TOPEKA (KSNT) — It may look like an April Fool’s Day prank, but it’s actually a nod to aviation history at Topeka’s Combat Air Museum.
The museum is flying the Royal Air Force ensign on April 1, temporarily dubbing Forbes Field “RAF Forbes.” The date marks the creation of the Royal Air Force in 1918 — the world’s first independent air force, formed by combining Great Britain’s Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service.
Museum Director Kevin Drewelow said the tradition is meant to both educate and spark curiosity.
“It’s an interesting bit of history and it’s an obscure fact that not everybody’s aware of, and it’s kind of a fun way to introduce people to what’s gone on before we all got here,” Drewelow said. “It attracts a bit of attention because people presume it’s an April Fool’s joke — and it’s not.”
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The museum continues the tradition each year as a unique way to connect visitors with aviation history. You can find the Combat Air Museum south of Topeka at Forbes Field.
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