Restoring History: The Transformation of Mustang Field Hangar

History and Starting Condition

In 1941 Clarence Page and a group of Oklahoma City businessmen bought land west of town and created a flying field for the Army Air Corps called “Cimarron Field”.  Business was so brisk training pilots for the World War II effort that they needed to expand.  Acquiring pastureland further west, near the hamlet of El Reno they built a near carbon copy and named it “Mustang Field” which opened in 1943 and ran busily until pilot training began to wind down and the field was closed in 1944.

Among the buildings constructed to support the training effort were four large aircraft hangars of approximately 30,000 square feet each. These building feature barrel vaulting in the center section formed by “bow string” trusses.  These trusses were so named because they looked like bow and string.  These trusses create a curved roof and were very common in the 1920’s through the 1950’s in metal building construction.  On either side of the center section long sheds featuring sloped roofs were built to complete the building design.  At both ends sliding hangar doors were added to the openings which were just under 90 feet in width. 

In 1943 everyone was in a hurry and airplanes, and airplane hangars, were built to get into action quickly not necessarily for longevity.  Hangars like those at Mustang Field had panels built in a factory in 12-foot sections framed with angle iron.  Metal was scarce so the walls were short, framing was light and the hope that they would last through the war was a primary design consideration. 

Amazingly, nearly 85 years later the hangars at Mustang Field are still standing, though a little worse for wear.  Hangar 3, the future home of the Caldwell Collection, is in pretty sad shape.  The wall supports have rusted away and metal sheeting is pitted, rusted and dented.  The steel framed windows are all rusted, and many single glass panes are broken or boarded up.  Interior walls are still standing but in odd places showing that as the hangar’s use over nearly a century changed things just got added haphazardly. 

The roof leak and the ground have risen up to the east and causes ground water to flood too. The wind whistles through the outdated electrical system and sheet metal hangs from the roof.  The concrete floor, in amazingly good condition, has rotted in some areas and is stained nearly black from dirt, oil and use. 

To most this looks like, and certainly sounds like, a project for a bull dozer.  But it represents an important historical use and story.  For an antique airplane aficionado who rebuilds old airplanes in far worse shape, its salvation seems not just possible but mandatory.   It isn’t without assets including the floor and a basic structure that is sound.  So, it will be saved!

Figuring Out What to Do

My first call was to my long-time close friend David French of D.H. French Construction Company.  We walked through the building many times and he later did many more tours with prospective subcontractors and Airport Manager Scott Law.  Slowly a plan took shape.  That’s when I called my long-term friend Dan Welle to draw plans.  Dan is a home designer by trade but is a creative and practical person with great drafting skills.  Together we created a plan. 

What’s Coming

First, we have to nearly tear the whole thing down.  The steel skeleton will be left, and the framework of the hangar doors will survive along with most of the concrete floor.  The roof will remain on but be extensively repaired before reroofing.  Everything else must go!

We will reframe the sidewalls making them stronger than they were in 1943 and put new metal siding on.  That siding will be pierced by 43 large, modern, energy-efficient windows and seven new commercial-grade walk doors.  The hangar doors are being taken apart and will be rebuilt and reskinned both inside and out.  We are completely replacing all electrical, plumbing, and heating systems.  We will be air conditioning the kitchen, bathroom, and office areas.  The floors will be cleaned and then tiled or carpeted.  The entire building is being insulated with 3 inches of closed cell foam and then interior wall panels will be installed to give a clean, finished look.

Here are some details:

• Waldo Wright’s Flying Service will have a shop of approximately 7,000 square feet constructed in the SW corner of the building featuring large windows opening to the museum space and a large, comfortable, office constructed in the west eave. 
  

• A shop, storage and office area are being constructed on the east side of the building totaling about 1,500 square feet. 
  

• In the NE corner of the building, an air-conditioned kitchen designed for gathering and serving food to groups of people is being built.  The space will be known as “Wiley and Will’s Café and Hangar Flying Hangout” and feature large glass windows overlooking the museum floor.
  

• Public restrooms are being built immediately adjacent to the kitchen.
  

• The rest of the hangar will be devoted to aircraft storage and display.  We can accommodate approximately 25 aircraft so the Collection has room to grow. 
  

We have large ramp spaces on either end of the hangar and the City is building a small parking lot on the east side of the hangar.

All progress seems to begin with destruction and demolition started the week of February 24, 2025.  We expect the project to take six months to complete and we should be moved in and ready to open by October 2025.