Flying Tiger aircraft to be displayed in future heritage center

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The recent arrival of historical Flying Tiger static aircraft from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., marked another step closer for the development of a heritage center at Moody. 

The aircraft began arriving in late November on the back of several tractor-trailers and included a P-40 Warhawk, F-105D Thunderchief, A-7D Corsair II, A-10A Thunderbolt II and an F-16 Fighting Falcon. 

"The planes we received from Pope depict the linear history of aircraft flown by the Flying Tigers," said Lee Walters, 347th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager. "The airplanes we received are very significant to the history of our wing as well as the Air Force." 

After the 2005 Base Realignments and Closure commission decision brought the 23rd Fighter Group to Moody, the base had to make many adjustments to house the new unit, including planning a place to showcase its legendary Flying Tiger heritage.

 "One of the first phone calls we received after the BRAC decision was from the Flying Tiger community wanting to know where we would put the displays and memorabilia," said William Bryan, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron chief engineer. "We began planning Flying Tiger Park with then vice commander, Col. Kenneth Todorov (now the 23rd Wing commander)." 

In addition to hosting various Flying Tiger artifacts, the planned park will also give Moody the opportunity to display memorabilia from its combat search and rescue mission and other events from the base's long and distinguished history, he added. 

"We are working on bringing in aircraft from other areas as well," said Mr. Bryan. "These aircraft include an F-86D Sabre, T-33 Shooting Star, F-4 Phantom II, UH-1H Iroquois and an HH-60G Pave Hawk." 

Flying Tiger Park is scheduled to be built directly in front of the Parker Greene Base Support Center, in the current location of the buildings which previously housed base legal, safety and Wing Headquarters offices.

 "There are two plans in competition for what the Air Park will look like," said Mr. Bryan. "Both include aircraft static displays, a heritage center building and a ceremonial pad." 

"However, the plans offer two very distinct designs," he added. "The first is a mock runway with static displays on the far side from the Parker Greene Base Support Center with the Heritage Center being a model of a World War II hanger. The second is a more modern approach with a circular ceremonial pad including static aircraft around the outside, and a modern Heritage Center design."

 Base officials are also planning to build new base billeting near the Air Park in order for visitors to be near the center of base and the heritage center. 

"Construction is not scheduled to begin until 2009, and the project is not funded yet," said Mr. Bryan. "There are also plans for adding two static displays on the southern side of the Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham Airmen Leadership School, as well as new pathways leading to the displays from the school entry plaza in 2008. 

"These plans are all long-term and none are definite," he added. "But our ultimate goal is to have examples of every aircraft flown at Moody and as a Flying Tiger to show our rich history for future generations."