National Museum of the U.S. Air Force opens exhibit honoring enlisted personnel

This Enlisted Maintainers element of a newly opened Enlisted Force Exhibit is located in the Korean War Gallery of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The full exhibit, which contains nearly 50 elements, is placed throughout the 10 galleries of the museum. With the arrival of the jet age after World War II, the Air Force began purchasing equipment and using technical data for troubleshooting. However, when the Korean War began, the newly independent Air Force struggled to provide enough trained personnel. Maintainers served 12-month tours in Korea. When they gained proficiency with their aircraft, they returned to the U.S. and an inexperienced maintainer took over. Inadequate maintenance, combined with challenges such as rough runways, cold weather, and supply shortages, caused aircraft to deteriorate faster than expected. In response, the USAF used better-equipped facilities in nearby Japan for Rear Echelon Combined Maintenance Operation (RECMO), which proved successful. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)

Credit: Ty Greenlees

Credit: Ty Greenlees

This Enlisted Maintainers element of a newly opened Enlisted Force Exhibit is located in the Korean War Gallery of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The full exhibit, which contains nearly 50 elements, is placed throughout the 10 galleries of the museum. With the arrival of the jet age after World War II, the Air Force began purchasing equipment and using technical data for troubleshooting. However, when the Korean War began, the newly independent Air Force struggled to provide enough trained personnel. Maintainers served 12-month tours in Korea. When they gained proficiency with their aircraft, they returned to the U.S. and an inexperienced maintainer took over. Inadequate maintenance, combined with challenges such as rough runways, cold weather, and supply shortages, caused aircraft to deteriorate faster than expected. In response, the USAF used better-equipped facilities in nearby Japan for Rear Echelon Combined Maintenance Operation (RECMO), which proved successful. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)
Local News
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Jan 2, 2024
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A newly completed exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force honors the enlisted personnel of the department of the Air Force throughout its 76-year history.

The museum’s newest permanent installation, which was created over a more than three-year period, contains more than 40 elements that are placed throughout the museum at locations near the era or artifacts that correlate to their specialty, according to a press release announcing the exhibit.

The Enlisted Exhibit is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This grand display of the Enlisted Force stands in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s Kettering Hall as a tribute to the backbone of the Air Force. The display shows the roles of Airmen past and present through photographs and video. Six mannequins display uniforms of Airmen from 1918 to 2019 and include a WWI mechanic, WWII Public Affairs Specialist, Cold War Police Officer, Southeast Asia War Flight Engineer, Persian Gulf War Aerial Gunner and Global War on Terrorism HALO Parachutist. The full exhibit, which contains nearly fifty elements, is placed throughout the ten galleries of the museum. Since 1907, enlisted Airmen have distinguished themselves as a technically minded and highly professional force. Their thirst for advanced skills, coupled with specialized training, makes them an elite group which produces quality results. Whether repairing the first military aircraft, reporting the weather for D-Day, or flying remotely piloted aircraft, enlisted Airmen have contributed greatly in many career fields. Over time, their responsibilities have increased, and the force has become more diversified in abilities and characteristics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees)

Credit: Ty Greenlees

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Credit: Ty Greenlees

Featured elements of the exhibit, which was funded by contributions from the Air Force Museum Foundation, feature the following:

  • A display in the WWII Gallery featuring the story of Staff Sgt. James Meredith, who was one of the first Black airmen to serve in an all-white squadron.
  • An introduction to Enlisted Maintainers, who work in all conditions at all hours to troubleshoot urgent repairs, overhaul complex systems and closely inspect parts to prevent future problems in a variety of areas, including aerospace propulsion, electrical systems, weapons systems, and more.
  • Insight into Musical Ambassadors who serve as musicians, arrangers and audio engineers in the U.S. Air Force bands, providing inspirational performances to honor veterans and connect the public to the department through music.
  • The uniform worn by Sgt. Benjamin Fillinger, one of 15 airmen from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base who transferred into the U.S. Space Force in 2020. Space Force guardians are top performers in the fields of information technology, cyber security, communication systems, and space systems operations.

Today, enlisted airmen and guardians represent approximately 80% of the Department of the Air Force, according to the release.

“The men and women of our enlisted corps are not merely participants in the chronicles of our nation’s defense, but they are architects of history,” Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass said during a recent event to mark the opening of the exhibit. “Our heritage is rooted in the ideals of integrity, service, and excellence. A tapestry woven with the threads of sacrifice and valor.”

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