FOLEY – As part of an upcoming museum exhibit, the City of Foley is getting a rare model of a World War II training aircraft that was a familiar sight over Foley in the 1940s.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said he and other Foley officials are pleased to acquire the aircraft. The N3N will be a major contribution to Foley plans to celebrate the city’s designation as an American World War II Heritage City and the area’s history.
“I think it’ll be a real winner for our city,” Hellmich said. “This is something that could be a real jewel for our city.”
The Foley City Council voted to buy the World War II training aircraft. The 1941 N3N biplane is one of several models of aircraft used at Barin Field, the Navy’s aviation training center that opened in Foley after the start of World War II.
The National Park Service named Foley an American World War II Heritage City. Only one community in each state or territory receives the designation commemorating that city’s part in World War II and its efforts since the war to recognize the service of veterans in the conflict.
Later this year, the city will open a display on Barin Field and Foley during World War II. That exhibit will be in the Foley Railroad Museum on East Laurel Avenue.
Foley is also developing plans on a more extensive permanent exhibition to include displays such as the N3N.
Barin Field had a major impact on Foley, Baldwin County and America during the war.
During World War II, Barin Field had more than 2,000 active-duty personnel assigned to the base in addition to training more than 5,000 aviation cadets. Foley had a population of about 850 in the 1940 census.
Many of those aviators who trained at Barin Field went on to fight in the Pacific Theater, contributing to the Allied victory.
Barin’s impact is still felt today, City Administrator Mike Thompson said.
“We want to have displays that really identify how Barin Field affected us as a city,” Thompson said. “Many people who live in Foley today are here because their father or grandfather came here to learn to fly for the Navy, and after the war, they came back here and they made Foley their home.”
Thompson said the city is looking for ways to commemorate the national recognition.
“We recently were recognized as a World War II Heritage city for the state of Alabama,” Thompson said. “Since that time, the staff has been working with the Navy to try to identify ways that we can recognize our history and how the Barin Field has affected Foley as a city.”
Hellmich said aircraft like the N3N continued to be familiar sights in Baldwin County long after World War II.
“A lot of those were World War Two surplus trainers, these crop dusters,” Hellmich said. “We were familiar with these planes when we grew up.”
The mayor said Foley is also working with other institutions, such as the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, to locate historic items to include in the upcoming exhibits.
Foley residents can also contribute to the planned exhibits. Anyone with items relating to Barin Field or Foley during World War II can loan or donate artifacts to be included. Photographs can be scanned and returned to the donors.
Hellmich said the museum displays are a way for Foley to recognize the distinction of being the only city in Alabama to receive the National Park designation.
Barin Field was an active base from 1942 through 1947 and was reopened from 1953 until 1958. The Navy continues to operate the site as an outlying landing field.