What is Aviation Archaeology? Aviation archaeology, like traditional archaeology, is a medium for studying the people and places that make up the history of aviation.  There are two main areas: aircraft crash sites, and locations important to aviation history. I have, on occasion, been posed the question: "What is there still to learn from this?" when referring to historical crash sites.  I respond that there is still plenty to learn...not really so much about the crash itself (which can usually be found in official reports) but of the circumstances surrounding the crash.  This is where the cultural context comes into play: Why was the airplane there in the first place? Was it part of the training buildup during World War Two?  Or maybe it was one of the early mail carriers, or an airliner on a pioneering route? Oklahoma has made many outstanding contributions to aviation; the stories are worth repeating.  From the days of Clyde Cessna flying from the Great Salt Plains (he was then known as an automobile saleman in Enid, OK) to the creation of the Oklahoma Spaceport at the former Clinton-Sherman AFB (itself a location with a colorful history), this state has been an integral part of aeronautics. Unfortunately, aviation archaeology (at least in the United States) is still regarded by the general public as something of a novelty and not a science that makes valid contributions.  The main goal of "wreckchasing" is preservation of these historical sites.  Aircraft aluminum is suceptible to corrosion, and suburban development often begins to encroach upon the sites.  It is imperative that we record the sites as they exist before they disappear.  As it is, a large part of our history as a nation has vanished under the watchful eyes of developers.  The hobby can trace its roots to Great Britain during the 1960's.  Now world-wide, aviation archaeology is helping to preserve aviation history and contributing to aviation's future.