Minter Field to celebrate anniversary of dedication

Minter Field will be holding a celebration to commemorate the dedication of the base in February 1942.

Minter Field Shafter was officially dedicated Minter Field Army Air Corps Base in honor of Hugh Minter on Feb. 7, 1942.

They will be celebrating the 82nd anniversary of the dedication on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum, 401 Vultee St., at the Shafter Airport.

At the event, aviation historian Barbara Schultz will be signing her "Pioneering Aviation in Kern County" book.

Schultz has published several books, including "Pancho: The Biography of Florence Lowe Barnes." Barnes was a skilled aviatrix who also was the owner of the Happy Bottom Flying Club.

Honor Flight of Kern County will also be at the event to sign up those interested in a future flight to Washington, D.C.

The museum will celebrate some of the things that have happened in the last year.

According to museum Chairman Ronald Pierce, the base owes thanks to the Johnson Family Fund for their generous donation in the namesake of Charles M. (Charlie) Johnson. With his donation, the museum was able to paint and restore the 82-year-old WWII building it calls home.

Steve Holloway Painting and their paint crew painted and restored the building. Bakersfield Carpenter's Union Local #743 and Rebuilding Together Kern County remodeled a storage room into a brand-new exhibit room for the museum.

Ken Schultz provided the initial gift to start the Ken Schultz Airplane Hangar Fund, benefitting the museum.

All activities are free at the anniversary event. More information is available from the Minter Field office at 661-393-0402.