NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Year in Review

Transcription

1 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 2006 Year in Review

2 Director s Message The past few years have been very successful at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. In 2003 we celebrated the Centennial of Flight with the opening of our Cold War Gallery. The Missile & Space Gallery opened in 2004, further allowing us to tell visitors about the Air Force s role in space. In 2005 the museum s collection was bolstered by adding historically significant aircraft such as the B-17F Memphis Belle. As we expected, 2006 was just as fruitful. Several high-profile special events took place, more noteworthy aircraft and artifacts were displayed, and dynamic new exhibits were constructed in the galleries. For the 10th consecutive year, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force presented the Air Force story to more than one million visitors. For those firsttime visitors, the story of more than 100 years of flight was portrayed throughout the 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. Returning visitors were able to experience the new histories of the Forward Air Controllers, Prisoners of War in Vietnam and many new additions throughout the galleries. We also reached outside the museum s walls with stimulating educational programs and a brand new Web site. Huge crowds gathered to see the Doolittle Raiders during their 64th reunion. People came from all over the world to see the final landing of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi. The museum s first Liaison Aircraft Fly-In took place on the rear field and featured more than 25 pilots flying in aircraft like the L-1s and L-2s. As you turn the pages of the 2006 annual report, you will find greater details of our accomplishments. We look forward to you visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in the near future so you can see the many new and informative displays our staff works very hard to present. Charles D. Metcalf Maj. Gen., USAF (Ret.) Director 1 Photo: C-141 Hanoi Taxi final flight crew members stand in front of the aircraft. Cover photos: (clockwise) A band member plays during an Air Force Band of Flight concert at the museum; The Snark missile on display in the Cold War Gallery; The C-141 Hanoi Taxi arrives at the museum; Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chase Nielson stands during the Doolittle Raider memorial dedication ceremony; the Bristol Beaufighter on display in the Air Power Gallery; the Thor Agena A on display in the Missile & Space Gallery.

3 United States Air Force Heritage Program Board of Directors Year in Review The United States Air Force Heritage Program Board of Directors meets throughout the year to discuss museum activities and issues. The Board of Directors consists of 17 members, including: Permanent Voting Members Chair Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Mr. William Davidson Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton Commander, Air Force Space Command Lt. Gen. Terry L. Gabreski Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz Commander, Air University Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service Mr. C.R. Anderegg Director, Air Force History Office Maj. Gen. Charles Metcalf, USAF (Ret.) Director, National Museum of the United States Air Force Advisory Group Gen. Billy Boles, USAF (Ret.) Gen. Lester Lyles, USAF (Ret.) Gen. Lloyd Newton, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Charles Cunningham, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Michael Nelson, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Richard Reynolds, USAF (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Tom Stafford, USAF (Ret.) Col. Donald Lopez, USAF (Ret.) Dr. David Ponitz Photos: (left) Collection management specialists examine faintly visible signatures on a wooden U.S. Army Air Forces propeller most likely from a World War II primary trainer aircraft; (right) Jimmy Doolittle s goblet as it appears in the display case at the museum. Collection Management The Collection Management Division is responsible for the stewardship of the national historical property collection of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of more than 100,000 items. The division personnel work closely with all museum divisions in preserving the historical property collection for research and display. In 2006 the Collection Management Division began a re-housing project for items identified during the 2005 biennial wall-to-wall inventory. This project moved like items together to evaluate condition, better utilize space and provide a proper storage environment. We are the Keepers of Their Stories TM 2

