WWII FLYING MUSEUM
The WWII Flying Museum is one of the key features of Air Group One's facilities. Though the museum includes the aircraft stationed at the the AG-1 hangar, this page will focus on other aspects of the museum, namely the displays meant to educate the public about WWII, and particularly the U.S. role in that air war. The museum is currently being renovated and expanded, with exhibits on the air war in World War I, Korea, and Vietnam having recently been added.
This view of one part of the museum shows the huge overhead painted mural that is
a tribute to all
of the men and women of America's air forces. The Japanese flag covered with signatures is
a
captured relic from the Pacific theatre in WWII.
One wall of the main hangar forms a special art gallery for the museum. A double
row of art prints
known as the "Valiant Clan" series (published by Glenn Illustrators)
shows 24 famous American
aircraft of WWII in exciting combat scenes. The six prints on the left show the B-17,
B-24, B-29,
B-25, B-26, and A-26. Next to them are eight prints of USAF fighters. Above them all are
very
large banners for the movie 'Pearl Harbor', which were donated by a local theater.
A continuation of the Valiant Clan gallery highlights U.S. Navy and USMC aircraft.
Our new exhibits on the air war over Korea and Vietnam are beginning to take
shape.
A quartet of prints by artist Keith Ferris shows the F-86, Panther, F-84, and F-80 in
combat.
Thanks to donations by artist Joe Kline, U.S. Army Aviation is well represented in
one section of the Vietnam air war exhibit.
One portion of the exhibit on American Aviation in World War I features displays
on Eddie Rickenbacker.
These are some of the museum's examples of "nose art" (painted artwork
on aluminum aircraft
panels). Nose art was common on the U.S. Army Air Corp and Air Force planes during
WWII.
A selection of front pages from WWII-vintage newspapers highlight important events
in the course
of WWII history. Photographs of the air war are displayed underneath.
One of the display cases containing plastic aircraft models of WWII planes. A
genuine B-17
crewman's leather jacket is in the back of the case.
Another building near the hangar contains the Hall of Fame, where different
aviation personalities
are honored. Each frame contains a custom drawing of the person honored (drawn by an AG-1
member), as well as a photo of his aircraft, replicas of medals received, and a text
history. Below
the frames is one of the display cases containing military artifacts.
Many of the persons honored in the Hall of Fame are members of (or friends of) Air
Group One.
This frame is about one of our members - Jack Walker, who was a P-38 pilot during WWII.
Jack is
one of America's newest fighter aces, as he received the confirmation for his fifth WWII
victory
in 1999.
One of the military items in our display cases is the famous Norden bombsight.
This complex piece
of equipment was Top Secret during WWII, and was used on heavy bombers such as the B-17
and
B-24.
This is the first mannequin that was added to the museum. It is dressed in
a U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform.