US Air Force Museum

BurtWolf · Post by **BurtWolf** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 2:31 am

I am on the road for work, and managed to make a slight deviation from the route to go check out the US Air Force Museum. I have been to many museums of this type, but this certainly takes the cake. If you have not been, you should seriously consider going.

My favorites included: Catalina, P47 Razorback, JU88 in Romanian markings, FW190D, A-20, Hurricane, and Mosquito. Some cool Japanese and Italian aircraft as well. And that was just the WW2 hangar - the ones for WW1 and Korea/Vietnam were equally cool.

I was not aware that the US Army use the dauntless dive bomber in New Guinea in combat (A-24), one of which they had there. Also was unaware that the US Army used several Bristol Beaufighters as well as mosquitoes in night fighter and recon roles respectively.

My only regret is that I only had three hours for a museum which is worthy of whole day.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 2:50 am

At Offut AFB near Omaha, the SAC museum has B36 with a Goblin parasite fighter. Really impressive, if you are traveling out I-80.

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:16 am

Ive been to one in Oregon where the spruce goose resides in.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:17 am

That is a LOT of plywood!

Hoth_902 · Post by **Hoth_902** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:08 pm

BurtWolf,

Is this the museum located at Wright Patterson Air force base. If it is, they have one of every air force aircraft ever flown. I have been there no less than 8 times and have found something new each time. My last two visits were after the renovations and increased space for displays. Each time I was there from opening till closing and still did not see every last detail. Back then, there was an annex that had several air force ones and odd bits that did not fit in the museum.

Of special interest is the Mig 15 on display. I have a 1 degree separation from the pilot. He was my teacher in college. He taught several of my engineering courses. In college, he went by the name Kenneth Rowe. When he was a pilot for the North Koreans, he went by No, Kum-Sok. He wrote a book called A Mig 15 to freedom. It was really good and gave a great first hand account of life in Korea after WWII and through the Korean War.

BurtWolf · Post by **BurtWolf** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 2:29 am

Yep thatâ€™s the museum. Itâ€™s insanely good. I am planning a visit with my son there for later this fall. Can only bring hard-core interested family members, those just trailing along for fun will be slowing us down ha ha.

Really cool story about that Mig15! I bet he had fascinating stories to tell.

There was a small exhibit tucked away in the corner that had Matthew Ridgeways paratrooper uniform he wore during the jump into Normandie, it was such a cool display and really neat to see something so historical. And there were tons of exhibits of that caliber all over the place.

I need to go to the Navy Museum in Pensacola at some point in my life time.

Hoth_902 · Post by **Hoth_902** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 2:38 am

I would love to go there again. I am betting, since I have not been there in over 13 years, a lot has changed. I once took a tour and they explained the story behind each aircraft in the museum. Since I was so eager to see the Mig 15, the tour guide asked why. When I told him, he included me in the discussion on my teachers aircraft. That place is only for the hardcore.

As to stories, he rarely if ever told any in class. He was very quite about it. It was not till my last year or so of college, that he came forth with a 1st print run of his book and gave us first crack at purchasing it. He autographed each copy. Speaking of which. I need to protect it at some point.

When I first went there, before the big expansion, it was mostly aircraft. Once they added the two additional buildings, they put so many artifacts in it. I so need to go again. Glad you got to see it. Its a must see for everyone.

I need to check out the navy museum as well.