Arnold Field, Halls Tennessee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arnold Field is located in Halls,Tennessee a town in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,311 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Veterans' Museum on the grounds of the Dyersburg Army Air Base, which documents the history of the WWII Army Air Corp. It was the main base for the B-17 Flying Fortress Bombers in the mid 40's. The Municipal Airport is home for about 15 general aviation aircraft and the field offers 100LL aviation fuel with a 24 hour self-service unit.

The Veterans' Museum was founded on the site of The Dyersburg Army Air Base in 1997. The base had been a training facility during World War II for B-17 pilots.

While the Museum honors our veterans from that era with displays, photographs, and history of the base, we also honor all of our veterans with displays from the different wars and conflicts in which the U.S. has been involved.

The Veterans' Museum is owned and operated by The Dyersburg Army Air Base Memorial Association, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1992 by Pat Higdon and Martha Crites, both of Halls.

The purpose of this Museum is to preserve materials and artifacts from WWI to date as a reminder to the older generations and to educate the younger generations about their heritage. The facility is located on the ramp of the former WWII B-17 Training Facility (The Dyersburg Army Air Base).

In 1986, state-wide emphasis by Governor Lamar Alexander to highlight the history of Tennessee, Homecoming '86, was a project accepted by the Mayor of the Town of Halls, Sammie Arnold. Pat Higdon was the chairman of the event that brought the first B-17 back to the air base since 1945. After extensive nationwide publicity and local residents contacting those they knew who had trained at the Dyersburg Army Air Base, the July 4th weekend became a springboard for air shows as well as the Museum. It was also the springboard for the public's willingness to share their memorabilia with the Association.

A static air show in 1993 was a great success, and much of the air base memorabilia was exhibited in the Arnold Field airport office. Air shows continued through 2001.

More and more people sent or brought memorabilia until finally, in 1997, the first Museum was built. The collection of artifacts more than filled the 4,000 sq. ft. facility; and, in 2004, the Edith Tanner Center was built. Total footage to date is a 8,900 sq. ft. building on the 64 year-old ramp.

Pictures and documents from the National Archives, materials from WWI through Iraq, diaries, personal and official letters, technical publications, and divisional histories, WWII and Korea military vehicles, uniforms, and videos excite adults and give the young an opportunity to look at history personally. Unusual exhibits for a private, non-profit museum are the Murals painted by Ernie Berke. Photographs of 72 crews are also displayed. Tim Bivens, who is one of the DAAB incorporators, has been able to secure these and many more pictures that reveal base life.

The West Tennessee Healthcare Conference Room is host to businesses who have conferences for 35 or less, meetings of area organizations, and DAAB special programs. It is also home to the Sammie Arnold Lending Library, where the avid reader will find books about all areas presented in the Museum.

The Museum Director is Patricia M. Higdon, and the Curator is Bernard M. (Sonny) Higdon. Pat would like to say to the ladies, "don't pass this Museum up because it is "military". Our WWII DAAB exhibits depict the lives of families in the Halls area during this time. Add to that the Memphis Belle exhibit and the story of Margaret Polk and Robert Morgan, the pilot of the Belle, and they really get involved.

You can visit the Museum site, a short walk from the runway and ramp, by clicking to http://www.town.halls.tn.us and following the ARMY AIRFIELD link.