The museum opened as the History and Traditions Museum in 1956 as one of 12 satellite museums to the
National Museum of the United States Air Force.[3] Museum construction began in 1956 inside a building that dates to 1942,[2][8] and it opened to the public in February 1957.[1] With the stated purpose of giving basic trainees "pride in the past", museum staff arranged exhibits in coordination with
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. They refurbished aircraft on static display to pay tribute to the planes' respective squadrons, crew, and pilots, ensuring correct paint and insignias.[1]
On March 5, 1958 the Air Force announced the consolidation of museums at
Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases into the one at Lackland.[9]
The History and Traditions Museum annual attendance was over 100,000 in the 1970s.[1] The museum had over 50 aircraft and
missiles, a reference library, and
miniatures recreating
WWII air battles.[10] The engine exhibit contained a
Liberty L-6 and
L-12 and an
Allison V-12 among others.[1]
In 2010 the museum reopened with a new name—the Airman Heritage Museum.[13]
On February 11, 2013 the Lackland Gateway Heritage Foundation signed a
memorandum of understanding with the USAF to build a new museum. Its goal was to raise money for the new building, targeting a fall 2017 opening. The new museum would be located on a 85,000 sq ft (7,900 m2) site[4] north of the parade grounds.[8] It would have 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) of exhibit space and be privately funded with $50 million by the Airman Heritage Foundation.[14][13]
In 2014 the Airman Heritage Museum and Security Forces Exhibit Annex were brought together under a single entity, the Airman Heritage Training Complex, itself operated by the
Air Education and Training Command.[7]
The Airman Heritage Foundation continued to raise funds in 2019 for new building set to open in 2022. It is planned to be more accessible, with the entrance outside the base.[3]
In 2019 the Airman Heritage Museum had 36,000 visitors and the Security Forces Exhibit Annex had 23,000 visitors.[2]
In 2020, nine static aircraft of the Southeast Asia Airpark were moved to make room for construction of new Airman Training Complexes. Aircraft moved to the Parade Ground Airpark included the
B-52,
F-4,
F-5,
F-100,
B-57,
B-66, and
F-105. The
T-37 and
UH-1 were moved to the Inter-American Air Force Academy. The Airman Heritage Training Complex provided technical support for the move.[17]
Outdoors, the Airman Heritage Museum has over 40 aircraft on static display.[20][21] Most of the Static Display Aerospace Vehicles are located at the Parade Ground Airpark.[3] The aircraft represent
Army Air Corps and Air Force history[22] spanning eight decades.[2][18]
The Security Forces Annex contains 47 exhibits and an archival repository pertaining to the history of the
Air Force Security Forces since 1947,[2] including the history of military, air, and security police.[35] Special exhibits are on display regarding women in the Security Forces and
military working dogs.[19]
Airman Heritage Foundation
The Airman Heritage Foundation is the private non-profit organization that supports and raises funds for the museum.[3][14] Its mission is to preserve and honor the history and heritage of enlisted airmen.[4]