4 Collection Management Collection Management oversaw several significant acquisitions including: Photo: Collection Management Specialist Joe Hofele and Conservator Bob Adair roll-out a 3rd Aero Squadron poster. Team of the Quarter: 1st Quarter The Collection Management and Computer Support Divisions strengthened standard accountability procedures and streamlined inventory control during the first quarter by completing the bar-coding project. It will improve the efficiency of the Collection Management Division and better protect and preserve the historical property collection. Uniform patches from Col. Robert Morgan, commander of the B-17 Memphis Belle. Escape and Evasion map used by Gen. Bryce Poe II during reconnaissance flights over Korea. Memorabilia from the Son Tay Raid including a piece of barbed wire from the Son Tay POW prison camp near Hanoi. Items are displayed in the new Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia exhibit. Uniform items and support equipment from the 342nd Training Squadron. The items are representative of those used in current operations in Iraq. The Combat Controller mannequin on display in the Enlisted Heritage exhibit now displays these items. Uniform items and personal equipment used by Col. Laurence F. Gardner who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Items include a painted A-2 jacket and P-1 helmet. Medals and memorabilia belonging to Col. Joseph Laughlin, commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, during World War II. Items are incorporated into the new air-ground operations exhibit highlighting the newly restored P-47D which represents Col. Laughlin s aircraft, Five by Five. Lt. Raymond L. Knight Medal of Honor and decorations. The acquisition consisted of a Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal and associated ribbons. Medals are on display near the new air-ground operations exhibit. Bendix Trophy and medal display from Col. William T. Whisner. The trophy was won for a first place finish in the 1953 Bendix Trophy race flying an F-86F Sabrejet. A Milstar Satellite model donated by Lockheed Martin. The 1/6 scale model represents a military satellite communications system that provides reliable, secure, jam-proof communications between fixed-site, mobile and portable terminals. The model will be added to the Missile & Space Gallery. 3

5 Education One aspect of the museum s mission is to present the Air Force s history, heritage and traditions to a wide-ranging audience through educational outreach. With that in mind, it was a record-breaking year for the Education Division. More than 102,000 teachers, students, youth groups, families and adults were served through 1,220 programs. The museum also teamed up with the Springfield Museum of Art by providing programs during a special art exhibition Aerospace Design: The Art of Engineering from NASA s Aeronautical Research. The Education Division forged a partnership with Air University and the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning to broadcast the museum s Wings & Things Guest Lecture Series through Air Technology Network (ATN). ATN reaches classrooms across 76 Air Force bases within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) and 10 locations in Europe. The network is also part of the larger federal government system, the Government Education and Training Network (GETN). Operated by a consortium of 17 federal agencies, it provides more than 8,000 scheduled hours of broadcasting each year, reaching out to more than 1,100 receiving sites. Other education programs included: Volunteer Program The Education Division is also responsible for the Volunteer Program. More than 450 volunteers fill a vital role in the operation of the museum. Over 40 volunteers are needed each day to work in the galleries and exhibit buildings. Additional volunteers staff the information desks, conduct tours and provide valuable assistance to various museum divisions. Volunteers help operations run smoothly, whether it is by interacting with the more than one million visitors, or doing behind the scenes work. Although the formal museum volunteer program is celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Officers Wives Club museum guides have been volunteering since In 2006 volunteers contributed 92,025 hours of time. This time is equivalent to $1,661,000 and 44 person-years worth of productivity. Aerospace Camps Audio-visual loan program Behind-the-Scenes tours Dayton Air Show Youth Program Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Education Program Family Days Guided tours for school groups Hands-on programs for school groups Home School Days Information scavenger hunts Kite Day Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton Project SOAR Teacher Seminars Read Across America Space Day 2006 Design Challenge Western Ohio Education Association Day Wright Brothers Day Photos: (clockwise) A volunteer points visitors in the right direction; teachers participate in a balloon launch during Project SOAR; children listen to a lesson during a Home School Day class in the Modern Flight Gallery. We are the Keepers of Their Stories TM 4

