Academy repositions statues to strengthen cadet heritage and public access
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) statue is now located in the Air Garden on the Terrazzo. The Academy is relocating statues and memorials to increase visibility for the cadets and for the public. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy is relocating select statues and memorials from the Honor Court outside Harmon Hall to new locations across the installation ahead of the opening of the Hosmer Visitor Center in May.
The repositioning places several memorials in the Air Garden on the Terrazzo, where cadets will encounter them in daily spaces, while others are being installed on the grounds surrounding the Hosmer Visitor Center just outside the North Gate to improve visibility for the public.
The moves are intended to strengthen accessibility and connection to the Academy’s heritage and are being carried out thoughtfully and with respect for the legacy each memorial represents.
“The purpose is deliberate: to build airmindedness in cadets by placing them in daily contact with the leaders who came before them,” said Brian Laslie, command historian for the U.S. Air Force Academy. “Adding these statues to the Air Garden creates a central place for reflection on the Terrazzo, a daily reminder that cadets stand on the shoulders of giants. They will join the sculpture of Brig. Gen. Robinson Risner, which already anchors the Garden, and together strengthen this space as the heart of cadet heritage.”
The Academy repositioned the following statues and memorials to the Air Garden on April 15:
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial, donated by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. on May 8, 1988.
WASP Memorial, donated by the Women Airforce Service Pilots, World War II, Inc. on Sept. 4, 1997.
Vietnam POW Rescue Memorial, donated by the Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association on Sept. 19, 2014.
AC-47 Memorial, donated by the SPOOKY Brotherhood on Sept. 6, 2019.
Spirit 03 Memorial, donated by the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1979 on May 5, 2023.
The U.S. Air Force Academy Hosmer Visitor Center located outside the Academy’s North Gate, Nov. 18, 2025. The Academy is relocating statues and memorials on the grounds surrounding the Hosmer Visitor Center to improve visibility for the public. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Relocating statues enhances the visitor experience and first impressions
For visitors, the relocation aligns with the opening of the new Hosmer Visitor Center, which does not require base access to enter.
“The Hosmer Visitor Center gives us the ability to share our story from the moment guests arrive in Colorado Springs,” said Lisa Neener, chief of visitor experience at the U.S. Air Force Academy. “Thoughtfully relocating historic aircraft monuments to the grounds around the center puts our history where visitors can see it first. It honors the Airmen who overcame impossible odds to secure an independent Air Force, and it helps every family and guest understand the Academy’s legacy.”
The Academy will reposition the following statues and memorials to the Hosmer Visitor Center:
P-51 Mustang Memorial, donated by the P-51 Mustang Pilots Association on July 3, 1989.
P-38 Lightning Memorial, donated by the P-38 National Association Members on Aug. 28, 1992.
P-47 Thunderbolt Memorial, donated by the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association, Ltd. in June 1993.
P-40 Memorial, donated by the P-40 Warhawk Pilots Association on Sept. 21, 1994.
Boeing B-17G “Flying Fortress” Memorial, donated by the 305th Bomb Group Memorial Association on Aug. 22, 1997.
B-24 Liberator Memorial, donated by the B-24 Groups Memorial Inc. of the Army Air Forces on Sept. 25, 1998.
B-29 Superfortress Memorial, donated by the B-29 Superfortress Historical Association Inc. on Sept. 8, 2000.
C-46 Commando Memorial, donated by Groups Memorial Inc. of the Army Air Forces on Sept. 9, 2004.
The Academy is repositioning the memorials in phases. Statues moved to the Air Garden will be seen more often by cadets in a space they regularly use. Those placed at the Hosmer Visitor Center will be visible to all visitors once the center opens in May.
The AC-130 statue is now located in the Air Garden on the Terrazzo. The Academy is relocating statues and memorials to increase visibility for the cadets and for the public. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Suni)
Strengthening heritage and visibility for cadets and the public
Statues in the Air Garden are located on the Terrazzo and can only be viewed by those with authorized access to the cadet area. Statues at the Hosmer Visitor Center will be accessible to the public daily after opening.
Academy leaders emphasized that each move is being handled with care.
“We are repositioning these memorials to places where they will be seen and appreciated more often,” Laslie said. “Whether on the Terrazzo or at our front gate, the intent is the same: to preserve the history, honor the individuals represented, and connect both cadets and the public more directly to the heritage of the Air Force Academy.”
See more photos of statues and memorials on Flickr.
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