You can see why navy pilots jokingly labeled this base USS Cornfield. Nevertheless, by 1945, the base had turned out thousands of aviators for the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, in addition to British and Canadian flyers. Gus Grissom perished in the pre-launch accident of the Apollo I space mission. Grissom takes his place in American history as one of the original seven astronauts in the space program. As of October 1994, it was realigned as an Air Force Reserve Base under the 434th Wing.
Aviators trained at the base often return to reminisce about their time in central Indiana.
You needn't be an aviation buff to admire and appreciate the cluster of planes resting silently now in much- deserved retirement. Each plane has done it's part to preserve and protect our nation. Although twelve thousand of these aircraft were built, it is believed less than 50 survive. The B-17 has been immortalized in films such as Twelve O'clock High and Memphis Belle, among others. There is undoubtedly a long- standing mystique surrounding this aircraft.