6 Exhibits Displaying more than 300 aircraft and missiles, the museum galleries present military aviation heritage and history, as well as today s vision of global vigilance, reach and power. In line with the museum s motto, We are the keepers of their stories, the Exhibits Division worked hard to present the stories of many of those who served in the U.S. Air Force and its predecessor organizations. The division integrated new lighting to illuminate rail panels around the Lambert- Thompson case in the Early Years Gallery. The case now houses 40 artifacts and includes an expanded story of Capt. William C. Lambert and Lt. Stephen W. Thompson. A new trophy case was built to display 13 artifacts in the Interwar Years Racing exhibit. The Kettering Bug exhibit incorporated the Kettering Bug Model along with its track launch system. A video production of the test flight of the bug was displayed next to the exhibit. Photos: (clockwise) A new party suit exhibit in the Modern Flight Gallery; a mannequin of a POW in a reproduction Hanoi prison cell in the Modern Flight Gallery; the U.S. Air Force 60th anniversary art exhibit in the Hall of Honor; Mines - a Legacy of War exhibit in the Cold War Gallery. Changes in the Air Power Gallery included the addition of Col. Hubert Zemke s A-2 jacket and Lt. Fred Olivi s artifacts about the Nagasaki bombing mission. A flag flown during the attack on Pearl Harbor was framed and installed. World War II training posters were placed in the Air Corps Training exhibit, and a metal stand was designed and fabricated for an AN/CRT-2 Jammer. To house the newly acquired Doolittle Raiders Reunion Travel Case and Toast Goblets, a case was installed near the B-25. A new exhibit, titled Down to Earth, accompanied the newly-restored P-47D. The exhibit highlights the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces along with the P-47D and B-26 aircraft. Special atmospheric theatrical lighting was added for effect. Along with the addition of the British-built Beaufighter, information about night fighters in the European and African campaigns were included. The division designed and produced four large wall panels that illustrated the art and training of bombing crews for a World War II Strategic Bombing exhibit. An Escape and 5

7 Exhibits Evasion in World War II exhibit was designed for the World War II POW area. Three cases were designed and fabricated to hold artifacts for the Enlisted Pilots exhibit. A large POW and Son Tay Raider exhibit with nine artifact cases was added to the Modern Flight Gallery. The exhibit, titled Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, also includes reproductions of three Hanoi prison cells with POW mannequins within their cell environment. A colorful Southeast Asia Party Suit exhibit was constructed to hold 30 party suits. The Forward Air Controller exhibit was expanded to include many new artifacts and information. Team of the Quarter: 2nd Quarter During an extremely busy second quarter, museum staff from nearly every division supported several events and new exhibits, including the Doolittle Raiders Reunion and Goblet Exhibit, the Vietnam Prisoners of War Reunion, the final flight of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi, the Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia exhibit, and the re-dedication of the P-47D. Added to the Cold War Gallery were Maj. John Jack Armstrong artifacts near the F-86H and an updated Bosnia mine exhibit. Many new exhibit signs were added to aircraft displays. The division added the Mercury and Gemini capsules to the Missile & Space Gallery. The gondola Excelsior was mounted to include a mannequin of Capt. Joseph Kittinger preparing to parachute to Earth. As part of the kick-off to the 60th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, an art exhibit was displayed in the Hall of Honor. Heritage to Horizons: Commemorating 60 Years of Air & Space Power through Artists Eyes displays 60 pieces of art, one representing a significant event for each year of Air Force history, highlighting people, aircraft, spacecraft and events. The Enlisted Heritage mannequins at the entrance to the Early Years Gallery were redesigned to depict noncommissioned officers of the 1918 era to present. In the museum s atrium, quote panels were designed, built and mounted. The panels display quotes by aviation leaders and also show the public the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. Photos: (top) Exhibit specialists Rob Brenner and Jerry Cottingham work on the NAMPOW exhibit in the Modern Flight Gallery; (bottom) Enlisted Heritage mannequins at the entrance to the Early Years Gallery. We are the Keepers of Their Stories TM 6

