RAFB Museum of Aviation joins WWII Heritage Trail

The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins has recently announced its partnership with a group of locations across the state of Georgia in what they are calling the World War II Heritage Trail.

As men and women fought overseas during World War II, civilians back on the home front rose to the nation’s call to contribute to the war effort. Southern states were crucial to the United States’ involvement in the war; most notably, Georgia’s support. It is reported by the trail’s official website that “over 300,000 Georgians served in the military, and thousands of civilians worked in rapidly expanding wartime industries.” From training for various types of warfare at military bases to manufacturing bombers and other military vessels to buying war bonds, Georgian’s contributions helped turn the tides of the war.

According to www.georgiaencyclopedia.org, “Because it occurred when important shifts in the state’s politics, race relations, and economy were already under way, the war accelerated Georgia’s modernization, lifting it out of the Great Depression and ushering it into the mainstream of American life.”

The Heritage Trail’s purpose is to help people connect the dots in the history and legacy of how Georgia’s involvement was critical in the war effort. The trail consists of 10 different museum locations spread out throughout the state. Each location offers another perspective of just how Georgians served the United States as a whole.

“Times have changed, bases have changed, but the story is the same and should be told,” declared Darlene McLendon, president and CEO of the Museum of Aviation.

Exhibits highlighted as part of the World War II Heritage Trail at the Museum of Aviation are the Scott Hangar and the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame (GAHOF). According to McLendon, the Scott Hangar was named in honor of middle Georgia hero, Gen. Robert L. Scott from Macon, a WWII ace pilot. Visitors touring the hangar will be able to view numerous aircrafts such a B-29 “Superfortress” and the restoration process of a B-17, have the opportunity to climb in several different cockpits and learn about key roles of the Tuskegee Airmen and their significant impact in the USAAF during the second world war. The GAHOF features a variety of veterans’ stories while working to “promote and encourage the growth and public support of aviation within the state of Georgia by honoring aviation leaders, living and dead, whose extraordinary achievements or services have made outstanding and lasting contributions to aviation, perpetuating the memory of such persons and recording their contributions and achievements through suitable memorials,” as stated on the Heritage Trail’s “passport.”

A passport is provided to all who would like to participate in the trail’s locations to make the experience as interactive as possible. “You get your passport stamped like you would if you travel,” explained McLendon. “It’s all World War II themes and color schemes so that it fits, it kind of puts you in the mood in the era and traveling.” 

Other than the Scott Hangar and the GAHOF, there are eight other museums on the trail. The entire trail is broken down into three different routes—the coast, middle Georgia and north Georgia. Trail organizers suggest breaking the trip down into the routes to get the full experience of the trail.

The coast features the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler where one can learn how Americans “paved the way for D-Day,” the World War II Home Front Museum in St. Simons Island where visitors can partake in various interactives and learn of the Liberty ships, and the St. Mary’s Submarine Museum which houses different models and WWII artifacts, and World War II Flight Training Museum in Douglas.

Middle Georgia’s locations are broken down into Warner Robins’ Museum of Aviation, the GAHOF, the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville where visitors can learn about various POW stories and the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, which houses the gallery chronicles of WWII and where tourists can take a ride in a combat simulator.

Finally, north Georgia’s museums offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to fly in a WWII plane at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Peachtree City, and learn all about the innovative paratroopers at the Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa.

Planning for the trail began in 2019 after the opening of the WWII Home Front Museum. The trail’s press release indicates that Scott Loehr, President of the Mighty Eighth Museum, partnered up with the Society’s Executive Director Sherri Jones after sharing the vision of highlighting Georgia’s heritage and legacy in WWII. 

“The growth and direction of the trail was under Explore Georgia and the state Department of Community Affairs; some of their leadership helped guide us in how to establish the trail, the components for who was chosen to be on the trail,” explained McLendon. “We wanted each location to have enough exhibits and enough of a story to make it worth it as a trip. That’s how the ten spots were chosen.”

Trail organizers contacted the different locations in the state and then after stamping out the details, recently announced the opening of the trail partnership in February of 2021. 

McLendon expressed her excitement of the Museum of Aviation to be a part of the official trail, saying, “Being right here in the middle of the state, we have a great opportunity to serve tourists and draw tourists into Warner Robins and the middle Georgia area.” 

Tourist attraction isn’t the only thing McLendon hopes for. With a heart for sharing the contributions of Georgia, the military and the stories of WWII, she shared, “We hope that they gain a better understanding of the World War II story and how Georgia was involved in support of the effort. We hope that visiting here will encourage our tourists and our citizens to go visit the other spots. We hope that people will be drawn here by the trail and then spend more time learning about the other eras of aviation, our connection to the Air Force, and our connection with the community.”

The Museum of Aviation, located at 1942 Heritage Boulevard, Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free admission for all. Guided tours are offered by appointment via the website; however, the heritage trail is primarily self-guided at each location. For more information on each of the sites, visit www.georgiawwiitrail.org.

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