On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
First Group to train at PAAB
Activated April 1, 1941
Deactivated October 22, 1946
Served with Distinction
From Bases In
——————————
Puerto Rico • Panama • Guatemala • Ecuador . . . — — Map (db m65077) WM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
U.S. Army Air Force
Army Air Field, Pratt, Kansas
58th Bomber Wing, 40th Bomber Group,
45th Bomber Squadron
Near this site on October 4, 1943
they gave their lives that we
might live in freedom
Remember them.
1st LT. James T. . . . — — Map (db m65066) WM
On Flint Road just west of Kennedy Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
The 23rd Airways Communication Squadron manned the PAAF Control Tower located east of here on the runway apron in-line with the hangers. They were a detachment of the 106th Army Airways Communication System stationed in Kansas City, Missouri. When . . . — — Map (db m229997) HM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
This B-29 All Veterans Memorial
honors All Veterans,
Prisoners-of-War,
Missing in Action and Civilians,
during peacetime and wartime.
Their sacrifices shall
not be forgotten.
Dedicated May 24, 2003
60th Anniversary of PAAF . . . — — Map (db m65063) WM
On Flint Road just west of Kennedy Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
The Base Operations building located directly behind this sign on the runway apron was one of four identical buildings between the hangers. They served as squadron headquarters, housing squadron administration and training. Pictured is an outdoor . . . — — Map (db m229998) HM
Near U.S. 281 at Northeast 40th Street (Flint Road), on the left when traveling north.
Bell built 1,116 AH-1 Cobras for the U.S. Army between 1967 and 1973. The Cobras served as attack helicopters and chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam. This AH-1F Cobra, Tail Number 67-15624 was purchased in May 1968. The AF-1F . . . — — Map (db m229971) HM
On Kennedy Avenue just north of Flint Road, on the right when traveling south.
The PAAF Celestial Navigation and Bombing Trainer was housed in a concrete "grain silo". Inside is a fuselage section, with the Navigator in the foreground taking a sighting of a star with a celestial sextant instrument to determine the aircraft's . . . — — Map (db m230084) HM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
He forecast the eventual amphibious struggle for the Pacific and gave his life for his country as an intelligence officer at Koror, town in the Japanese Palau Islands, 12 May 1923
"His character was a most lovable one and his heart was . . . — — Map (db m65085) WM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
Capt. U.S. Army
WWII • Korea
Died in Pyokotong, Korea
POW Camp 5-6-51
while shepherding his men
and giving of his own
food and clothing.
Born at Pilsen, Ks. — — Map (db m65084) WM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
Lt. Jack G. Shriver, Lt. Robert W. Cunard & Sgt. Clyde M. Stephenson's heroic efforts on Sept. 23, 1943 kept their crippled B-26 bomber flying over downtown Pratt until crashing one mile south of the city. — — Map (db m65083) WM
On Morris Avenue just north of Curran Road, on the left when traveling north.
The Parachute Building is listed as a National Historical site since 22 April 2009. Restoration on the B-29 Museum is funded by the Kansas Historical Society. Original construction started in November 1942. The building was completed by May 1943 . . . — — Map (db m230090) HM
On Kennedy Avenue just north of Flint Road, on the right when traveling north.
The Link Trainer Building was located in this area on the north side of PAAF, and housed several Link Aviation Flight Simulation Trainers. These simulators became famous during World War II, when they were used as a key pilot training aid by almost . . . — — Map (db m229996) HM
Near U.S. 281 at Northeast 40th Street (Flint Road), on the left when traveling north.
The F-4 was first developed for the US Navy in 1958 and entered service in 1961. In 1963, the USAF received a modified version of the Navy F-4B, called the F-4C. It was equipped to deliver an assortment of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, . . . — — Map (db m229986) HM
On Flint Road just west of Kennedy Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
The concrete vaults in front of you were used to secure the TOP SECRET Norden Bombsights used to train the bombardiers in bomb sight operation and maintenance. The Norden was a computerized bomb sight that was an important part of World War II . . . — — Map (db m230076) HM
Near U.S. 281 at Northeast 40th Street (Flint Road), on the left when traveling north.
