Norton Air Force Base Museum

All-Female 82nd Airborne Team Jumps Out of Woman-Crewed Air Force Cargo Plane https://www.military.com//all-female-82nd-airborne-team-ju Women from the 437th Airlift Wing and the 315th Airlift Wing located at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., in conjunction with women from the Army 82nd Airborne Division located at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., celebrated Women's History Month with an all-female flight and airdrop, April 13, 2021. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Rachel Pye)... 437th AW conducts all-female flights for Women’s History Month By Diana Cossaboom, Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs / Published March 27, 2021 JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. (AFNS) -- The 437th Airlift Wing conducted two all-female flights to commemorate Women’s History Month at Joint Base Charleston March 15 and 17. The first all-female C-17 GlobeMaster III flight crew conducted an aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and carried 20 women assigned to various units across Joint Base Charleston. The second flight included two all-female crews who piloted a two-ship C-17 formation, where they flew to Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, to conduct an airdrop with 80 female 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers, and an aerial refueling with a KC-135 also from the 171st ARW. Due to weather constraints, the airdrop portion was canceled for the safety of the paratroopers. The fact that it is an all-female aircrew in both jets and it’s all female jumpers is a huge deal because all of these women have gone through so many hurdles in order to be in their positions, be qualified, and be the tactical air women that they are, said Capt. Alisha Stroble, 16th Airlift Squadron deputy chief of tactics and C-17 pilot. Females make up approximately 20% of the Air Force and 15% of the Army. Of the 20% of females in the Air Force, approximately 1% are pilots. It’s really incredible to celebrate all the women who have gone before us, and open these doors for us that we (now) can put together a mission completely crewed by females in what is typically a more male setting, said Staff Sgt. Rachel Pye, 4th Combat Camera Squadron aerial photojournalist. In 1975, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David C. Jones, launched a test program that would enable women to enter pilot training and staff the all-volunteer force. By Sept. 26, 1976, 10 women began pilot training and trailblazed the future of women in the Air Force. Being on this jump means empowerment, said Command Sgt. Maj. Tonya Sims, 407th Brigade Support Battalion command sergeant major. It lets me know that the 82nd Airborne Division, center of the universe, sees me and hears me. They know that I can and I will get it done.

The Norton Air Force Base Museum receives many former assigned personnel visitors to relive some of the memories of their time at the Air Base. We give them a platform to "Shoutout" to their friends and family. Shoutouts are available to all visitors of the Norton Air Force Base Museum. https://www.nafbmuseum.org/shoutout

The Norton Air Force Base Museum is NOW OPEN! Governor Newsome's COVID-19 restrictions closed the museum last year. New cases have dropped significantly in San Bernardino County allowing the Museum to reopen. Masks are still required. The museum is open two days per week:... Thursday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come and share in the memories of Norton Air Force Base.

Attention Former Norton Residents: Looking for the crew members and maintenance personnel from NORTON (63rd / 445th MAW’s) who were involved with the evacuation of Vietnam called Operation Frequent Wind, in April 1975 timeframe aboard C-141 Aircraft. These evacuees included American citizens, also Vietnamese-born US dependents, from Saigon which included at-risk Vietnamese personnel who were not American citizens. Looking for the crewmembers and maintenance personnel from ...NORTON (63rd / 445th MAW’s) who were involved with the evacuation of Vietnam called Operation Frequent Wind, in April 1975 timeframe aboard C-141 Aircraft. These evacuees included American citizens, also Vietnamese-born US dependents, from Saigon which included at risk Vietnamese personnel who were not American citizens. POC are: CMSgt (Ret) Gil Vanegas, E-Mail: [email protected] Cell Phone: 1-909-223-0944 Richard Mendoza, E-Mail: [email protected] Cell Phone: 310-561-5653

Vietnam veteran commemorates 50th anniversary of return home By Hector Hernandez Jr. Santa Monica Vietnam War veteran John Richard Medlin IV celebrated the anniversary of his homecoming at the end of his overseas service by visiting the San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) at 4 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 50 years to the hour of his landing at the airport, then Norton Air Force Base, when returning from Vietnam....Continue reading

On Thursday December 10th 2020, the teams of the Norton AFB Museum and 63rd / 445th Norton Veterans Group have once again been able to make donations to the San Bernardino County Fire Department’s Spark of Love Toy Drive and to the San Bernardino Mary’s Mercy Center. This is the fifth year the volunteer docents of the Museum and Vets Group have been able to donate to Mary’s Mercy Center and the eighth year to the SBC F/D toy drive. #nortonairforcebasemuseum #nortonairforcebasealum #nortonairforcebase

Here's a photo of a C-141 Tail Number 60186 being restored. Thank you Alberto Capone for finding this beauty.

For all of you plane lovers and photo buffs, this is an awesome video. I found myself wanting to watch more and more. These are Air Force jets training in the Mach Loop in Nothern Wales. Fascinating! Would love to be there to experience this.

Flt Engr George Steffen from the 15th brought his family to the NAFB Museum in early March to show that he could still fit into his flt jacket. He also brought the newspaper article that he received his 10,000 hours accident-free award. He is still sharp for being 92 years old.

Dave dropped in at the NAFB Museum, in early March, and donated some of his mementos from the base. The engine cover is off of acft 0200 and was used during the 1986 Volant Rodeo. The navigator's sextant stool was taken off of acft 177. Thanks, David Howell for sharing your stuff with the museum

<<<< NOTICE >>>>> IN OUR QUEST FOR SAFETY OF BOTH THE NORTON AFB MUSEUM GUESTS AND VOLUNTEER STAFFING, THE MUSEUM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO THE THREAT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.... THE MUSEUM WILL REOPEN WHEN THIS THREAT HAS PASSED AND IT IS SAFE FOR GUEST AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ALIKE Thank You for your understanding

The staff at the Norton Air Force Base Museum want to thank Maj. Brian Shul (Ret.) for the wonderful and insightful presentation during his time as a spy pilot flying the SR-71. In the photo: (L-R) Bob Edwards (President, NAFBM) and Brian Shul.

Brian Shul, Spy Pilot Chronicles.

Live with Mike Parkerson from the Norton Air Force Base museum.

Looks like we'll have another sold-out event tonight for major Brian Shul retired.

Our speaker Brian shull major retired for the spy pilot Chronicles will be providing an audio visual presentation tonight of what it was like to fly at the SR-71 the world's fastest and flown the highest airplane that we know.

A big thank you to Mill Creek steakhouse in barbecue providing them a meal for us tonight at the spy pilot Chronicles at the San Bernardino international airport

Beautiful wall mural inside the San Bernardino international airport also known as the former Norton Air Force Base terminal where tonight we're having the spy pilot Chronicles featuring Brian shul

The wall inside of the San Bernardino international airport terminal has a great quotation about Norton Air Force Base