Those who “work for a living” in the Department of the Air Force are being honored with a new exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Dayton, OH. The Enlisted Force Exhibit is the institution’s newest permanent exhibit, and it puts the spotlight on the highly skilled, trained, and talented enlisted force that has been the backbone of daily operations of the U.S. Department of the Air Force throughout its 76-year history.
This new exhibit was made possible by contributions from the Air Force Museum Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists the United States Air Force in helping to engage and educate the public about the role the service plays in the nation’s defense.
According to the Department of the Air Force, enlisted airmen and guardians represent approximately 80% of its uniformed personnel and provide a solid foundation for operations in air, space and cyberspace.
“The men and women of our enlisted corps are not merely participants in the chronicles of our nation’s defense, but they are architects of history,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass at a private ceremony to honor exhibit contributors, museum staff and volunteers. “Our heritage is rooted in the ideals of integrity, service and excellence — a tapestry woven with the threads of sacrifice and valor.”
Other special guests included Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna, and former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and Air Force Museum Foundation Vice Chair Gerald R. Murray.
Years in the Making
The Enlisted Force Exhibit took more than three years to develop and it contains more than 40 elements that are thoughtfully placed throughout the museum at locations near the era or artifacts that correlate to their specialty.
Elements of the exhibit include:
- A display in the WWII Gallery featuring the story of Staff Sgt. James Meredith, one of the first Black airmen to serve in an all-white squadron
- An introduction to Enlisted Maintainers who work in all conditions at all hours to troubleshoot urgent repairs, overhaul complex systems and closely inspect parts to prevent future problems in any number of areas including aerospace propulsion, electrical systems, weapons systems and more
- Insight into Musical Ambassadors who serve as musicians, arrangers and audio engineers in the U.S. Air Force bands, providing inspirational performances to honor veterans and connect the public to the Department of the Air Force through music
- The uniform worn by Sgt. Benjamin Fillinger, one of 15 airmen from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base who transferred into the U.S. Space Force in 2020.
Honoring the Space Force From the Beginning
The Department of the Air Force also made special note of the contributions of the United States Space Force – including the fact that Space Force guardians are top performers in the fields of information technology, cyber security, communication systems, and space systems operations.
“Today’s Space Force is small. It’s just like the museum when it started as an engineering study collection — very small,” Bentivegna said. “But Guardians are creating our Space Force history each and every day. And one hundred years from now, the Enlisted Exhibit in the National Museum of the U.S. Air and Space Force will be overflowing with that history that we’re making today.”
A Large Museum That Has Slowly Grown
The National Museum of the United States Air Force, which today is housed in a specially built facility that encompasses more than 19 acres on the grounds of Wright-Patterson AFB, is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world and has more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is home to such notable planes as the World War II B-17 “Memphis Belle” and the B-29 “Bockscar,” the long-range bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, as well as numerous experimental “X-planes” and other test aircraft.
In addition to serving to preserve the historic aircraft, the museum further strives to tell the story of the airmen and other personnel who served. This now includes those enlisted service members. The museum is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