8 Operations The Operations Division maintains museum facilities to a world class standard, overseeing the smooth operation of the main museum and all museum facilities located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. They handle the day-to-day roles. Managing over one million square feet of facility space, the division also assists special events, educational programs, film crews and a multitude of museum activities. This division provides a range of services, including safety, security and customer service, to more than one million visitors. This year, the division began an alternate energy working group to explore options for utilizing renewable energy sources throughout museum facilities. The group consisted of consultants and museum staff who explored options for different types of lighting and geothermal heating and cooling. Initial steps were also taken to make plans for an additional museum gallery to hold presidential and space aircraft and artifacts. The division constantly made security improvements and provided safeguard to the thousands of artifacts on display. Restoration Photos: (top to bottom) The Bristol Beaufighter in restoration; the X-45 on display in the Cold War Gallery; the Missile & Space Gallery; The P-47D on display in the Air Power Gallery. Making sure each aircraft and missile are accurately restored and displayed is the responsibility of the Restoration Division. This year, the division took on many projects and placed several aircraft, missiles and drones on display for all visitors to see. Additions included: AQM-34Q Bristol Beaufighter C-141 Hanoi Taxi P-47D RF-84K SM-62 Snark Thor Agena UH-1P X-45 Work continued on aircraft such as the B-17F Memphis Belle, Japanese N1K2-Ja George, XC-99 and MiG-29. The XH-26 was completed and displayed in the restoration area. Restoration staff made it possible for many visitors to see restoration in progress by offering a Behind the Scenes tour every Friday. Additional duties for the restoration staff included assistance with the Combined Federal Campaign Aircraft Pull and the Liaison Aircraft Fly-In. 7

9 Public Affairs The mission of the museum s Public Affairs Division is to leverage the museum s collection, activities, programs, events and expansion plans to inform a broader and more diverse audience about the museum, as well as build public understanding of and support for the Air Force s critical and ongoing contribution to our nation s defense. This year, the Public Affairs Division worked with more than 250 national and international media and organizations in addition to local and regional media and tourism outlets. Notable outlets included CNN, Fox News, History Channel, including programs such as Mail Call, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Media representing Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the United Kingdom contacted the division. A foreign press corps tour of the museum was arranged by the division and 22 foreign media from Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East attended. Public Affairs collected 780 newspaper and online clips that featured the museum, equaling more than $700,000 in earned media coverage. Throughout the year, the division responded to more than 6,600 public and media inquiries. As part of the their marketing initiatives, the division placed advertisements, presented the museum briefing to local civic and community organizations, produced a monthly e-newsletter, represented the museum at the Air Force open house and memorial dedication in Washington, D.C., and the Military Vehicle Preservation Association annual convention and managed the museum s Web site. On Aug. 2, the division welcomed the migration of the museum s new Web site with more than 4,000 pages and 5,000 photographs being transferred to the new Air Force Public Web program. The migration was part of an Air Force wide initiative to consolidate and standardize public Web sites. The program, which eliminates the requirement for web-developing expertise and improves security and performance, has helped streamline communication between the museum and public. The Public Affairs Division also manages the Memorial Park program. This year, the division responded to 83 requests and facilitated the placement of 16 memorials. Photos: (top) A student works on a project during Home School Day; (bottom) a volunteer assists a museum visitor. Team of the Quarter: 3rd Quarter The Education Division saw tremendous growth in program development and outreach during the third quarter, resulting in increased attendance at Family and Home School Days. Outreach efforts included broadcasts of museum guest lectures on ATN and the recruitment of 32 new volunteers to serve museum visitors. In 2006 the division s Space Day Design Challenge Team received national award recognition and staff selected a new team to compete in We are the Keepers of Their Stories TM 8

10 Research The foundation for all exhibits, artifacts and displays begins with research. The Research Division ensures timely, relevant and accurate Air Force historical information is presented to the public through a variety of means. In 2006 the Research Division curated 36 interpretive exhibit packages for major exhibits such as Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, Heritage to Horizons: Commemorating 60 Years of Air & Space Power through Artists Eyes art exhibit, colors and marking instructions for the P-47D, an expanded Forward Air Controllers exhibit and information about the X-45, Bristol Beaufighter and the Thor Agena A launch vehicle. The division accessioned 513 donations, including documents, photos and other papers relating to John Albert Talcott of the Lafayette Escadrille, documents from the Project Mercury space program, materials from the family of Doolittle Raider Charles McClure, Memphis Belle maintenance records and Apollo program materials. Furthermore, research historians responded to more than 6,400 requests, participated in media interviews for programs such as the History Channel s Mail Call, and Dogfights and National Geographic s Warplanes. They also gave presentations and lectures to local and national audiences and conducted tours of the galleries for special groups. Special Events Photos: (clockwise) Research Historian Jeff Duford conducts an interview; Restoration staff move a liaison aircraft during the Liaison Fly-In; a crowd gathers for the Glenn Miller concert by the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight; a line wraps around the Air Power Gallery during the Doolittle Raider autograph session. Supporting more than 1,000 events at the museum this year, the Special Events Division not only ensured their smooth operation, but managed several major events, such as the Doolittle Raiders and NAMPOW reunions and the arrival of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi, that sparked international interest. In addition to coordinating the annual Giant Scale Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Air 9

