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National Museum of World War II Aviation

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Coordinates: 38°49′16″N 104°43′18″W / 38.8212°N 104.7216°W / 38.8212; -104.7216
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National Museum of World War II Aviation
National Museum of World War II Aviation is located in Colorado
National Museum of World War II Aviation
Location within Colorado
Established2008 (2008)
LocationColorado Springs, Colorado
Coordinates38°49′16″N 104°43′18″W / 38.8212°N 104.7216°W / 38.8212; -104.7216
TypeMilitary aviation museum
FounderJim Fry
Director
  • Mark Earle
  • Tom Perkins[1]
PresidentBill Klaers[1]
ChairpersonJames Slattery[1]
Websiteworldwariiaviation.org

The National Museum of World War II Aviation is an aviation museum located at Colorado Springs Airport in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

History

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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 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) "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 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) 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 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) Kaija Raven Shook Aeronautical Pavilion was completed in 2019.[14][15]

Exhibits

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

Collection

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On display

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Under restoration

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Land vehicles

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

References

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