Wednesday, 20 April, 2011 19:12
by Chris Jay
Come face-to-face with history at the Barksdale Air Force Base's 8th Air Force Museum in Bossier City.
Confession time: I've lived in Shreveport-Bossier for nearly 15 years and, until last week, I'd never visited the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. With the 2011 Defenders of Liberty Air Show coming up May 7 & 8, I thought I'd remedy that situation by paying the museum a visit.
To visit the museum, enter Barksdale Air Force Base by the Northgate Entrance, just off of Industrial Drive. The gentlemen manning the guard station will need to collect someone's ID, but they'll return it as you exit the base. The museum is located just inside the base entrance. It's a surprisingly nondescript building, inside which visitors can explore the well-documented history of Barksdale Air Force Base. Dedicated in 1932, Barksdale houses the oldest Bomb Wing in the United States Air Force, and is known as the "home of the B-52 Bomber." One particularly interesting exhibit inside the museum building features a photographic timeline of the events of September 11, 2001, when President George W. Bush flew to Barksdale AFB and addressed the nation.
But it must be said that the glory of the 8th Air Force Museum doesn't reside inside the museum. Exit the building and take a walk just north of the entrance gate, and you'll find yourself surrounded by historic fighter planes, bombers, and "flying fortresses" from nearly every era of modern miltary history, from the P51-D (the "Mustang" fighter, which escorted bombers in WWII, ensuring Allied air superiority) to an incredible Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" stealth bomber. There are nearly 30 aircraft on display on the museum's grounds. It's a powerful, humbling experience to walk this row of aircraft.
For anyone who has taken this museum for granted, like I did for so many years, I highly recommend visiting. A great time to do so would be May 7 & 8, during the air show. Admission and parking are free.
Lagniappe
View a brief slideshow of images of the vintage planes on display at the 8th Air Force Museum.
Visit the 8th Air Force Museum website.
Learn more about the history of Barksdale Air Force Base on Wikipedia.