The U.S. Air Force originally ordered the T-38A Talon in the 1950s as an advanced, supersonic flight trainer and as the first in a series of aggressor aircraft. In Feb 1989 this T-38A was modified to an AT-38B for the Lead-in-Fighter Trainer . . . — — Map (db m229987) HM
On Barker Avenue at Flint Road, on the left when traveling north on Barker Avenue.
In early 1941, before the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. Military began plans to expand land and air strength due to brewing world tensions. In August 1942, the War Department authorized money for a military installation to be built at Pratt KS USA. . . . — — Map (db m229988) HM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
The first B-29 base & pioneer
of the B-29 program
1942 - 1946
Pratt Municipal Airport 1946 - 1991
Pratt Airport Authority est. 1991 — — Map (db m65064) HM WM
On Barker Avenue just north of Flint Road, on the left when traveling north.
The Pratt Army Air Field one mile historical walk starts by this sign and circles the B-29 All Veterans Memorial and the B-29 Museum. The first B-29 Superfortress bombers manufactured by Boeing Wichita flew into Pratt Army Air Field (PAAF) . . . — — Map (db m230000) HM
On Barker Avenue at Chandler Road, on the right when traveling north on Barker Avenue.
PAAF1941 US Military Begins Plans to Expand Land and Air Strength AUG-42 War Department Authorizes Money for Military Installation at Pratt KS USA SEP-42 Construction of Pratt Army Air Field Begins FEB-43 PAAF Designated as a Full . . . — — Map (db m229963) HM
On 1st Street (U.S. 54/400) at Haskell Street, on the right when traveling east on 1st Street.
With the faith and courage of
their forefathers who made
possible the freedom of these
United States
The Boy Scouts of America
dedicate this replica of the
Statue of Liberty as a pledge
of everlasting fidelity and
loyalty . . . — — Map (db m65057) HM
Near Curran Road just west of Morris Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
The Sub-Depot Hanger (Hanger #1), located just south-west of this sign, is one of the original five hangers built at the air base, and is one of the few original PAAF buildings still standing. It is currently being leased to a local machine shop by . . . — — Map (db m230101) HM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
"To sum up the operation and the effectiveness of PAAF requires no flowery words or elaboration on actual facts. The records speak for themselves.
"Pratt trained the first B-29 Group to see active service overseas.
"The first Group to raid . . . — — Map (db m65086) WM
On Curran Road just west of Morris Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
History has recorded the Battle of Kansas as an all-out effort by the US Army Air Forces to get a combat-ready fleet of B-29s overseas to bomb Japan and destroy the factories that fueled its war effort. The battle to renovate the B-29s was fought . . . — — Map (db m230188) HM
On Flint Road just west of Kennedy Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
In many ways, the Pratt Army Air Field was like a small city or town. This earned it the nickname — "PAAF-Ville". It had facilities to meet people's needs like most cities would have. On the left — the first building is Finance, then the Post . . . — — Map (db m229999) HM
On U.S. 281 at NE 40th Street, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 281.
Sgt. Allen, Warren G.
South Gate, Calif.
Lt. Barnett, Irwin L.
Chicago, Il.
PFC Baumgartner, Carl D.
Berne, In.
Major Boren, William T.
Jackson, Miss.
Sgt. Calhoun, Benjamin P.
Palatka, Fl.
Lt. Cannon Jr., Earl F.
Pittsburgh, . . . — — Map (db m65071) WM
On Kennedy Avenue just west of Barker Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
Victory Gardens, also called "War Gardens" or "Food Gardens for Defense", were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany during World . . . — — Map (db m230187) HM
Near U.S. 281 at Northeast 40th Street (Flint Road), on the left when traveling north.
The Pratt Army Air Field is an important site that shares the birthplace of the B-29 Program, a program that defeated Japan in three years nine months and ushered in atomic warfare. Site preparation grading started in October 1942; the first . . . — — Map (db m229898) HM
