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Arnold Field (Tennessee) facts for kids

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Arnold Field
Arnold Field-Tennessee-2006-USGS.jpg
2006 USGS photo
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Town of Halls
Serves Halls, Tennessee
Elevation AMSL 292 ft / 89 m
Coordinates 35°54′12″N 089°23′50″W / 35.90333°N 89.39722°W / 35.90333; -89.39722
Map
Arnold Field is located in Tennessee
Arnold Field
Arnold Field
Location in Tennessee
Runway
Runway Length Surface
ft m
18/36 4,700 1,433 Concrete
Statistics (1996)
Aircraft operations 7,290
For more about its history during World War II, see Dyersburg Army Air Base

Arnold Field is a public airport in Halls, Tennessee, USA. It is located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) northwest of the main part of Halls. The airport is named after Sammie Arnold, a former mayor of the town.

This airport is built on the land of the old Dyersburg Army Air Base. During the 1940s, this base was a training center. It helped pilots and crews learn to fly B-17 Flying Fortress bombers for World War II.

Today, Arnold Field is home to 15 general-purpose aircraft. It also hosts the interesting Veterans' Museum.

Airport Facts: What You Need to Know

Arnold Field covers an area of about 29 acres (12 hectares). It has one concrete runway, which is 1,433 meters (4,700 feet) long and 23 meters (75 feet) wide.

In 1996, the airport had about 7,290 aircraft movements. This means planes took off or landed about 19 times each day. Most of these flights (99%) were for general aviation, like private planes. Only a small part (1%) was for military planes.

Veterans' Museum: A Look into History

Vet museum halls tn
Exhibits showing uniforms and old documents
Vet museum halls tn armored veh
An armored vehicle on display

About the Museum: Its Start and Goal

The Veterans' Museum was built in 1997. It is located right where the old Dyersburg Army Air Base used to be. A group called The Dyersburg Army Air Base Memorial Association owns and runs the museum. This group is a non-profit organization, meaning they don't aim to make money.

The museum's main goal is to save and share stories and items from military history. It covers conflicts from World War I all the way to the Iraq War. It also tells the unique story of the air base itself.

You can visit the museum for free! If you have an RV, you can park it there without charge. There is a small fee if you need an electrical hookup for your RV.

Museum Exhibits: What You Can See

The items you see at the Veterans' Museum are all donated. They come from different groups and people who want to share their history.

Outside the museum, you can see a real A-7 Corsair II jet. There are also other military vehicles on display.

Inside, the museum has a large exhibition space, about 827 square meters (8,900 square feet). Here, you'll find many interesting things. These include military vehicles, uniforms, and old photographs. You can also see personal letters, diaries, and official documents. There are even videos and other military memorabilia.

You'll also notice amazing murals painted by Ernie Berke. Plus, there are photographs of 72 different flight crews.

Special Exhibits to Explore:

Corsair dyaab halls tn
An A-7 Corsair II jet outside the Veterans' Museum
  • World War I - See a full uniform and gear from a local soldier named C.C. Sumrow. This collection belongs to Tommy Simmons.
  • Memphis Belle Exhibit - Learn about the famous Memphis Belle bomber and its crew. Discover what happened to the plane after the war.
  • Home Front Exhibit - This section shows pictures and uniforms of local veterans. It also includes photos of weddings where local women married soldiers training at the base.
  • At Home Exhibit - Step back in time to the 1940s! This exhibit shows a living room just like it would have looked then. You'll see an old radio, a coal stove, and other items that show what rural homes were like.

Air Shows: See Planes in Action

Sometimes, the museum hosts exciting air shows at Arnold Field. These events happen at different times, so check their schedule!

Other Museum Facilities

The museum also has conference rooms that can hold up to 50 people. There's also the Sammie Arnold Lending Library. This library has many books about the military topics covered in the museum.

  • Resources for this airport:
    • FAA airport information for M31
    • AirNav airport information for M31
    • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart for M31
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