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Combat Air Museum

Combat Air Museum
Overview of Hangar 602
Combat Air Museum is located in Kansas
Combat Air Museum
Location within Kansas
Established1976 (1976)
LocationTopeka, Kansas
Coordinates38°56′28″N 95°40′40″W / 38.9411°N 95.6777°W / 38.9411; -95.6777
TypeAviation museum
Websitewww.combatairmuseum.org

The Combat Air Museum is a non-profit aviation museum at Topeka Regional Airport in Topeka, Kansas, United States. The museum preserves and displays U.S. military aviation history through a collection of more than 40 historic aircraft, including World War I replicas, World War II trainers, Cold War jets, and helicopters. In addition to its aircraft, the museum features aviation artifacts, educational programs, and exhibits on regional and national military aviation heritage.[1]

History

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The Combat Air Museum was established in the fall of 1976 as the Kansas Wing of David Tallichet's Yesterday's Air Force (YAF), a private collection dedicated to preserving military aviation history.[2][3][a] The organization's first aircraft was a B-24 named Delectable Doris. It moved to Hangar 626 and opened in July 1977.[5] By 1979, the group reorganized as the Combat Air Museum and relocated to Hangar 602 at Forbes Field in Topeka, Kansas.[6]

The museum explored the possibility of establishing a wing in Wichita in early 1981.[7] Later that year, it partnered with the AirCraft Enthusiasts Society (ACES) to propose an aviation museum in the city.[8]

The museum's "Detachment 1" operated at the Augusta Municipal Airport in 1991.[9]

The museum attempted to acquire an RB-47 named City of Salina from the Salina Airport in 1991 after the airport sought a new home for it.[10][b]

A 60 ft (18 m) tower that had been built as a memorial to World War II veterans was re-erected at the museum in 1993.[c][12]

The board of directors decided to no longer fly the museum's aircraft in April 1996 due to a lack of insurance.[13]

An O-47 that was on loan to the museum was sold by its owner in 2014.[14][15]

The museum added three bays to display additional artifacts in 2025.[16] A temporary exhibition of art featuring the Red Baron was announced in July 2025.[17]

Collection

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EC-121T in March 2014
F3D-2 in March 2014
C-47D in March 2014

The museums collection includes more than 40 aircraft ranging from World War I replicas to Cold War-era jets and helicopters, illustrating the evolution of U.S. military aviation.

The collection includes:

Aircraft

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Other

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Events

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The museum held an annual airshow called Superbatics from 1976 to at least 1995.[66][67]

The museum holds an annual 5k run/walk fundraiser.[68]

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ The organization had selected the site about ten years prior due to the amount of space available.[4]
  2. ^ The aircraft eventually went on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.[11]
  3. ^ It had been located on the Kansas Free Fair grounds, but was torn down in the late 1970s and the parts sold.

