www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org}}

}}

The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum is an aviation museum located at the Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, Indiana.

History

= Background =

In mid-1988, an F-4 was flown to the airport as a sling load underneath a helicopter and was placed on display a few months later.{{cite web |title=Bakalar Green |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/bakalar-green.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=4 December 2023}}{{cite news |title=Phantom Lands New Assignment |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147369110 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=10 October 1988 |page=A1}}

= Establishment =

The museum's {{convert|3,168|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} building was dedicated on 11 November 1992.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Yolanda |title=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Off, Flying |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147963299 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=9 August 1992 |page=B1}}{{cite news |title=Veterans Remembered |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147553149 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=11 November 1992 |pages=A1}} The restoration of the former base chapel, renamed the Lewellen Memorial Chapel, was completed in 1998.{{cite news |last1=McCawley |first1=Harry |title=Veterans Dedicated to Airport Chapel |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148748334 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=23 September 2011 |page=A4}} It opened a new exhibit called A Century of Flight in 2003 featuring a 1:4 scale replica of the Wright Flyer.{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Bryan |title=The Sky's the Limit |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149004216 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=8 May 2003 |pages=12–13}}

The museum broke ground on the Bruce Dalton Media Center, the first half of a two part expansion, in July 2009.{{cite news |last1=McCawley |first1=Harry |title=Dalton Promoted Gliders 'til Very End |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/149030643 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=10 July 2009 |page=A6}}{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Cecelia |title=Air Museum Expansion to Get Off Ground |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148933751 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=28 July 2008 |pages=A1, A3}} It began construction of a second, {{convert|3,700|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} addition in July 2013.{{cite news |last1=McCawley |first1=Harry |title=Air Museum Beginning Expansion |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/146278864 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=19 July 2013 |pages=A1, A3}} The addition opened in April 2014 along with a new barracks exhibit.{{cite news |last1=McClure |first1=Julie |title=Sharing Their Stories |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/146085411 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=6 April 2014 |pages=A1, A7}} Then, in 2017, it announced plans for an {{convert|1,800|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} expansion to store artifacts and serve as a restoration shop.{{cite news |last1=Kent |first1=Matthew |title=Grant to Fuel Museum Project |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/429276357 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=14 March 2017 |pages=A1, A8}} The Thomas Vickers/John C. Walter Artifacts & Restoration Center was dedicated in June 2018.{{cite news |last1=Kent |first1=Matthew |title=Air Museum Dedicates Restoration Center Expansion |url=http://www.therepublic.com/2018/06/09/air_museum_dedicates_restoration_center_expansion |access-date=10 June 2024 |work=The Republic |date=9 June 2018}}

The museum acquired a C-119 from Greybull, Wyoming and began disassembling it in 2019.{{cite news |last1=East |first1=Andy |title=Piece by Piece |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/662458036 |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=12 February 2020 |pages=A1, A6}} The last parts arrived in July of the following year and it was placed on display in May 2021.{{cite news |last1=East |first1=Andy |title=Getting Closer |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/711858155 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=2 February 2021 |pages=A1, A4}}{{cite news |last1=East |first1=Andy |title=On the Move |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/736501867 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=20 May 2021 |pages=A1, A6}}

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include an airport beacon, a reproduction barracks, a CG-4A glider nose section.{{cite web |title=The WWII-Era Rotating Beacon |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/rotating-beacon.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=4 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=The Atterbury Barracks Display |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/barracks.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=4 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=World War Two Glider Pilots |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/wwii-glider-pilots.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=4 December 2023}} Local manufacturers such as Cosco Housewares, Cummins Engine Company, and Noblitt Sparks are also represented with displays of some of their products.{{cite web |title=Columbus Manufacturers |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/manufacturers.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=4 December 2023}} Other objects include a motorized cutaway of an R-3350 engine.{{cite news |last1=Webber |first1=Mark |title=Flying High |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/660585032 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=18 February 2019 |pages=A1, A4}} A collection of five 1:8 scale aircraft models hang from the ceiling.{{cite news |last1=McCawley |first1=Harry |title=Model Airplanes Recreate History |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148571149 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=29 October 1996 |page=A4}}{{cite news |last1=McCawley |first1=Harry |title=Air Museum Welcomes B-17 to Model Formation |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148599632 |access-date=4 December 2023 |work=The Republic |date=14 November 2000 |page=B4}}

Collection

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar{{cite web |title=Project "Charlie 119" |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/project-charlie-119.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=3 December 2023}}
McDonnell F-4C Phantom II{{cite web |title=The F4C Phantom Jet Fighter |url=http://www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org/the-f4c-fighter.html |website=Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum |access-date=3 December 2023}}

References

External links

{{Official website|www.atterburybakalarairmuseum.org}}

Category:Aerospace museums in Indiana

Category:Military and war museums in Indiana

Category:Museums in Bartholomew County, Indiana