{"id":17293,"date":"2019-03-03T19:14:30","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T19:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/03\/aviation-buffs-hope-to-start-lincoln-air-force-base-museum\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:26:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:26:45","slug":"aviation-buffs-hope-to-start-lincoln-air-force-base-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2019\/03\/03\/aviation-buffs-hope-to-start-lincoln-air-force-base-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Aviation buffs hope to start Lincoln Air Force Base museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LINCOLN, Neb. \u2014 Aviation buffs are trying to establish a museum<\/a> that would chronicle Nebraska\u2019s role in the history of American aviation<\/a> and focus on what once was Lincoln Air Force Base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lincoln native Rob Branting told the Lincoln Journal Star<\/a> that the group is trying to form a nonprofit that would allow pursuit of grants to fund the museum. He also said the Lincoln Airport Authority has expressed interest in leasing a former base chapel to house the artifacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re seeing a lot of interest from the Lincoln area aviation fans,” Branting said. “Now we just have to start the process of finding donors, getting grants and putting a board together.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base was first known as Lincoln Army Airfield when it was built in 1942 and served as an airfield and mechanic training school during World War II<\/a>. The Nebraska State Historical Society said the airfield later served as a Navy Reserve Training Station and Nebraska Air National Guard base before finally becoming the Lincoln Municipal Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force then turned it into Lincoln Air Force Base, and assigned the 307th Bombardment Wing<\/a> there following the Korean War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A photo of the sign for Lincoln Air Force Base in Nebraska was used on postcards in the 1950s. (Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The group\u2019s B-29s were replaced with swept-winged B-47 Stratojets, the first jet-propelled aircraft assigned to the wing, and it was then designated as the 307th Bombardment Wing (Medium), according to the official history of the wing. On July 1, 1955, the 307th was placed under the command of the Eighth Air Force. There were 43 B-47s and 21 KC-97 type aircraft assigned to the wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While at Lincoln, the 307th functioned as a Combat Ready Unit, conducting combat training missions and maintaining an alert force commitment, both at Lincoln and overseas bases, until its deactivation on March 25, 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\t