OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

The OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park features a United States Air Force RF-84F Fighter Aircraft, on a pedestal stand in simulated flight, in front (west) of Thatcher Hall, on the grounds of Oklahoma State University. Thatcher Hall serves as the Headquarters of U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 670. It is the primary classroom and training facility for OSU students enrolled in AFROTC Aerospace Studies, and engaged in officer leader development training, leading to a commission in the U.S. Air Force. The Air Park is dedicated to AFROTC students, past and present, and OSU veterans for their honorable military service and sacrifice. A memorial flagpole is situated on the west lawn along the main walkway in front of the primary entrance to Thatcher Hall. On the grounds close to the aircraft is a metal plaque on a metal stake inscribed: UNITED STATES AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS. DET 670 WAS ESTABLISHED AT OSU IN 1946 AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED ITS MISSION TO PRODUCE LEADERS FOR THE AIR FORCE AND BUILD BETTER CITIZENS FOR AMERICA. “A MODERN AND THOROUGHLY TRAINED AIR FORCE WILL NOT ALONE BE SUFFICIENT BUT WITHOUT IT THERE CAN BE NO NATIONAL SECURITY.” - H.H. “Hap” Arnold General of the Air Force. DETACHMENT 670. The plaque also shows a Det. 670 patch depicting an F-22 “Raptor” fighter aircraft in flight with the wording: AFROTC DETACHMENT 670 OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. On the pedestal stand supporting the aircraft is a metal plate displaying an Air ROTC patch and Air Force ROTC insignia, and inscribed: COMMEMORATING OSU DETACHMENT 670’S AIR FORCE ROTC 1946-1981 35 YEARS OSU. RF-84F REFURBISHED: SEPTEMBER, 1981. DEDICATED: 26 SEPTEMBER. DONATIONS: RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, CIMMARON CHAPTER; COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES; MANPOWER CADETS OF AFROTC, OSU. There follows a listing of 30 names. On the south lawn, adjacent to Thatcher Hall, is a commemorative tree planted in memory of Captain Keith A. Sands, a Tulsa, Oklahoma native, a graduate of OSU, and a product of the OSU AFROTC Detachment 670 program, who was killed in the line of duty. At the base of the tree is a plaque inscribed: THIS TREE PLANTED IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN KEITH A. SANDS, USAF. CAPTAIN SANDS, A TULSA NATIVE AND 1988 OSU AFROTC DET 670 ALUMNUS, DIED WHEN HIS F-16 JET CRASHED OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH KOREA ON MARCH 25, 1998. HIS SERVICE AND SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. Also on the south lawn, immediately adjacent to the building, is a static display of a piece of Air Force ordnance (inert missile) which was used as a training device for the AGM-69 SRAM munition. The AGM-69 SRAM was a nuclear, short range attack missile, for air-to-surface employment, which was in service from 1972-1993.

Search Google for this memorial

Search Google Maps for this memorial

 

Memorial War Era(s):

Persian Gulf
Panama
Lebanon/Grenada
Vietnam
Korea
WWII
WWI
Other

Location:

Stillwater, Payne County, OK 74078. On the Oklahoma State University (OSU) campus on the grounds immediately west (in front) of Thatcher Hall, which is adjacent to Knoblock St. and Athletic Ave.

Photo Gallery:

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Thatcher Hall Air Park

 

Published on May 19, 2017