Mayor G.T. Bynum and District 3 City Councilor Crista Patrick celebrated the dedication of public art at the Tulsa Air & Space Museum Wednesday, joined by representatives from the Tulsa Air & Space Museum, Tulsa Airport, Tulsa Arts Commission and the Tulsa National Guard 138th Fighter Wing. The sculpture is dedicated to the Tulsa Air National Guard, 138th Fighter Wing and symbolizes the loss of Technical Sargent Marshal D. Roberts and other personnel lost in the line of duty.
"This sculpture is one of several pieces of public art made possible by dedicated Vision Tulsa funds," said Mayor G.T. Bynum. "The meaning and thoughtfulness behind this sculpture is inspiring and I am excited that both residents and visitors have another piece of public art in Tulsa to enjoy for years to come."
Created by sculptor David Wagoner, "Missing Man" references the classic 'missing man formation' with which all members of the 138th Fighter Wing are familiar. The formation is created when a group of aircrafts pass overhead, and one plane pulls up and away to represent the loss of a member of the Wing. The 138th Fighter Wing logo can be seen in the glass at the center of the sculpture. The sculpture serves as a remembrance of Sargent Roberts who is the first and only airmen from the 138th Fighter Wing to be lost in combat.
"The Tulsa Air & Space Museum project was particularly fun for me, as it is completely based on aircraft structure, aviation lore, and the beauty and excitement of flight," said Wagoner. "I was very motivated by the 138th Fighter Wing's desire to commemorate one of their own. I also wanted the piece to remind all of the TASM staff and visitors to remember: 'The Sky Begins At Our Feet.'"
The first element of the piece is a stylized silhouette of an F-16 aircraft. The silhouette is moving towards the viewer when viewed from either side. The aircraft is shown with no armament, only the external fuel tanks, which are required for every mission of a small, lightweight fighter.
The sculpture also includes a bench which is an actual wing shape, constructed with aluminum ribs, spars, and sheet decking. Visitors sitting on the bench will experience the feel of rivets and aircraft construction. The bench is high enough that many people will experience their feet off the ground while sitting, symbolizing being borne into the air on the wing.
The outer circular motif has deep incurve at the top which recalls a common shape in memorials. A silver wing and setting sun shape also suggest the final flight in a sunset for a lost air guardsmen and reinforce the aviation theme with a gentler approach than the powerful fighter silhouette. The phases of the moon cut into the steel on each side symbolize the passing of time, in this case, the span of a man's life.
The 138th Fighter Wing is the second largest F-16, Air National Guard Fighter Wing and is made up of 1,204 authorized personnel. After the conversion to the F-16, the 138th Fighter Wing has participated in Operations Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, and Freedom's Sentinel.
The public art commission is made possible by the One Percent for Public Art Program provided by the City of Tulsa as part of the Vision Tulsa Air National Guard 138th FW Mission Training Center project.
Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets and transportation needs citywide. With citizen priorities providing the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future for Tulsa.