March Field Air Museum

March Field Air Museum. Located adjacent to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, this aviation museum preserves and interprets the history of March Field and the broader legacy of American military aviation. Established in 1979, its collection spans from the early World War I era to modern jet aircraft, with a particular emphasis on the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations. The museum serves as an educational resource, offering insights into aeronautical technology, veteran experiences, and the strategic role of the Inland Empire in national defense.

History

The museum's origins are deeply tied to the long history of March Field, which was established in 1918 as a training base for the United States Army Air Service. Following the base's transition to March Air Force Base with the creation of the independent United States Air Force in 1947, and later to March Air Reserve Base, community and military leaders recognized the need to preserve its heritage. The museum was formally founded in 1979 through the efforts of the March Field Museum Foundation and with support from the United States Air Force Heritage Program. Its initial collection was housed in a small base theater before moving to its current permanent facilities in the 1990s, allowing for significant expansion of its exhibits and restoration programs.

Collection and exhibits

The museum's core collection comprises over 70 historic military aircraft, alongside a vast array of artifacts including aero engines, aircraft armament, uniforms, and personal memorabilia. Exhibits are organized both chronologically and thematically, tracing the evolution of air power from the World War I-era Curtiss JN-4 Jenny through the Cold War and into contemporary conflicts. Notable thematic displays focus on the Strategic Air Command, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), and the Korean War. The museum also features extensive exhibits on the Doolittle Raid, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the development of aerial refueling technology, utilizing artifacts on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force and other institutions.

Facilities and operations

The museum campus occupies 35 acres and includes four main display hangars, an outdoor air park, a restoration hangar, a research library, and a gift shop. The main exhibit building, the "Mission Hangar," houses many of the most fragile and significant aircraft, while the outdoor display allows visitors to walk among larger bomber and transport aircraft. Operations are supported by a dedicated corps of volunteers, many of whom are veterans with firsthand experience on the displayed aircraft. The museum conducts ongoing aircraft restoration projects, educational programs for school groups, and hosts annual public events such as air shows and veterans' reunions in coordination with the March Air Reserve Base open house.

Significance and recognition

As one of the largest military aviation museums on the West Coast of the United States, it plays a crucial role in preserving the history of March Air Reserve Base, which was once a key Strategic Air Command installation during the Cold War. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a mark of distinction in operational standards and care of its collection. It is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, which facilitates the exchange of artifacts and scholarly resources. Its educational outreach and veteran oral history programs have been recognized by organizations including the Air Force Historical Foundation and the California State Legislature.

Aircraft on display

The outdoor air park and hangars feature a diverse array of aircraft representing every major conflict since World War I. Prominent examples include a B-17 Flying Fortress used in the European theater of World War II, a B-29 Superfortress representative of those used in the Pacific War, and a B-52 Stratofortress that served with Strategic Air Command. The collection also includes a SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, several generations of fighter aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, and F-15 Eagle, as well as significant transport and tanker aircraft like the C-141 Starlifter and the KC-135 Stratotanker. Many aircraft are displayed with accompanying historical markers detailing their specific service history and crews.

Category:Aviation museums in California Category:Military and war museums in California Category:Museums in Riverside County, California Category:1979 establishments in California