Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum

The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, a.k.a. Airbase Arizona Aircraft Museum, was established in 1978, in Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona. It is the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force and the home of one of the largest Commemorative Air Force units in the world. On exhibit are World War II artifacts, helicopters and classic American and foreign combat planes, many of which are the last remaining warbirds of their kinds.[1]

Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum
Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum and Walk of Honor
Established1978
Location2017 N. Greenfield Rd.
Mesa, Arizona
Coordinates33.452532°N 111.73488°W / 33.452532; -111.73488
TypeAircraft museum
Websitewww.azcaf.org

Brief history
World War II hangar
3-inch Mark 33 deck gun
Eddie Rickenbacker with his Nieuport 28 – note offset guns

The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum can trace its history to September 6, 1961, when the Commemorative Air Force was founded. The non-profit organization was chartered as a nonprofit Texas corporation in Dallas. Its mission was, and still is, to restore and preserve World War II-era combat aircraft. The idea of establishing the organization came about when in 1957, Lloyd Nolen and a small group of ex-service pilots from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas invested their money towards the purchase of a P-51 Mustang.[1][2]

Aircraft enthusiasts in Arizona became interested in establishing a branch of the Commemorative Air Force in their home state. After months of searching, Falcon Field was chosen as the new site for the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. Falcon Field was established before World War II when Hollywood producer Leland Hayward and pilot John H. "Jack" Connelly founded Southwest Airways with the funding from Henry Fonda, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, James Stewart and Hoagy Carmichael. In 1977, a small group broke ground at Falcon Field and in 1978, the museum was officially opened to the public. The Arizona Wing became the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force.[1][2]

The museum is situated inside an old World War II hangar built in 1941. In front of the museum's entrance is one of four propellers which were once installed on a B-29 Super Fortress.[3] Also on display on the front lawn of the building is a 3-inch Mark 33 deck gun. The deck gun was originally mounted on the USS Guam for aircraft defense. It had the ability to fire 50 rounds a minute. There is a "Walk of Honor" located in front of the museum. The Walk of Honor is a tribute which recognizes the contributions made by Arizonans to the field of military aviation. Inductees are honored for their achievement with the installation of a special bronze plaque at the Museum.[4][1][2]

The majority of the aircraft and exhibits are located inside the hangar while some in flying condition, are located outside on the airfield. The hangar also houses the museum's gift shop. Some of the aircraft date back to 1917, however, most of the aircraft are from World War II. On display in the museum are some modern post-World War II jet fighters. Also on display are military helicopters. Next door to the museum hangar is the Mechanics Hangar where some of the aircraft are repaired and restored. The museum is the home of one of the largest Commemorative Air Force units in the world. Also, on display are various artifacts related to the history of the warbirds, such as jackets worn by the pilots in World War II.[1][2]

Exhibits
C-47 Skytrain cockpit
Lt. A. Park Shaw exhibit
Col. Robert P. Moore exhibit
World War II aviators jackets

See also

References
  1. "Military Aviation History Museum - Commemorative Air Force Airbase". Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  2. "Our History & Mission". commemorativeairforce.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  3. "Arizona Air Force Aviation Museum". The American Legion. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  4. fcp2019 (January 30, 2012). "CAF AZ Wing Event to Recognize Inductees into the Arizona Military Aviation Walk of Honor". fightercountry.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. "C-47 Skytrain "Old Number 30"". Commemorative Air Force. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  6. "C-47 Skytrain". Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  7. "C-45 Expeditor". Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  8. "Douglas A-26 Invader". www.aviation-history.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  9. "Douglas A-26C Invader, WWII Twin-engine 3-crew Mid-wing Light Attack Bomber, U.S.A." www.skytamer.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  10. "Douglas SBD Dauntless". The National WWII Museum - New Orleans. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  11. "Bell OH-58 Kiowa Armed Scout and Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter - United States". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  12. "FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-Number Inquiry". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  13. "PHANTOM II". www.pimaair.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  14. "McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Multirole / Carrierbased Fighter / Strike Fighter Aircraft - United States". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  15. "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PFM - The Museum of Flight". www.museumofflight.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  16. "Eddie Rickenbacker's Nieuport 28". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  17. "Nieuport 28 C.1 - The Museum of Flight". www.museumofflight.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  18. "A rare bird: The 'Hot Stuff' PV-2 Harpoon". www.aopa.org. May 14, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  19. Past, Airplanes of the. "B-25 Mitchell Bomber". www.airplanesofthepast.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  20. "B-25 Maid in the Shade". Commemorative Air Force. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  21. Wheeler 1992, p. 53.
  22. "P-51 Mustang Survivors - MustangsMustangs.com". www.mustangsmustangs.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  23. "P-51 Mustang - Facts, Specifications, & History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  24. Devine, Vinny (November 2012). "S-55/H-19/HO4S/HRS Helicopter". Sikorsky Product History. Igor Sikorsky Historical Archives. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  25. "RAF SE 5 – SE 5A." Archived 23 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Austin Memories, Retrieved: 26 July 2009.

Further reading
  • "Falcon Field"; By: Daryl F. Mallett; Publisher: Arcadia Publishing; ISBN 9780738571379.
  • "The RAF in Arizona: Falcon Field, 1941-1945"; By: Jim Dawson; Publisher: Stenger-Scott; ISBN 978-0971912717.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.