Aviation Heritage Park Honors Colonel Arnie Franklin with Dedicated Exhibit

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky – Aviation Heritage Park has announced the launch of a new exhibit dedicated to Lt. Col. Arnie Franklin, a former United States Air Force fighter pilot known for his impressive missions over Vietnam and Libya. The opening of this well-curated exhibit coincidental with the Independence Day celebrations was the highlight of the event.

About Lt. Col. Arnie Franklin

Franklin, born in Franklin and having moved to Bowling Green at the age of 10, had always aspired to be a fighter pilot. His journey in the United States Air Force began in 1968 at the young age of 23. He served as a French-speaking Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia before his deployment to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. “Then I flew missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail for the rest of the year,” Franklin outlined his service during the Vietnam war.

Experience in Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1955-1975), a long and deeply controversial conflict in the US, was a battlefield for North Vietnam and its communist allies against South Vietnam, whose principal ally was the United States. The war saw extensive aerial bombardment and fierce ground combat. The experience of returning home for many veterans was often challenging. “I felt that I wasn’t appreciated… Nobody welcomed me back except my wife, of course,” Franklin shared, comparing his homecoming to the grand welcomes WWII veterans enjoyed.

Franklin’s Role in Mission Over Libya

Franklin’s service extended into the 1980s, with notable involvement in the 1986 mission over Libya. “April 14 of 1986, I found myself strapped in an F-111 at the end of the runway there at Lakenheath as a Mission Commander for the Air Force portion and we started launching F-111′s,” Franklin shared about a plane now beautifully restored and displayed proudly in the courtyard of the Aviation Heritage Park.

The New Exhibit at Aviation Heritage Park

Located in Bowling Green, the Aviation Heritage Park proudly unveiled its new addition that pays tribute to Lt. Col. Franklin’s illustrious career. The exhibit, which officially opened on the Fourth of July, allows visitors to dive into a journey through Franklin’s storied career, offering a firsthand account of his various missions and shining a light on the life of a distinguished fighter pilot.

“I want you to close your eyes and I want you to think of the most fun thing that you’ve ever done in your life, flying one of these is much better than that,” Franklin expressed, sharing his continued passion for flying.

With the inauguration of this new exhibit, Aviation Heritage Park aims to offer insights into the demanding yet fascinating lives of fighter pilots, echoing their history, valor, and adventures.