Travis AFB Aviation Museum Education
The Library Archives
The Travis AFBAviation Museum archives are available for research during regular Heritage Center hours. The archive is not yet available on the open internet but you can access it through the archive computer in the museum library.
Please contact the office for more information.
The library archives contain copies of manuals, photographs, books, videos, the base newspapers and a myriad of other documents. Recently, many of these documents have been digitized and are available on the archive computer. This is still a work in progress. The material in the archive is not researched and complete data - it is whatever someone decided to leave with us - it is eclectic at best. We hope to be able to load all our information up to a web site and make it available to everyone.
Past issues of of the Travis Air Museum NEWS have been digitized and are available for word search. You can to reprint articles from these sources that highlight various aspects of the history of the Travis Air Force base. Until recently, the information in these sources has been almost inaccessible, requiring laborious effort on the part of researchers to track down a given story or subject.
In addition to digitized material, the library has over 3,000 books on aviation and military history available for checkout. The books are being cataloged so you can search through them on the archive computer.
PLEASE NOTE: Visiting researchers are welcome to make copies of photos and documents on site, but the museum does not have the staff to make copies on request.
Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center Library
Fun For Kids
The Heritage Center urges you to enjoy learning about aviation. Just for fun, we recommend the word search game, aviation books for kids of all ages and a few interesting facts to mull over.
Apollo Mission Word Search (answers further down page) - CLICK TO PRINT
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ALDRIN
AMERICAN
ARMSTRONG
ASTRONAUT
CAPSULE
COLLINS
COLUMBIA
COMMUNICATION
CONTROL
EAGLE
EARTH
EXPLORATION
FLORIDA
FOOTPRINT
INSTRUMENTS
JULY
LAUNCH
MISSION
MOON
ORBIT
PACIFIC
PHOTOGRAPHS
RENDEZVOUS
SCIENTIFIC
SPACECRAFT
SPLASHDOWN
TRANQUILLITY
Federal Aviation Association Recommended Books
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The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation. Quentin Reynolds
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The Story of Aviation: A Concise History of Flight. Bill Et Gunston, Ray Bonds (Editor)
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Get Around in Air and Space. (Get Around Books) by Lee Sullivan Hill. Reading level: Ages 4-8
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Fly, Bessie, Fly. by Lynn Joseph, Yvonne Buchanan. Reading Level: Ages 4-8
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Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft. 1997-1998 by Paul Jackson (Editor)
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The Aviation And Aerospace Almanac. 1999 Richard Lamp (Editor) Aerospace and Aviation Daily (Compiler) Publications of Aviation Week (Compiler)
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The Magic School Bus Taking Flight. A Book About Flight (Magic School Bus Series) Created by Joanna Cole Created by Bruce Deem
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Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II. by Amy Nathan. This book is about the WASPs, the women pioneer pilots who flew for the Army Air Forces in World War II. Reading level: 10 and up.
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Just Plane Smart: Activities for Kids in the Air and on the Ground. by Edwin J. C. Sobey, Ed Sobey Reading level: Ages 9-12
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My First Plane Ride. by Elizabeth Benjamin, Mary Lonsdale. Reading level: Ages 4-8
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Fly High, The Story of Bessie Coleman. by Louise Borden
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The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. David Donald (Editor)
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Jane’s Aircraft Recognition Handbook: Jane’s Military Guide. Janes
Fascinating Facts
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The Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, NC could have been performed within the (150-foot) economy section of a 747-400.
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Before Air Traffic Control Towers were developed, pilots avoided other aircraft by a method called ”see and be seen.”
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Prior to 1926, a person could fly passengers or goods without obtaining a pilot’s license.
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The first animal aviators were a sheep, a duck and a cockerel that were sent aloft in a hot air balloon in 1783.
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”Air stewardess” was the official title given to the position that we now refer to as ”Flight Attendant.” The first Air Stewardess was Ellen Church and she began work with United Airlines in May 1930.
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Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo. In 1935, Earhart achieved two solo firsts - Hawaii to the mainland and Mexico to New York City.
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Elizabeth Dole was the first woman to become Secretary of Transportation.
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Harriett Quimby was the first woman to earn a pilot’s license. The year was 1911.
Apollo Mission Word Search Answers - CLICK TO PRINT
Aviation Information Links
If you would like to suggest a website to include as a link on this page, please send your suggestion to the Heritage Center Office.
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Heritage Program Websites
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Other aviation web sites of interest
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Air Force Link - U.S. Air Force
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AirForce.TogetherWeServed.com - a place for Airmen to reconnect with those they served with, share memories and record their Air Force Story
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Aviation Museum- largest database of worldwide aviation museums
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Marine Corps Heritage Foundation - The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Marine Corps history and traditions. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the “Marine House,” where all visitors--military and civilian--are warmly welcomed.
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Military Retiree's Important Tricare Benefit Increase Proposed changes by Congress
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Together We Served - AirForce.TogetherWeServed.com - a place for Airmen to reconnect with those they served with, share memories and record their Air Force Story
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Wright-Patterson National Museum of the United States Air Force