The World War II Flight Training Museum in Douglas has received new support to safeguard its historic legacy. The Georgia State Historic Preservation Office has awarded the City of Douglas a $6,780 subgrant to fund the museum’s master plan. The grant is part of a statewide round of $120,000 in preservation funding, with 60% provided by the federal government and 40% from local sources.
“Local governments are integral to creating environments for lasting, community-backed preservation efforts,” said Jenifer Flood, Historic Preservation Division Director. “The varied preservation tools utilized by these grant recipients will help ensure their built heritage remains for future generations.”
PRESERVING GEORGIA’S WWII AVIATION HISTORY
Douglas is home to the 63rd Army Air Forces Contract Pilot School, one of 55 civilian primary flying training centers established nationwide during World War II. More than 5,000 aviation cadets trained at the school, preparing for combat service in every theater of the war.
The WWII Flight Training Museum preserves the history of the 63rd Flying Training Detachment and the young airmen who learned to fly there. According to the museum’s mission statement, its purpose is to:
“Preserve, protect, develop, and advance the understanding of our nation’s aviation training heritage through collections, research, exhibits, and interpretation… while maintaining the heritage and historical integrity of the Raymond-Richardson Aviation School.”
Unlike many training schools of the era, the Douglas facility remains remarkably intact, with several original training buildings still standing today. This makes it one of the most authentic surviving examples of WWII civilian pilot training infrastructure in the United States.
A TRAIL PARTNER
As a proud partner of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail, the WWII Flight Training Museum plays a key role in telling the story of Georgia’s contributions to victory in World War II. The museum invites visitors to explore its exhibits and discover the stories of the cadets who trained in Douglas before flying into history.
For museum hours and visitor information, click here.