Jennys to Jets: Birmingham's Military Aviation History

The Jennys to Jets: Birmingham’s Military Aviation History Exhibition features art and artifacts that create a visual narrative paying tribute to 100 years of worldwide aviation service by the men and women of the Alabama (Air) National Guard.

* Learn about the beginning of the “Birmingham Escadrille” flying club.

* Follow this distinctive unit as it fought the Japanese while flying B-25s in the South Pacific.

* Experience the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing plunging into the jet age with the F-84 while capturing numerous non-stop distance records using in-flight refueling and later deploying in support of the Berlin Crisis.

* Take special note of riveting details of the 117th’s participation in the CIA’s Bay of Pigs air invasion.

* Discover how the Birmingham Air Guard transitioned to the RF-4C.

*Learn about the 117th Air Refueling Wing becoming established when flying the KC-135R – a mission that the unit performs today. The “Stratotanker” and the proud men and women of the 117th have been serving continuously to provide combat air refueling around the world for 22 years.

Experience the past 100 years of Birmingham’s military aviation history as seen through the eyes of the Airmen of the 117th!