National Museum of World War II Aviation explained

National Museum of World War II Aviation
Map Type:Colorado
Coordinates:38.8212°N -104.7216°W
Former Names:-->
Location:Colorado Springs, Colorado
Type:Military aviation museum
Founder:Jim Fry
President:Bill Klaers[1]
Chairperson:James Slattery
Car Park:-->
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The National Museum of World War II Aviation is an aviation museum located at Colorado Springs Airport in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

History

The origins of the museum date to the founding of WestPac Restorations at Rialto Municipal Airport in Rialto, California in 1997 by Bill Klaers and Alan Wojciak. Due to the planned closure of the airport in 2014, Jim Fry convinced the owners to move the business to Colorado Springs Airport, where he had built three hangars in 2006. There the National Museum of World War II Aviation was established. It opened to the public six years later in October 2012.[2] [3] [4] [5]

In 2014, the museum received two grants totaling $6 million to build a 60000square feet "Aviation Hall".[6] In 2016, Jim Slattery loaned 15 aircraft to the museum.[7] In early 2018, it received an official "national museum" designation from the United States Congress.[8] [9] The museum began construction on a new 40000square feet hangar in November 2018.[10] [11] The museum received donations of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Stinson V-77 Reliant in late 2019.[12] [13]

Construction of the 40000square feet Kaija Raven Shook Aeronautical Pavilion was completed in 2019.[14] [15]

Exhibits

The museum has a series of exhibits that trace the history of the United States' involvement in World War II.[16]

Collection

On display

Under restoration

Land vehicles

In addition to its aircraft, the museum also maintains a collection of land vehicles:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Museum Leadership . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  2. Web site: History . WestPac Restorations . 19 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181204092851/http://westpacrestorations.com/index.php?page=history . 4 December 2018.
  3. Web site: Today’s Museum . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  4. Web site: FAQs . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  5. News: Heilman . Wayne . Proposed museum would celebrate WWII air power . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 12 March 2010.
  6. News: Heilman . Wayne . World War II Aviation museum gets $6 million to triple in size . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 11 July 2014.
  7. News: Roeder . Tom . Colorado Springs WWII aviation museum adds 15 planes, including hulking Albatross, to its collection . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 5 June 2016.
  8. News: Matthews . Mark K. . Colorado Springs’ WWII aviation museum gets congressional honor – and fundraising clout that goes with it . 19 December 2021 . Denver Post . 7 January 2018.
  9. News: Censky . Abigail . Triple WWII ace accepts national designation for Colorado Springs aviation museum . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 3 March 2018.
  10. News: Heilman . Wayne . Colorado Springs museum adding hangar space to display aircraft, exhibits . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 17 July 2018.
  11. News: Roeder . Tom . WWII aviation museum in Colorado Springs breaks ground on big expansion . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 8 November 2018.
  12. News: Henderson . Liz . P-38 Lightning finds a home at newly built National Museum of World War II hangar . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 10 October 2019.
  13. News: Earls . Stephanie . Tuskegee Airman donates prized plane to aviation museum on Veterans Day . 19 December 2021 . The Gazette . 11 November 2019.
  14. News: Roeder . Tom . WWII aviation museum in Colorado Springs breaks ground on big expansion . 26 May 2024 . Denver Gazette . 8 November 2018.
  15. News: Heilman . Wayne . World War II aviation museum planning second phase late this year . 26 May 2024 . Denver Gazette . 20 February 2022.
  16. Web site: Exhibits . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  17. Web site: Complete Aircraft List . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  18. Web site: Beechcraft Model 18 (C45) . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  19. Web site: Beechcraft T-34 Mentor . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  20. Web site: Brewster F3A Corsair . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  21. Web site: PBY/PBV-1A Catalina . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  22. Web site: Cessna L-19 Bird Dog . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  23. Web site: Douglas AD-5 Skyraider . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  24. Web site: SBD Dauntless . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  25. Web site: Fairchild PT-19 . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  26. Web site: Grumman F3F Flying Barrel . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  27. Web site: Grumman F7F Tigercat . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  28. Web site: Grumman G-44 Widgeon . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  29. Web site: Grumman TBM Avenger . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  30. Web site: Howard DGA-15 . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  31. Web site: Lockheed P-38 Lightning . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  32. Web site: North American T-6 Texan . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  33. Web site: North American T-28 Trojan . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  34. Web site: North American B-25 Mitchell . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  35. Web site: Desko . Dan . B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29199 "In the Mood" . B-25 History Project . 19 December 2021.
  36. Web site: Republic P47 Thunderbolt . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  37. Web site: Stinson L-5 Sentinel . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  38. Web site: Stinson V77 Reliant . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  39. Web site: Chance Vought F4U Corsair . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  40. Web site: Waco JYM . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  41. Web site: FAA Registry [N9525H] ]. Federal Aviation Administration . U.S. Department of Transportation . 19 December 2021.
  42. Web site: Chevrolet Airfield Crash Truck . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  43. Web site: Ford GPW . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  44. Web site: M2A1 Half Track . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.
  45. Web site: M3A1 Scout Car . National Museum of World War II Aviation . 19 December 2021.

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