The United States Air Force's Enlisted Heritage Hall offers visitors a unique glimpse at our country's rich  history  of military aviation. Located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, the Enlisted Heritage Hall hosts thousands of people each year who learn from its educational, enlightening and fascinating story.

 

  The mission of the Enlisted Heritage Hall is to preserve the rich and dramatic heritage and tradition of the enlisted corps of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Aeronautical Division, Air Service, Air Corps and
Air Forces in the development of air power to defend the United States.

       

 The Heritage Hall achieves this by featuring artifacts, art collections, pictorial exhibits, written documentation, audiovisuals, equipment and aircraft parts.

                 

  Upon entering the Enlisted Heritage Hall, visitors encounter a floor-to-ceiling American flag. The flag is draped in an alcove in a salute to the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces enlisted Medal of Honor recipients.

       

  Take a stroll through the Enlisted Heritage Hall and you'll learn about the technology of the World War I era
 from an array of artifacts that features flying gear, early telephones, uniforms and other memorabilia.

       

  One section features the history and development of ballooning. Balloons rapidly gave way to airplanes and
in August 1912 Corporal Vernon Burge was certified as the Army's first enlisted pilot.

       

  A long and distinguished list of enlisted pilots eventually followed in his footsteps, and these brave individuals flew virtually every aircraft in the World War II inventory.

                 

  Another highlight is a tribute to the all-black ground crews of the 332nd Fighter Group. During the European theater of World War II, these crews kept the "Tuskegee Airmen" flying.

       

  There is also a tribute to Glenn Miller and his band of enlisted men.

       

  As you move through the Enlisted Heritage Hall, you'll discover a section dedicated to the Korean War and
the Pacific theater of World War II. A tribute to the Doolittle Raiders is also featured in this section.

       

  The Vietnam War era exhibit includes displays of a fully equipped pararescueman and combat controller,
along with a tribute to the 23 enlisted recipients of the Air Force Cross, the Air Force's highest award for Valor.

       

  The centerpiece of this exhibit is a hauntingly realistic Vietnam prisoner of war cell.

       

  The Desert Shield and Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom  exhibits contain artifacts and memorabilia from the Gulf War to present day operations.

       

  There are also exhibits displaying artifacts from the 1950's and 1960's.

  An exhibit that is truly unique to the enlisted force is a salute to the Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force. This exhibit honors those who have ascended to the highest office in the enlisted corps and have made significant contributions to the development of our Air Force -- the strongest in the world.

                

  Another area of special significance to the enlisted corps is a display of aircraft gun stations. Featured are
the Sperry ball turret used on the B-17 and B-24, a complete tail section of a B-52D, and a one-of-a-kind
 B-32 top turret -- all operated by enlisted gunners.

       

  The Hall is the Khobar Towers Memorial Display. Stands as a memorial to the nineteen Air Force Personnel killed in the terrorist bombing of an American housing complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia on June 25th, 1996.

       

  Featured on the "Wall of Achievers" are former enlisted airmen who achieved fame in civilian careers or attained star ranks in the military services. Of note are Johnny Cash, Chuck Norris, Gene Autry,
Flip Wilson and Charlton Heston, as well as former USAF Chief of Staff General Larry D. Welch,
Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, President George W. Bush, and many others.

  The USAF Enlisted Heritage Hall operates on funds donated by USAF Senior NCO Academy students, visitors and supporters from bases throughout the world. Future plans include expanding the Heritage Hall facility to provide additional space for tributes to the millions of enlisted men and women who have contributed to the growth and development of the United States Air Force.