Founding 8th Air Force Museum curator retires

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael Andriacco
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  After more than three decades, the 8th Air Force Museum bid a fond farewell to its founding curator, Mr. Harold "Buck" Rigg when he retired Oct. 18.

Mr. Rigg's connection to the museum began in the mid-1970s while his father was working at 8th Air Force headquarters. The then commander expressed a desire to acquire B-17 and B-24 bombers for displays and formed a committee to see how it could be done.

"I was attending Louisiana State University's fine arts program at the time and was also running a business on the side selling aircraft art and prints," Mr. Rigg said. "I've always had a deep love of history, instilled in me by my parents. My father told me about the initiative to bring in the bombers for display and I decided to be a part of that. It really was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

Once the aircraft were brought to Barksdale, the need for an organization to maintain the history of the base and its artifacts was recognized, and approval for a formal museum was sought through the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office.

"We got the word on Jan. 15, 1979 that Barksdale had approval to create a museum with a focus on strategic bombardment," said Mr. Rigg. "I was officially hired as the first curator through civil service channels in September of 1979."

Throughout his career, Mr. Rigg worked to acquire all the aircraft on display in the air park as well as all internal displays. From its humble beginnings as two rooms in the old wing headquarters, where the 2d Mission Support Group is now housed, the museum grew under Mr. Rigg's guidance to the current facilities just inside the North Gate.

"My favorite acquisition was a solid silver punch bowl that was used as a trophy for the annual 5th Corps Army golf tournament," said Mr. Rigg. "In the mid-1970s I was at a function in the officers' club and saw this very beautiful, ornate punch bowl. Upon reading the inscription, I saw that the first recipient was Lt. Eugene Hoy Barksdale, the base's namesake. It wasn't until the early 1980s that I was able to get the bowl for the museum. It will be displayed in the Barksdale room, a display of personal artifacts from Lieutenant Barksdale tentatively scheduled to open on Nov. 5, his birthday."

Mr. Rigg plans to spend some of his retirement volunteering on base and in the community while also working on several books about Barksdale and local history. Although he will check in from time to time, his presence at the museum will be missed and the impact of his efforts to preserve the past will be felt for generations in the future.