Walker Aviation Museum

 

Roswell, NM is a unique city.  There are a few cities that we have come across that remind me of the prize fighter who has been knocked down and then gets off the mat and wins the fight.  Roswell is one of those towns.  At one point it was a hub of military aviation. In the Nixon era Walker Air Force Base (formerly Roswell Army Air Field) was closed as were many in New England and elsewhere.  Today the former airstrip still exists but it is primarily a commercial aircraft bone yard where all kinds of jetliners that are no longer airworthy are cannibalized for parts. 

The only flights arriving to the airport originate at Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix.  Since there are only a few commercial flights into the Roswell International Air Center there is little of the terminal used.  Some of the left over area is now the Walker Aviation Museum while a larger, more suitable location is determined. While the museum is small there is a lot of information, you will find historical information about the base and the men and women that served our country from this base.

Roswell Army Air Field and Walker Air Force Base was home to the Strategic Air Command’s strongest fighting force.  At the time of its closing it was the largest base in the Strategic Air Command. 
While a good portion of the museum covers the history of the base a new display, “Peace Through Strength,” is the centerpiece. Peace Through Strength features materials, memorabilia, and a timeline for the Walker Air Force Base from December 1, 1945 through November 23, 1955. It was during this period that the base entered a new phase of operation as a major part of the Strategic Air Command, maintaining peace throughout the world during the Cold War.

The display begins with events that brought World War II to an end. The 509th Bomb Wing traces its historical roots to its World War II ancestor, the 509th Composite Group, a unit formed with one mission in mind: to drop the atomic bomb. The group made history on August 6, 1945, when the B-29 “Enola Gay,” piloted by Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The “Bockscar,” piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney visited the Japanese mainland three days later and dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

In late 1945, the group settled into Roswell Army Air Base, later named Walker Air Force Base, where it became the core of the newly formed Strategic Air Command. In August 1946, the renamed 509th Bombardment Group returned to the Pacific to participate in Operation Crossroads. During this operation, the B-29 Dave’s Dream dropped an atomic bomb on an armada of obsolete and captured ships moored off the Bikini Atoll.

The 6th Bombardment Wing (Medium) was activated at Walker Air Force Base on January 2, 1951. The unit consisted of the 24th, 39th and 40th Bomb Squadrons and was equipped with B-29 Superfortress, B-36 Peacemaker, the KC-135, and the B-52.  The 307th AREFS was also attached until 1952 and operated KB-29s. Information about all of these aircraft and others stationed at WAFB during this time period is on display.  

The new display features a flight jacket and other memorabilia from the estate of Col. Clyde H. Camp, Jr. USAF Ret., who was Base Commander at WAFB from 1954-1957, following his Korean Bombing Mission.

From 1961 until 1965 the 579th Strategic Missile Squadron and its Atlas missiles were part of the 6th Bombardment Wing. The museum also houses a permanent display funded by a grant from the 579th Missile Squadron Reunion Group.

For the gun enthusiast there is a display of WWII era Russian, German, and Japanese rifles and bayonets donated by Walker Vet Roger Grommesch. In addition to these items and information about the planes and crews stationed at WAFB during this period, the new display provides a fascinating glimpse into family life in the military and at WAFB

The Walker Aviation Museum is located inside the Roswell International Airport, #1 Jerry Smith Circle, and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Special arrangements can be made for groups and out-of-town guests by calling the museum, 575-347-2464. The museum is free and open to the public. The museum’s website is www.wafbmuseum.org.