Notes

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  1. ^ "About the Combat Air Museum". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ McFadden, Jerry (8 February 1979). "War Pilot Still Airborne". Valley Falls Vindicator. p. 1. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  3. ^ Suciu, Peter (7 June 2019). "Combat Air Museum". Recoil. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  4. ^ Holder-Elliot, Glenda (15 September 1977). "Plane from Topeka in TV Movie". Wichita Beacon. p. 20C. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Experience the Power of Flight at the Combat Air Museum". Salina Journal. 6 February 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  6. ^ Stokes, Keith. "Combat Air Museum". Kansas Travel, Tourism & Restaurants. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Want a Combat Air Museum?". Wichita Eagle-Beacon. 24 February 1981. p. 9Z. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  8. ^ Curry, Robbie (22 June 1981). "Second Group Joins Push for Wichita Air Museum". Wichita Eagle. p. 4B. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  9. ^ Higdon, Dave (31 March 1991). "Into the Blue, on a Dream". Wichita Eagle. p. 3B. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  10. ^ Hess, Dan (8 August 1991). "'City of Salina' May Find New Home". Salina Journal. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Boeing RB-47H Stratojet". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Misplaced Veterans Memorial Gets Home". Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. 15 November 1993. p. 3C. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Lack of Insurance Grounds Museum". Salina Journal. Associated Press. 25 November 1996. p. A3. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  14. ^ "WWII Aircraft to Leave Topeka for Restoration". Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. p. 8A. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  15. ^ "North American O-47B (FAA Reg. No. N73716)". Combat Air Museum. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  16. ^ Decatur, Claire (4 March 2025). "'It's a Labor of Love': Combat Air Museum Soars to Heights with Expansion". WIBW. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  17. ^ Whalen, Tori (29 July 2025). "Exhibit Coming Soon to the Combat Air Museum Highlighting WWI German Ace Pilot". WIBW. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Airco de Havilland 2 (80% scale replica)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Beech RU-8D Twin Bonanza". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Beech SNB-5 Twin Beech Model 18 (FAA Reg. Number N87693)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Bell UH-1H-BF Iroquois (Huey)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Bell UH-1M Iroquois Huey". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  23. ^ Mathas, Kyle (30 June 2023). "Air Museum Begins Restoration of Chinook". WIBW. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Cessna Bobcat AT-17 "Bamboo Bomber"". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Curtiss JN-4D-2 Jenny Replica". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  26. ^ "DOUGLAS C-47D Skytrain ("Kilroy Is Here")". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Douglas F-3D-2T2 (TF-10B) Skyknight". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  29. ^ "WWI German Rumpler-Taube (scale flying replica)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Fairchild UC-61K Forwarder (Argus III) 24W-46 (FAA Reg. Number N81395)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Fokker Dr.1Triplane 75% Scale Replica German WWI Fighter". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Fokker E.IV Full Scale Replica German WWI Fighter". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  33. ^ "Grumman F9F-5 Panther". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  34. ^ "Grumman F11F-1 Tiger Blue Angel". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  35. ^ "US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat (Top Gun)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Museum Lands F-14 Tomcat". Salina Journal. Associated Press. 26 October 2003. p. A4. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  37. ^ "Grumman US-2A Tracker (FAA Reg. Number N486GT)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  38. ^ "Hiller OH-23A Raven (under reconstruction, but now nearing completion)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  39. ^ "Lockheed EC-121T-LO Warning Star (FAA Reg. Number N4257U)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  40. ^ "Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  41. ^ "McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  42. ^ "McDonnell F-4D-29-MC Phantom II". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  43. ^ "Headed for Air Museum". Herrington Times. 22 March 1990. p. 1B. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  44. ^ Grabauskas, Bryan (21 July 2022). "Air Combat Museum Welcomes Newest Jet, the F15 Eagle". WIBW. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  45. ^ "Messerschmitt Bf-109G-10 Full Scale Mockup". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  46. ^ "Meyers OTW (Out To Win) Serial #1 (FAA Reg. Number N15784)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  47. ^ Conger, Kathy (17 September 1986). "Rare 1936 Bi-Plane Stops in Bethany". Bethany Republican-Clipper. p. 12. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  48. ^ "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PF Fishbed D". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  49. ^ "Nieuport 27 WWI French Biplane Fighter". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  50. ^ "North American F-86H-10-NH Sabre (undergoing restoration)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  51. ^ "Topeka Museum Wants to Airlift Jet". Manhattan Mercury. AP. 21 October 1984. p. C4. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  52. ^ "Canadian Car & Foundry (North American) Harvard Mk IV (FAA Reg. Number N294CH)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  53. ^ "PFALZ E1 (3/4 Scale Replica)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  54. ^ "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15BIS (Polish-built SBLim-6R; FAA Reg. Number N15YY)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  55. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich-PZL-Mielec Lim-2, s/n 1016 SPRP, c/n 1B 010-16, c/r N15YY". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  56. ^ "(Mikoyan-Gurevich) Polish Lim-6R (MiG-17F) Fresco C". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  57. ^ "Republic F-84-25-RE Thunderstreak". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  58. ^ "Republic F-105D-30-RE Thunderchief". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  59. ^ "Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 (full scale replica) under construction". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  60. ^ "Sikorsky NCH-53A Sea Stallion". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  61. ^ "Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe Skycrane". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  62. ^ "Sopwith Scout ("Pup") British Biplane Fighter (Full Scale Replica)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  63. ^ "Vultee BT-13A Valiant". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  64. ^ "CQ-10A Snow Goose UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  65. ^ "Ryan Firebee BQM-34A "Drone" at Combat Air Museum". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  66. ^ "Superbatics Air Show Set". Herrington Times. 2 September 1982. p. 3A. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  67. ^ "Superbatics '95 is Slated for Aug. 26-27". Manhattan Mercury. 13 August 1995. p. C3. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  68. ^ "Combat Air Museum on Saturday to Hold Fundraising 2021 Topgun 5K/10K Run & 4K Walk". Topeka Capital-Journal. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
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