Sheriff seeks help after Eagle Field museum burglary near Firebaugh

Authorities are asking Fresno County residents to help identify two suspects after a burglary at the Eagle Field museum outside Firebaugh stripped the collection of dozens of historic military items, including pilot helmets, communication equipment and personal belongings donated by the community.

The break-in happened at 2:58 a.m. Thursday, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing video as investigators try to track down the people involved. The museum described the stolen property as items of significant cultural value, turning the case into more than a simple theft of property. It was a loss to the museum, to the donors who entrusted family pieces to the collection, and to the veterans and aviation history advocates who see Eagle Field as part of Fresno County’s shared past.

Eagle Field carries that weight because of what it was before it became a museum site. Built in 1942 as an Army Air Forces training base, the airfield sits southwest of Dos Palos and remains tied to the World War II pilot-training network that shaped the region’s military legacy. Earlier coverage of the site has described Eagle Field as a place where classic aircraft and living-history events have helped keep that story visible.

The Eagle Field Foundation says its mission is to preserve military history and technology, support veteran appreciation and provide educational and community events. That work made the stolen items especially meaningful, because many were not just display pieces but donated artifacts with personal and local history attached.

The burglary also highlights how exposed small heritage sites can be, especially those that hold one-of-a-kind items collected over years from families, veterans and community supporters. When those objects disappear, they are often difficult or impossible to replace, and the loss reaches beyond inventory lists into the memories of the people who gave them.

Investigators want anyone who recognizes the suspects or knows anything about the burglary to come forward. For Eagle Field, the case now centers on recovering what was taken and protecting a site that has long served as both a museum and a living link to Fresno County’s wartime aviation history.