Estrella Warbird Museum Explained

Estrella Warbirds Museum
Map Type:	California
Coordinates:	35.664°N -120.62°W
Former Names:	-->
Location:	Paso Robles, California
Type:	Military aviation museum

The Estrella Warbirds Museum is an aviation museum dedicated to the restoration and preservation of military aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia.^[1] The museum is located at Paso Robles Municipal Airport in central California and is named after Estrella Army Airfield.^[1] In July, 2009, the museum opened an automobile display featuring classic racing cars, The Woodland Auto Display.^[2]

History

The museum began in 1993, when it acquired and moved three buildings from a former almond orchard to the airport.^[3] Originally founded as the Estrella Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force, it became independent in 2000.^[4]

A collection of military vehicles was donated by Herman Pfauter and in 2015 it was placed on display in a new 5000square feet building called the Red Ball Express Motor Pool.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Facilities

The museum is made up of the Hangar One, Al Schade Restoration Hangar, Thompson Hall, Freedom Hall, Brooks Building, Woodland Auto Display, Hind Pavilion, and Pfauter Building.^{[8] [9]}

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include a radio room and a flight simulator.^{[10] [11]}

Collection

Aircraft

• Aermacchi MB-326^[12]
• Aeronca L-16^[13]
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor^[14]
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor^[15]
• Bell UH-1D Iroquois^[16]
• Cessna T-37B Tweet^[17]
• Douglas A-4A Skyhawk^[18]
• Douglas C-47B Skytrain^[19]
• Douglas ERA-3B Skywarrior – cockpit^[20]
• Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk^[21]
• Focke-Wulf FWP.149D^[22]
• Fouga CM.170 Magister^[23]
• General Atomics Gnat-750
• General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon^[24]
• Grumman A-6E Intruder^[25]
• Grumman F-14B Tomcat^[26]
• Grumman F9F-8P Cougar^[27]
• Grumman US-2D Tracker^[28]
• Gyrodyne QH-50D DASH
• LTV NA-7C Corsair II^[29]
• Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune^[30]
• Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star^[31]
• Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter^[32]
• McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II^[33]
• McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II – cockpit^[34]
• North American QF-86F Sabre^[35]
• North American T-28B Trojan^[36]
• North American SNJ-5C Texan^[37]
• North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco^[38]
• Northrop AQM-38
• Northrop F-5E Tiger II^[39]
• Radioplane MQM-33
• Ryan BQM-34S Firebee
• Saab A 32A Lansen^[40]
• Saab J 35 Draken^[41]
• Sikorsky UH-19D Chickasaw^[42]
• Sikorsky UH-34D Choctaw^[43]
• Stinson L-5E Sentinel^[44]
• Stinson Reliant I^[45]
• Taylor J-2^[46]
• UTVA Aero 3^[47]
• Vought F-8K Crusader^[48]

Armament and ordnance

As of January 2019, the following armament and ordnance were on exhibit at the museum.^[49]

• Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun
• M40 105 mm Recoilless Rifle
• General Dynamics M60A3 main battle tank^[50]
• Quad 50 cal M2 Heavy Barrel Machine Gun
• United Defense M901 ITV anti-tank vehicle
• 57mm M1 anti-tank gun
• ZPU-1 14.5 mm anti-aircraft gun

Military vehicles

As of December 2019, the following military vehicles were on exhibit at the museum.^[51]

• AMC Mighty Mite Jeep^[52]
• Diamond REO M52^[53]
• Dodge M37 WC Truck^[54]
• Dodge M43 Ambulance^[55]
• Dodge WC4 Power Wagon^[56]
• Excelsior Welbike Mark 1^[57]
• FMC Landing Vehicle Tracked LVPT-5
• FMC Armored Personnel Carrier M113A3^[58]
• Ford GPW Jeep
• Ford GTBA G622 Burma Jeep
• Ford Model T Ambulance^[59]
• Ford MUTT Jeep^[60]
• General Motors DUKW 1942 Utility Vehicle AWD
• Higgins LCVP Landing Craft
• IHC M35 Series Troop Carrier
• M35A1 Armored Gun Truck
• M60A3 Tank^[61]
• Alvis Saracen FV-603 armored personnel carrier^[62]
• White M2 Half Track^[63]
• Willys M274 Mule with 105 mm Recoilless Rifle
• Willys M38A1 Jeep^[64]

Missiles

As of January 2019, the following missiles were on exhibit at the museum.^[65]

• Hughes AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missile
• Martin HGM-25A Titan I intercontinental ballistic missile
• Raytheon AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile
• Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile
• Raytheon AIM-54C Phoenix air-to-air missile
• Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile

Other exhibits

• Link Trainer

Events

The museum holds an fundraiser event every year called Warbirds, Wings and Wheels.^[66]

See also

• List of aerospace museums

Notes and References

1. Web site: Welcome to the Estrella Warbird Museum . Estrella Warbird Museum . Paso Robles, California . January 17, 2010.
2. Web site: The Woodland Family Automobile Collection . Estrella Warbird Museum . Paso Robles, California . January 17, 2010.
3. News: Dirkx . Phil . Old Almond Buildings Will House Warbirds . 8 December 2022 . Telegram-Tribune . 26 November 1993 . B-2.
4. Web site: History By The Numbers . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
5. Web site: Red Ball Express Motor Pool . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
6. Web site: Pfauter Building . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
7. Web site: Red Ball Express Motor Pool Museum opens . Military Trader . 27 December 2022 . 6 October 2015.
8. Web site: Facilities . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
9. Web site: Grounds Layout . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
10. Web site: Radio Room . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
11. Web site: Eagle Flight Simulator . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
12. Web site: Aermacchi MB 326 Impala . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
13. Web site: Aeronca L16 Champ . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
14. Web site: Beech T-34B/D-45 Mentor . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
15. Web site: Beech T-34B/D-45 Mentor . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
16. Web site: Bell UH-1D Iroquois . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
17. Web site: Cessna T-37B Tweety Bird . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
18. Web site: Douglas A-4A Skyhawk . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
19. Web site: Douglas C-47B Dakota . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
20. Web site: Douglas A-3 Skywarrior (A3D) . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
21. Web site: Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
22. Web site: Piaggio FW P 149D . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
23. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Fouga CM-170 Magister, s/n 451 ALA, c/n 451, c/r N9222T . Aerial Visuals . 7 December 2022.
24. Web site: General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
25. Web site: Grumman A-6E Intruder . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
26. Web site: Northrop Grumman F-14B Tom Cat . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
27. Web site: Grumman F9F-8P Cougar . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
28. Web site: Grumman US-2D Stoof . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
29. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Vought NA-7C Corsair II, s/n 156739 USN, c/n C-006 . Aerial Visuals . 7 December 2022.
30. Web site: Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
31. Web site: Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
32. Web site: Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
33. Web site: McDonnel-Douglas 4-4S Phantom II . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
34. Web site: McDonnell F-4S Rolling Cockpit Display . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
35. Web site: North American F-86F Sabre . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
36. Web site: North American T-28B Trojan . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
37. Web site: 1944 SNJ-5C AT-6D Cashen Texan . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
38. Web site: North American OV-10A Bronco . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
39. Web site: Northrop F-5E Tiger II . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
40. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Svenska Aeroplan AB (SAAB) A32 Lansen, c/n 32284, c/r N4432V . Aerial Visuals . 7 December 2022.
41. Web site: SAAB RF-35 Draken . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
42. Web site: Sikorsky UH-19D Chickasaw . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
43. Web site: Sikorsky UH-34D Seabat . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
44. Web site: Stinson L-5E Sentinel . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
45. Web site: Stinson V-77 Reliant . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
46. Web site: Taylor J-2 Cub . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
47. Web site: 1957 UTVA Aero-3-F (Ikrus/UTVA Aero 3-A) . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.
48. Web site: Vought F-8K Crusader . Estrella Warbird Museum . 7 December 2022.
49. Web site: Armament & Ordnance . Estrella Warbird Museum . Paso Robles, California . September 5, 2022.
50. Web site: M+60 A3 Battle Tank . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
51. Web site: Estrella Warbird Missiles . Estrella Warbird Museum . Paso Robles, California . December 20, 2017.
52. Web site: 1959 American Motors M422 Mighty Mite . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
53. Web site: 1953 Diamond REO M-52 . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
54. Web site: 1951 Dodge M37 . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
55. Web site: 1953 Dodge M43 Ambulance . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
56. Web site: 1941 Dodge Power Wagon WC-4 . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
57. Web site: Excelsior Welbike Mark 1 . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
58. Web site: M113A3 APC . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
59. Web site: 1912 Ford Model T Ambulance . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
60. Web site: 1966 M181-A1 MUTT Jeep/Truck . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
61. Web site: M+60 A3 Battle Tank . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
62. Web site: Alvis Saracen FV603 APC . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
63. Web site: 1942 M-2 White Half Track . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
64. Web site: 1952 Willis M-38A1 Jeep . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 27 December 2022.
65. Web site: Missiles . Estrella Warbird Museum . Paso Robles, California . January 17, 2010.
66. Web site: Warbirds Wings & Wheels 14 . Estrella Warbirds Museum . 7 December 2022.