We recently took a drive to Northeast Arkansas and stopped into the small town of Walnut Ridge. We noticed that they had an Air Museum called the Wings of Honor Museum.
My husband loves airplanes and his father was in the military so we decided to stop by.
I highly recommend a visit to this small museum!
Wings of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge
Here are some things to know before you visit the Wings of Honor Museum!
Location and Hours
The Museum is located on the outskirts of the town of Walnut Ridge near the large airfield.
- The address is: 70 Beacon Rd, Walnut Ridge, AR
- The phone number is: 800-584-5575
Opening hours are Monday through Saturday 9-5. They are closed on the major holidays of Easter, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years Day.
However, because this is a mostly volunteer run museum in a small town I would recommend checking to make sure it is open before you visit.
Admission
Admission to the museum is free but they do take and appreciate donations.
Purpose of the Museum
The purpose of the museum is to preserve the rich history of aviation and military service in this area.
The Historic Training Facility & Its Role in WWII
But what is the history of military aviation in this area?
In the late 1930’s the U.S. was only training about 500 military pilots each year.
After WWII began in Europe President Roosevelt realized the need for more US pilots to be trained as quickly as possible. Because of this the US Government established, 56 Primary, 26 Basic, and 44 Advanced flying schools.
The airfield at Walnut Ridge was one of the basic flying schools and also happened to be the largest school in the Southeast!
It covered 3096.22 acres, had hundreds of buildings and five auxiliary air fields in the surrounding towns.
The first training class arrived October 10, 1942. Flight Training began at 1 P.M. on October 12th. 5,310 Pilots entered flight training.
It seems that 4641 pilots graduated from the school while it was still active!
Exhibits and What to Expect in the Wings of Honor Museum
The museum’s atmosphere is casual but engaging.
One thing that was particularly noteworthy was the sense of respect for the members of the armed forces in the way the exhibits are laid out and the information is presented.
Of course the museum has a focus on the overall history of military aviation, particularly during WWII.
There were many exhibits about topics such as the women in WWII, the battles of WWII, and the role of this military base after the war was over.
I especially loved a small section with photos that told about some of the youngest people to enter the military. One boy was only 12 years old and several were 13 and 14.
Beyond the core exhibits I think that Arkansans will enjoy the way that the Wings of Honor museum is so grounded and locally focused.
In fact, one of the things I liked best about this museum is that many of the exhibits feature personal stories of the people who trained, served, or passed through this place including many from the area.
I found myself lingering at a number of display cases longer than I anticipated. There were so many compelling stories, including a section honoring the Arkansas heroes of WWII.
There is also an exhibit about life in the northeast Arkansas area before the war. As you might imagine this rural part of our state was extremely impoverished.
The arrival of the flying school literally brought the area out of the great depression by providing about 2500 construction jobs that paid well.
The Airfield After the War Years
In September 1944, the field transitioned from an Army Air Forces operation to become the Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge. This was a brief period that lasted from September 1944 until August of 1945.
Post war it became a storage, sales and scrapping facility for surplus warbirds. You can learn all about this era and the subsequent roles of the airfield at the museum as well.
Tips for Visitors
- The amount of time it takes to visit definitely depends on your interest level. You can quickly browse through displays or you can read lots of information. For most casual visitors I’d plan about an hour.
- Be sure to step outside to take in a few more aircraft displays.
- Because the museum is in a small town, I would also check in advance for potential closures for events, holidays, etc.
- Consider making a modest donation.
Reflections about the Wings of Honor Museum
It’s remarkable to walk the grounds today and realize you’re standing where the “Greatest Generation” of aviators, mechanics, and support staff once executed mission-critical work.
If you like aviation history, military heritage, or simply want to explore something a little off the beaten path, this museum is a gem.
More Things to do in Walnut Ridge
- Grab a sandwich at the Post Bakery and Bistro! We stopped here before visiting the museum and were do impressed with their delicious sandwiches on homemade bread.
- Make the short drive over to Crowley’s Ridge State Park. This is one of our favorite state parks in Arkansas!
- Stop by Beatles Park. The Beatles made one stop in Arkansas in 1962 and it was in Walnut Ridge!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
