Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, Class Photos

Hi! Does anyone have any idea about how to find class photos from Chanute Field in 1940? I saw that there are class photos, and would really like to see the avionics class of 1940. Thanks for any help!

 

Thanks! I'll do that! We live about 400 miles away, but if we ever get over that way, I have added it to the "to see" list! ;o) We love museums and particularly anything doing with WWII. Love the Dayton Air Force Museum and have grown up going there!

I appreciate the help and hope to hear back from them!

 

We spent a great deal of time on the base when it was open. When I was a kid my father went there for medical treatment, there were no VAs close to us at the time.

And I am sorry to say I've never been to the museum - however, this post has reminded me and I think I need to do that some day soon. Thanks to you both for reminding me....

Good luck with your quest, StratasFan.

Biak, you were definitely in my neck of the woods when you were there!

 

Hi, again! I know I'm bumping an old topic, but I finally heard back from Chanute Field. They have no personal records and can't furnish any info. Nothing is cataloged and they can't really look through. Does anyone have a different idea about how to go about finding what class someone was in or find class photos? I know that he was at Chanute Field on 22 Jan 1940, but by 15 May he was out in Denver, Colorado.

 

Btw, Sad news about Octave Chanute Museum. With Illinois and Chicago in such a mess smaller cities are getting cut from state funding. Rantoul is no longer providing support. The museum will close at the end of December. Rantoul has really struggled since losing the AFB in 1994. So much history there.

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/chanute-air-museum-closing-for-good

 

Any idea what will happen with the museum's collection after it closes?

 

Sold off or otherwise distributed amongst other air museums. Their Facebook page recommends visiting soon due to uncertainty of transfer dates of items to new homes.

 

I grew up close to Rantoul and Chanute, It was close and my dad was retired Navy so my parents bought groceries there and other items. Medical care also. It was crowded then with Vietnam going on. I saw lots of Vietnamese AF people, and others. I loved all of the WWII and Korean War planes on display. After we moved away, it closed. I am sorry to hear about the museum closing. I used to have a small folder from a man who was trained there. It covered different topics. I have never seen a WWII pillow case from Chanute, and I have a lot of them. You would have to search online for class books. I have seen some, but few AAF books. I can't tell you a year class books became common. I know in Decatur at the Depot Antique shop they had some class books. I can't remember the years or branches. No Turner book about the base? Online is the best bet.