In preparation for our Warbird weekend next week, we will be looking at a rotating artifact that will be in our museum and available to view temporarily, the B-25 “Yellow Rose.” The Yellow Rose is a vintage B-25 Mitchell World War II bomber. The bomber was christened with the name “Yellow Rose” in honor of the song “The Yellow Rose of Texas” due to the aircraft being restored and flown by the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing. The Yellow Rose has been restored to its

In commemoration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we will be taking a look at a Filipino Sundang sword. A Sundang sword, also known as a moro kalis, is a combat and highly prestigious sword used within the Southern Philippines. This sword is similar to swords from cultural regions in South East Asia. It is a long, double-edged steel blade that is curved from its base to the top, maximizing the cutting efficiency of the blade. Due to the

Mothers influence us in every way possible, from our childhoods to how they shaped us as adults, we can appreciate them. Mother pillows have been a long standing tradition within the American military for centuries, dating back to the war of 1812, that show historical love for a mom. This gesture is one of tradition, love, and remembrance. The mother pillows were first handmade by soldiers from old grain sacks and would have simple phrases such as Mother and Sweetheart. Durin

World War 1 set the precedents for the next world war, which would follow just twenty years later. The US M1917 Doughboy Helmet in our WW1 display case is just a piece of history that details the conflict between 1914 and 1918. When fighting broke out, the United States chose the British MK helmets, mostly for their 400,000 immediate availability to troops. By 1917 the The United States started to make its own helmet, the M1917, in the fall of 1917. Essentially, the M1917 was

Pilot gear, helmets, and uniforms are a unique visual product to the new era of flight that has taken over the modern age, especially within the Military. The Gentex HGU-55/P Helmet has been a standard choice within the Air F orce and Navy for decades since 1980. It has been chosen as the primary helmet for Military pilots for a number of reasons that make it remarkable. The visor has a bungee visor system that helps the vision of the pilot by being tinted. It includes integr

This week we will be taking a look into one of our newer collection items and at our new exhibit here at the museum. THe BPH-2 Helmet is a part of a new collection that shows the impact and history of service. This particular BPH-2 Helmet was used primarily in 1965 and 1966, Its coloring and engraving is unique to its own. This helmet was designed for aircrews for patrol, transport, and reconnaissance missions, essentially for non fighter or non high performing fighter jets.

The Army Air Corps during World War 2 found many different types of personalities, strong-willed persons, and people willing to fight for freedom in the extreme. Harold and Phyllis Caskey was one of these people,, and they found love and commitment within it. Phyllis Caskey grew up in Minden, Iowa, and decided she would be a nurse one day. After high school she attended Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing. She graduated in 1943 and joined the Army Air Corps as a nurse in the s

With a new season coming in bloom, we have new exhibits coming up here at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum. In building three, our curator, John Townsend, did a new display on the Japanese Pacific Theater of World War II. On display in that case is a Japanese officer's field hat, which we will be covering this week in our artifact Friday. A Japanese officer's field hat, also called a Ryaku-bou, was a standard cloth hat used by officers in the Japanese Imperial Army and Na

This Friday, we are talking about the Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberation Medals that were awarded to coalition force members who served during Operation Desert Storm. A service member is eligible for this award if they served in direct support of Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, parts of the Arabian Sea, or Gulf of Aden. Service members could also be considered if they served on the landmasses of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and the Unite

Morse code is a long taught language throughout the US military. It was crucial during times of hidden communication behind enemy lines, tenuous moments, and even through cameras. A blinker light trainer from World War II, also known as a code pocket trainer, was a lightweight Morse code trainer. Here in our collection, this Morse code pocket trainer was a small, lightweight, cardboard Morse code trainer that was portable and made learning Morse code easier for U.S. Navy pers