Ephrata Alumni Association

Ephrata Airport Museum

Monday, June 9, 2014
Port of Ephrata, Ephrata Municipal Airport

World War II sparked a huge population boom, in large part because of the building and development of the Ephrata Army Air Base in 1942. Ephrata was an ideal location because of its level terrain, mostly clear weather and sparse nearby population. The landing field was built just outside of town as a training site for pilots of heavy bombers, practicing bombing runs on a bombing range south of Ephrata. Then, in 1944 the Ephrata Army Air Base was converted into a training facility for fighter pilots. The people of Ephrata, used to seeing bombers lumbering overhead, now saw fighters buzzing across the sky. The base and its auxiliary support services helped Ephrata to grow fivefold in the space of a few years. The air base was gradually phased out after the war and eventually became Ephrata Municipal Airport. The museum features historical displays and pictures of the Ephrata Army Air Base.

TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REPORTS OR PHOTOS, CONTACT:
Secretary	Beverly Elshire Mayer	EHS '60	sagehen@accima.com
Webmaster	Michael Lehmann	EHS '57	greg@gfolsom.com