11 Special Events Show, the division added a new event, the Liaison Aircraft Fly-In, with more than 25 pilots participating. Eight lecturers presented for the Wings & Things Guest Lecture Series. Lecturers included Lt. Col. Dale Zelko presenting The Unthinkable, the Unimaginable Happened: An F-117 was Shot Down in Combat; Dr. Eugene Bleil spoke about Bataan, the Death March and Captivity; Col. (Ret.) Wolfgang Samuel presented American Raiders: The Race to Capture the Luftwaffe Secrets; Lt. Col. (Ret.) James Harvey III and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Harry Stewart reflected on Integration of the Air Force: The Early Years; Col. Regina Aune, Col. (Ret.) Bud Traynor and CMSgt. (Ret.) Ray Snedegar collaborated for Reflections on Operation Babylift; Col. (Ret.) James Kasler presented Cold War Warrior; and Col. (Ret.) Darrel Whitcomb spoke about Call Sign Raven: Fighting the Air War in Laos. Special Events arranged exhibit openings and ceremonies for the X-45, 60th anniversary art exhibit, Bristol Beaufighter and P-47D. The division also supported 82 memorial dedications and military reunions and partnered with the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight to present seven band concerts to more than 10,000 visitors in The museum worked with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to present several major events, including the U.S. Air Force Marathon and the Freedom s Call Military Tattoo, where 50,000 people attended. In conjunction with other museum divisions, the Special Events division helped organize the Museum Orientation Course in which courses such as archival training and restoration processes were presented. Team of the Quarter: 4th Quarter Many months of planning and preparation culminated when the Public Affairs Division migrated to a new Web site. More than 4,000 pages of information and 5,000 photos were transferred from the old site to the Air Force Public Web database. The new site has streamlined communication efforts between the museum and public. Other events included: Motorcycle Safety Day Hugh O Brian Youth Conference Reno Civic Leader Event Dinners Distinguished Visitor Tours/Visits Meetings & Conferences Retirement & Graduation Ceremonies Air Force Institute of Technology Wright Brothers Lecture Series Reception We are the Keepers of Their Stories TM 10

12 In 2006 the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force hosted two very special reunions. The Doolittle Raiders celebrated their 64th reunion in April. In May, former prisoners of war in Vietnam gathered to see the final flight and retirement of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi to the museum. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle led a successful bombing mission of military targets in principal cities of Japan, along with 79 airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces, flying 16 B-25 Mitchell landbased bombers. They took off from the U.S. Navy carrier Hornet and accomplished a feat believed impossible at the time. The group is credited with helping to restore American morale during World War II. The 80 silver goblets commemorating the men who flew the Doolittle Raid were added to the collection of the museum on April 19. Over the years, these goblets have taken a highly symbolic place in the history of military aviation. The C-141 Hanoi Taxi was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up the POWs returning to the United States. It eventually helped repatriate more than 500 American POWs held by the North Vietnamese. This special aircraft is now displayed in the museum s Air Park Year in Review Photos: (clockwise) The Doolittle Raiders raise their goblets for the ceremonial toast; Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley speaks during the Doolittle Raider dinner; the tail of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi; a crowd gathers for a ceremony after the arrival of the C-141 Hanoi Taxi to the museum; the Doolittle Raider goblets and Hennessy Very Special cognac (photo by Dan Patterson).