FOLEY — Foley has taken another step toward honoring its rich aviation history with the acquisition of a second U.S. Navy training aircraft for display in a planned museum highlighting the city’s role in naval aviation.
The newest addition is a T-34B Mentor, a primary training aircraft used by the U.S. Navy from 1957 through the mid-1970s. The T-34B was a familiar sight in the skies over Foley and South Baldwin County during that time, as pilots trained in the area.
The National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) in Pensacola loaned the aircraft to Foley through a long-term agreement. On Thursday, June 12, crews from the Foley Public Works Department, along with city staff and volunteers, transported the disassembled aircraft from Pensacola to Foley. The fuselage was loaded onto one truck, while the wings and tail sections were carried on a trailer behind a second vehicle. The aircraft is now stored at a city facility until a permanent display space is completed.
Mike Chavers, Foley street superintendent, said the successful transport was the result of collaboration between city departments, local businesses, and the U.S. Navy.
“We want to give a huge thank you to Aubry Morris with Little Bitty’s Towing and David and Bob Irwin with Magnolia Equipment Rental for generously donating their equipment and time to help make this possible,” Chavers said. “We also appreciate the guidance and assistance from Kenneth Tillman, Michael Allen, and Bruce Cummins from NAS Pensacola.”
City employees involved in the transport included Greg Frank, Will Ray, Bob Morrison, and Mark Harbison from the Street Department, and Dustin Wyatt, Andrew Salgado, Henry Prim, and Daniel Bristow from the Municipal Complex. Bonnie Towne, NNAM aircraft loan manager, helped coordinate the transfer and federal approvals necessary for the aircraft loan.
The T-34B will be part of an expanded display commemorating Foley’s aviation legacy. The city currently maintains an exhibit at the Foley Railroad Museum that showcases Barin Field and the community’s contribution to Navy aviator training.
Barin Field, located east of the Foley Beach Express, opened in 1942 as a U.S. Navy aviation training base. During World War II and the Korean Conflict, it served as a vital training site, with over 2,000 permanent personnel and more than 5,000 cadets trained in its first two years. The Navy continues to use the field today as an outlying landing field.
In 2024, Foley was named an American World War II Heritage City by the National Park Service—a designation that honors the city’s contributions during the war and its ongoing efforts to preserve and recognize that history.
In addition to the T-34B, the city also owns a 1942 N3N biplane, which will be part of the future museum’s collection celebrating Foley’s legacy in Navy aviation training.