Louisiana's Hidden Gems: England Air Force Base Heritage Park, Alexandria

 A symbol of all airmen past, present and future, the England Air Force Base Heritage Park is a proud reminder of the Air Force's role in our nation's military history. Each of the five aircraft displayed here valiantly contributed to the defense of our country. They are suspended in simulated flight as a permanent reminder of the courage, dedication and sacrifice of the men and women who have served their country as members of the finest air force in the world. 

-  England Air Force Base Heritage Park Plaque

If you have ever flown in or out of the Alexandria International Airport then you have undoubtedly seen the collection of vintage fighter planes just off the road. These aircraft represent the the types of planes flown by Air Force units that once called England Air Force Base home during it's fifty year history. From 1942 to 1992 the base served as a training site for B-17 bomber crews during the second World War, during later conflicts the base would house both training squadrons as well as tactical  intercept squadrons  assigned to the region to protect the Gulf Coast from enemy attack.

The park is located in roughly the same area that once served as the main gates to the base and across from an area that once housed a rather large radar station that has now become a golf course.

The park itself is actually quite lovely and well maintained. The fighter aircraft are displayed as if they were flying over the park on their way to take on some foreign adversary.  It's a rather dramatic display and it's a wonderful tribute to the brave men and women and the machines the flew in defense of our great nation. It's a quite place to reflect on history and relax from life's trials and tribulations.

Photos:

The A-10C Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against light maritime attack aircraft and all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.

- United States Air Force

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War.

The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights in the skies of the Korean War (1950–1953), fighting some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles in history. - Wiki

The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought. The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. - Wiki

Evolved from the straight-wing F-84, the F-84F prototype first flew in June 1950. Deliveries began in 1954, with most of the aircraft going to the Tactical Air Command as a ground support fighter bomber. Republic built 2,112 F-84Fs while General Motors fabricated 599 more. Of these, 1,301 were delivered to NATO air forces. Production of a reconnaissance version, the RF-84F, totaled 715 aircraft, including 386 for allied countries. To accommodate cameras in the nose, Republic moved the RF-84F's air intakes to the wing roots. - United States Air Force

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