Arkansas Air & Military Museum

On Saturday, October 30 the ORB Paranormal Team investigated the Arkansas Air & Military Museum in Fayetteville, AR. We were invited to lead the investigation at the Museum’s Night in the Museum fundraiser event. This was a great opportunity to experience leading a group investigation and we learned a lot during this event.

Methodology: Due to the large size of the group (approximately 35 at the largest), we were faced with many challenges to our typical methodology. We staged 4 static DVR cameras and a REM pod in the museum lobby/gift shop area, a REM pod in Barry Seals’ plan, and a REM pod and IR GoPro camera in the main building storage area – all areas where high activity has been reported. We also brought audio and video recording equipment, several spirit boxes, EMF detectors, and REM pods with us to various locations.

History: In 1986, the museum was originally established as the Arkansas Air Museum in a wooden hangar at Drake Field in Fayetteville, AR. The hangar, one of the few surviving wooden structures from the 1940s served as the headquarters for military aviation training during World War II and is now listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. The Museum houses an impressive collection of aircraft ranging from the 1920s to Vietnam War era. Impressively, current and former staff, volunteers, and visitors have reported a number of unexplained phenomena including: shadow people, physical contact, recurring intelligent responses on Spirit boxes, and items moving. Last year, the paranormal group leading the Night in the Museum investigation had success with spirit boxes and EVP recordings. Lindsay and Kylee spoke to staff and completed a reconnaissance investigation in early October. As a result of their findings, ORB decided to focus heavily on the lobby area, storage room in the main building, and the back corner of the metal hangar.

Reconnaissance Investigation: On October 2, Lindsay, Kylee, and Kingston visited the museum to evaluate the areas and put together a plan for the group investigation. In the main building’s storage room they did a brief Spirit Box session where they had three distinct voices coming through repeatedly. Only one intelligent, direct response could be made out live and upon review of the audio recordings. The voice, which sounded like an elderly female, responded to the question: “Did anyone die in a plane crash?”

[INSERT AUDIO]

We believe that this lady’s response is “Ed did.” Upon review of NTSB records and local news reports, we found a report that may confirm the name Ed. In 2010, four people were killed when pilot Edward Cooper became disoriented in icy conditions resulting in a crash near Fayetteville. The plane was heading from Hot Springs to Drake Field.

Staff confirmed that this elderly female voice has been heard before in the main building often asking questions about where staff members and volunteers are. She reportedly never offers information about herself and staff have not been able to identify who she may be.

Metal Hangar

· Lindsay and Seth’s experience

· “Adam”

· Estes Method

· Staff reports: “paul” is often seen in that area. A full bodied apparition of a tall, dark-headed man who visitors have described as rude – walking away when they ask him a question, for example.

o Could the more vulgar responses during the Estes Method be him?

Old Terminal

· Staff reports: chairs spin, toilets flush, flags and other items move

· Nazi artifacts and many weapons are in that area

· Estes Method

· K2 and flashlight turning on

· Not happy about Laci

Barry Seal’s Plane

· Kylee and Laci in the plane – k2 never went off, but we did document about a 10 degree temperature difference using a laser thermometer when Laci reported her right leg suddenly felt very cold. REM pod – nothing. Spirit Box – nothing.

· Cold spots is something that is commonly reported, as well as women feeling like they are being touched.

Back storage room in main hangar

· REM pod activity – debunked as not being vibrations from people walking on the ramp, not the beacon outside, etc.

· Area where the spirit they call “Ray” hangs out.

Lobby/Gift shop area

[Insert videos of orbs]

· Guest investigator Brandon had a personal experience of being touched and was visibly shaken

· Flashlight turned on and off

Conclusion

We had a few experiences during our investigation that we aren’t able to explain. Our evidence suggests there are at least a few paranormal things going on at the Museum. Our evidence suggests that the main hangar may be the most active. Despite some vulgar words coming through on the spirit box, we have no reason to believe there are any malicious entities present. We weren't able to determine exactly who these spirits may be, or what (if anything) they are attached to. We hope to be able to return to the museum and continue this investigation.

Although we hoped to find much more evidence, we had a few stand out moments including the REM pod in the storage room, trying the Estes Method, and finding some interesting light anomalies in the lobby. With our large number of guest investigators we believe that at times when there are an unusually large number of people present spirits may retreat into other, less accessible places to hide. More importantly, you can’t make spirits respond on cue.

The opportunity to lead a group investigation reminded us - and introduced to our guests - how surprising paranormal investigating can sometimes be. It seems like there's a definite correlation between what we THINK will happen when we investigate a location and what ACTUALLY happens... meaning places where we anticipate a lot of activity usually end up being slow. Conversely, areas that we don't expect much out of are often the ones that deliver the most surprising evidence and experiences. Even though we would have loved to facilitate an experience for visitors where they could encounter a full-bodied apparition, we know that's not reasonable. Paranormal investigating is often an exercise in patience and keeping a positive attitude.