M&A - Lackland JRB Texas Museum - 2015

Lackland JRB Texas Museum

Lackland JRB TX - Gateway Heritage Foundation collection

Set in the largest organisation in the Department of Defence (DOD) Lackland Air Force base (AFB) forms part of Joint Reserve Base San Antonio Texas, along with Randolph AFB and the Army’s Fort Sam Houston. In 2005 following the Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC) the bases came under one organisation.

Lackland is named after Brigadier General Frank Lackland and is known as the “Gateway to the Air Force” and serves as the main entry point to all enlisted Airmen joining the United Sates Air Force (USAF) in excess of 35,000 trainee’s pass through the gates every year on their road to a career in the USAF. Based upon Lackland is the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Defence Language Institute, English Language Centre and the USAF’s largest medical facility Wilford Hall Medical Centre.

The Foundation

Run as a non-profit making organisation the private group of volunteers which has 15 members on the board of Directors and is tasked with honouring the Nation’s Airmen, preserving the legacy and history through WW1 through to present day, raising awareness of the USAF, educating future trainees and fund raising for their new two storey future Heritage museum construction.

USAF Airmen Heritage museum

Open from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1600pm and free to the public the impressive collection of 42 aircraft can be viewed (as long you are sponsored onto base) around the parade ground and other areas of the base. Each aircraft on display where’s authentic markings and colour schemes representing aircraft from that era. The curator has over many years had each aircraft painted to match photos of aircraft in the same squadrons with nose art and unit markings to match, he was very keen to show us as many original photographs as possible which were used as templates for his collection. The collection of aircraft are from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam through to the mid 1980’s, some later variants of the same aircraft are still in service today.

Not only aircraft are on show but many Artefact collections are visible in the History and Traditions museum building, WWI & WWII maintenance shop collections, USAF Basic Training dorms WWI through to modern day, Airmen Heritage collection, Pre-flight collections and WAF (Women in the Air Force 1948-1976).

Research collections are also viewable in the archives these being History of Lackland AFB, Enlisted Heritage, History of the USAF uniform, History of Basic Military Training 1947-present and History of USAF officer Training 1947-1993. Also many exhibits representing these collections are on show throughout the museum.

Educational programs are also a key function of the museum group, raising awareness of the USAFs very rich heritage in the form of organised tours such as this one, lectures, School and educational tours also raising the profile within the military itself.

It is quite obvious from the viewing the museums historic aircraft, grounds, memorials, photos, archives and artefacts that the attention to detail in every aspect of the museum is second to none, so make some time when visiting Southern Texas to visit Lackland and do allow half a day for your visit to enjoy everything on show.

To organise a tour of this collection contact the Joint Base San Antonio Public Affairs Office at least 45 days before your intended to visit and they should be able to put you in contact with a member who will be able to assist with your visit.

Author Mark Forest

Photography Nigel Roling