The A-7 D Corsair II fighter jet that was once perched at the now-closed Martin Airfield west of South Sioux City has landed in its new permanent home.
After getting patched up and a new coat of paint across the Missouri River at the 185th Air Refueling Wing this summer, the Vietnam-era fighter jet was airlifted Tuesday afternoon to its new home at Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City.
The plane was brought back to Nebraska with the help of a Chinook helicopter from the Iowa Army National Guard’s B-171 Aviation Regiment based in Davenport, Iowa. The flight took about 30 minutes to complete, with the helicopter gently lowering the plane on to Veterans Drive near the entrance to the park. From there, it took about an hour to tow it to its final location in front of the interpretive center.
“I’m just glad this thing is finally here,” a relieved Marty Hogan from the Siouxland Freedom Park Board said as the helicopter began its return flight after dropping off the plane. “We were sweating bullets from the moment we heard it was being hooked up there to when it was finally put down here at its permanent home.”
The plane had sat out at Martin Airfield just west of South Sioux City since 2003. Once that field was sold and its days as a local airport were done, the plane was acquired and ownership was transferred from the American Legion Post 307 to the Air Force.
“The Legion had to sign over ownership of the aircraft to the Air Force before we could move it from Martin Field to the 185th,” Hogan said.
The plane was transferred to the 185th in early May and refurbishing work began there.
“When they finished it, we’ve just been waiting for some decent weather and this happened to be the day when the Army and Air Force were all ready to go, and it was pretty cool seeing it come over,” Hogan said.
With the plane set in its new, and permanent, location, a cement pad will be constructed around the plane that will provide a sundial-like shadow with the plane’s silhouette, Hogan said.
A ribbon-cutting is being planned for later this fall once final work is done around the plane. It will be the newest addition to Siouxland Freedom Park, which includes replicas of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Memorial, along with Freedom Rock, the Never Forget Garden and the Day Interpretive Center.
