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Museum to honor former Walker AFBDaily Record • Jason StewartPlans for the Walker AFB Aviation Museum and a model of the Enola Gay. The Chaves County Development Foundation is raffling off the model to defray the costs of incorporating forJason StewartiRecord Staff WriterWalker Air Force Base had a remarkable history when it closed in 1967. A dedicated corps of volunteers is leading the effort to build a museum to honor and commemorate that history.The Walker AFB Aviation Museum steering committee identified a location for the museum at the Walker Fire Station. The committee has reached an agreement with the City of Roswell, which owns the land and the building, to renovate and expand the fire station to house the new museum.“This is the time to take care of our responsibility to our veterans to tell their stories, said Bob Donnell, executive director of the Chaves County Development Foundation. “We know the museum will tell the story of Walker and its role in Roswell and southeast New Mexico.Walker AFB was called« *Roswell Army Airfield from 1941 to 1948. It was renamed after Gen. KennethWalker, a New Mexican whothe museum.was killed in World War II during a bombing mission Jan. 5, 1943, over Papua New Guinea. Though intercepted by enemy fighters, his group scored direct hits on nine Japanese ships. Gen. Walker was last seen leaving the target area with one engine on fire and several fighters on his tail. For his actions, Gen. Walker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Rooseveltin 1943.The steering committee contracted the Arrowhead Group at New Mexico State University to conduct a feasibility study, and architect Dick Waggoner drew preliminary designs for the museum. The study reported thatthe museum is a viable opportunity given the unique history of the base.During World War II, Roswell AAF served B-29 v. r*.’ .-**** H'MMiNlUMIlMMaMHMIMHHMMSee MUSEUM, Page A7r r
Newspaper Details
Roswell Daily Record
Roswell, New Mexico, US
Tue, Dec 09, 2008
Page 9
Full Page
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USA 29 Jun 2019
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