Eglin AFB in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Eglin Air Force Base

AIAA Historic Aerospace Site

Historic Aerospace Site Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, March 26, 2017

1. Historic Aerospace Site Marker

Inscription. The Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base, activated 14 Jun 1935 under command of Capt Arnold H. Rich, was renamed Eglin Field in 1937 for Lt Col Frederick I. Eglin, U.S. Air Corps. The first missions of Eglin were to provide both bombing and gunnery training for new pilots and testing of Army Air Corps aircraft and other systems. Eglin’s dual role of training and testing continued through World War II, with the establishment of the Air Corps Specialized Flying School and the Air Proving Ground Command. Today, Eglin continues to provide state-of-the-art munitions testing, personnel training and other combat support capabilities for the Air Force, DOD, industry and U.S. allies.

Erected 2009 by The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites series list.

Location. 30° 27.98′ N, 86° 33.675′ W. Marker is in Eglin AFB, Florida, in Okaloosa County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Museum Drive and Eglin Parkway (State Route 85), on the left when traveling south. Located at the Air Force Armament Museum. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Museum Drive, Eglin AFB FL 32542, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Faithful Partner – Guardian of the Night (a few steps from this marker); “Faithful Partner - Guardian of the Night” (a few steps from this marker); Mac Baker (a few steps from this marker); Combat Wounded Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Nurses Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); GBU-43/B MOAB (within shouting distance of this marker); Doolittle Raiders (within shouting distance of this marker); B-25 Mitchell (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eglin AFB.

Also see . . .
1. Air Force Armament Museum. (Submitted on April 7, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Air Force Armament Museum on Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 7, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed By Michael Herrick, March 26, 2017

2. Historic Aerospace Site Marker

The Air Force Armament Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, March 26, 2017

3. The Air Force Armament Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on October 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2017, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.