Quonset Air Museum Explained

Quonset Air Museum
Map Type:Rhode Island
Established:1992
Dissolved:2015
Location:North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Type:Aviation museum
President:David Payne
Curator:David Payne

The Quonset Air Museum was an aviation museum located at Quonset Point Air National Guard Station in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The museum's collection included military vehicles, missiles, aircraft and over 5,000 smaller aviation artifacts. An extensive archive of books, magazines, manuals, photos, documents and blueprints was preserved within the museum.

Notable aircraft in the collection included the last surviving Curtiss XF15C mixed propulsion prototype and a twin tail C-1A Trader. This one of a kind aircraft had been fitted with twin tails and radome (but without associated electronics) to serve the aerodynamic prototype for the E-1 Tracer Electronic Counter Measure aircraft. This C-1A has the distinction of being the last aircraft to fly from Naval Air Station Quonset Point upon its closure in 1974.

History

The museum recovered an F6F-5 Hellcat from Martha's Vineyard on 4 December 1993. It became the subject of a court battle after the U.S. Navy claimed that the aircraft had been salvaged without their permission.[1] Eventually, a settlement was reached where the museum received the aircraft on loan from the Navy.[2]

An Antonov An-2 at the museum was given to the Antonov Foundation in 2004.[3] The following year David H. Payne Sr. became the museum president.[4]

The museum occupied Painting Hangar #488 located at what was once the Naval Air Station Quonset Point. This 50,000 sq. ft. facility was one of only three existing specialized wood and brick hangars built during WWII. Heavy snowfall in March 2015 partially collapsed the building's roof and the hangar was condemned.[5] [6]

In January 2016, plans for a new museum were announced.[7] The museum was originally supposed to leave by April 2, but it was given an extension.[8] Later, in June, a $4 million request for state funding failed to materialize.[9] On December 16, 2016, it was announced that the museum would not reopen.[10] Although many aircraft in the collection have been transferred to other museums, the museum's P2V was scrapped in May 2018, as it was too large to move.[11]

Formerly on display

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Arnold . David . Museum, Navy battle over plane . Boston Globe . 5 March 1994 . 21, 24.
  2. News: Dailey . Keli . Fossils of Flight . Westside Weekly . Times Community News . 26 August 2001 . 2.
  3. News: A sight that's bound to stop traffic . The Record . Associated Press . 6 March 2004 . A-13.
  4. News: Bessette . James . Passages: Former Quonset Air Museum president had ‘great love’ for state’s military past . 20 August 2019 . The Independent . 16 March 2017.
  5. News: Quonset Air Museum may stay closed after building condemned . 20 August 2019 . WPRO . 1 May 2015.
  6. News: Towne . Shaun . Wright . Madeleine . Airport Road dome may end up at Quonset Air Museum . 20 August 2019 . WPRI.com . 18 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170806181534/http://wpri.com/2016/04/18/airport-road-dome-may-end-up-at-quonset-air-museum . 6 August 2017.
  7. News: Bessette . James . Plans for new Quonset Air Museum in their "infancy" . 20 August 2019 . The Independent . 30 January 2016.
  8. News: Kirby . Shawn . Air museum to get extension from RIAC . 20 August 2019 . The NK Standard Times . RICentral.com . 2 April 2016.
  9. News: Parker . Paul Edward . Quonset Air Museum threatened by lack of funds . 20 August 2019 . Providence Journal . 10 June 2016.
  10. News: Bessette. James. Quonset Air Museum won’t reopen. 20 December 2016. The Independent. 16 December 2016.
  11. News: Crandall . Brian . Old military plane demolished at Quonset Air Museum . 20 August 2019 . Turn to 10 . 8 May 2018.
  12. Web site: Exhibitions . The Quonset Air Museum . 20 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161026024437/http://quonsetairmuseum.com/index.php?page=exhibitions . 26 October 2016.
  13. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Bell OH-58A Kiowa, s/n 70-15117 US . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.
  14. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Curtiss-Wright XF15C-1, s/n 01215 USN . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.
  15. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4M Skyhawk, s/n 158148 USN . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.
  16. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman Avenger, s/n 53914 USN, c/n 3976, c/r N7029C . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.
  17. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Grumman F-14 Tomcat, s/n 162591 USN . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.
  18. Web site: Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4A-4-MC Phantom II, s/n 148252 USN, c/n 0024 . Aerial Visuals . 20 August 2019.

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