Indy Transponder: The Museum of Flight: Fire on the U.S.S. Enterprise Reunion Panel

Greetings!,

Forty years ago the accidental explosion of a rocket on a F-4 Phantom II jet fighter parked on the deck of the U. S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise set off fires and additional explosions across the ship. The January 14, 1969 calamity 75 miles from Pearl Harbor resulted in 28 deaths and 340 people injured. A panel of survivors of this disaster will be at the Museum on Saturday, August 15 at 2 p.m. to reminisce about the heroic actions on that day.

The presentation includes rare photographs of the event and its aftermath. The panel will be moderated by Mike Neville, who was an Airman Apprentice of VA-146, Navy Attack Squadron 146. Crewmembers from the ship's flight deck and bridge will be joining Neville on the panel, including Michael Joe Carlin, an Airman on the deck who has written a book on the subject, "Trial: Ordeal of the USS Enterprise, 14 January 1969." The program is in the William M. Allen Theater, and is free with admission to the Museum. Carlin's book will be available in the Museum Store.

Preceding the program at 1 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater is the USS Enterprise Fire 40th Reunion, "Remembering Navy veterans who were aboard the USS Enterprise on January 14, 1969 during the fire that took the lives of 28 of our shipmates and wounded 340 others." Participants include Navy veterans who were aboard the USS Enterprise on January 14, 1969. The reunion group's membership also includes family members of fallen shipmates. As with previous reunions the group will conduct a memorial service to those who lost their lives onboard that fateful day forty years ago. The reunion is open to the public. The USS Enterprise was the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

On the radar: Round the World Record Pilot CarolAnn Garratt, who along with Carol Foy flew a small, single engine airplane around the world in a record time of eight and a half days, visits the Museum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 for a presentation in the William M. Allen Theater. Admission for the program is $5 for Museum Members and $10 for non-members.

Also, the Connie is coming! The Museum's restored Lockheed Constellation Super G is on its way to Seattle, with an anticipated arrival date of September 5. The disassembled Connie will arrive in cradles by truck, and the cradles will be on view in the Museum parking lot for a day before heading to a facility where the Connie will be rebuilt. Updates will be announced on the Museum web site as more information becomes available.

Dream, Discover, Soar!

Sincerely,

The Museum of Flight

August 2009

AUGUST/ 2009

Amazing Skies Theater Presents "Sweetheart of the A.E.F."
Saturdays, Aug. 15 and 22, 1 p.m., Personal Courage Wing, French Farmhouse Courtyard
The Museum's resident acting troupe, Amazing Skies Theater, takes to the stage with a musical review based upon the life of Elsie Janis, a Broadway star who went to France in 1917 to entertain World War I American troops--American Expeditionary Forces. Amazing Skies Theater is a multi-generational drama troupe comprised of volunteers from all around the Puget Sound.

Robotics
Wednesday, August 12, 2 p.m.
During this two-hour session, participants will use the Museum's robotics kits to explore the basic engineering skills required to build a successful extra-terrestrial rover.

Fire on the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise Panel Discussion

Saturday, August 15, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater

Forty years ago the accidental explosion of a rocket on a F-4 Phantom II jet fighter parked on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise set off fires and additional explosions across the ship. The Jan. 14, 1969 accident resulted in 28 deaths and 340 people injured. A panel of survivors of this disaster will be at the Museum on Saturday, Aug. 15 to reminisce about the heroic actions on that day.

Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Comets and Asteroids!
Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.,
Side Gallery
Comets and Asteroids are some of the oldest objects in our solar system. Learn about these unique objects and then make your own comet model!

Flying Gizmo Show

Wednesday, August 19, 2 p.m.

Celebrate flight with this fun and educational program. This presentation is designed to help participants discover the science and history of flight through the use of fun flying toys and models. The show begins with the invention of the kite more than 2,000 years ago and continues through the age of space vehicles.

"Sharpie" Evelyn Sharp Lecture and Book Signing

Saturday, August 22, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Author Diane Bartels will be at The Museum of Flight on Aug. 22 with an inspirational presentation about 1930s - 1940s pilot Evelyn Sharp, based upon Bartels' book, "Sharpie: The Life Story of Evelyn Sharp - Nebraska's Aviatrix."

Born in 1919, Evelyn Sharp grew up in Nebraska during the Depression. Motivated by her first airplane ride at age 15, she earned a commercial-transport pilot license within the next three years. By the time she was 20, "Sharpie" was one of only ten women flight instructors in the United States. Soon she became one of the first women to ferry U.S. Army Air Force fighters during World War II. Sharp gave her life to her country in 1944 during a takeoff accident while at the controls of an Air Force P-38. Bartels will field questions from the audience and sign books following the presentation.

Round-the-World Record Pilot CarolAnn Garratt

Thursday, August 25, 7 p.m.
In December 2008, pilots CarolAnn Garratt and Carol Foy flew a small, single engine airplane around the world in a record time of eight and half days. It was the second global trip for Garratt, who flew around the world in 2003 to raise awareness and donations for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease--after her mother suffered and died from ALS. The 2008 flight was also for ALS awareness. Garratt will speak about her journeys and what inspired them in a presentation at The Museum of Flight on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater. The airplane she flew on both trips--a Mooney M-20J--will be on view outside of the Museum all day. Admission to the program is $10 for Museum non-members and $5 for Museum members.

After 18 months of planning Garratt and co-pilot Carol Foy set out from Florida's Orlando International Airport on Dec. 2, 2008 to fly around the world westbound. They arrived back in Orlando 8 days, 12 hours and 20 minutes later. Garratt's program will not only look at the inspiration and logistics of the trip, but also what it is like to share a small cockpit for 158 hours, leaving the plane only 8 times to refuel and stretch.

Constellations and Cultural Stories
Wednesday, August 26, 2 p.m.
Participants examine the night sky and listen to star stories from ancient Greek, Chinese, and Native American cultures while inside the portable planetarium.

Artist Paul Calle Presentation and Book Signing

Saturday, August 29, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater

Paul Calle was one of the first eight artists chosen by NASA in 1962 to document the American space program's Project Mercury. Calle continued to illustrate space exploration for the next 40 years with the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Missions. Since July 1 the Museum has featured his exhibit "Apollo 11: An Artist's Perspective - Original Sketches from NASA Artist Paul Calle." In conjunction with the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 7, the artist and his son Chris Calle will be at the Museum to talk about NASA art and the Apollo missions in a public program and booking signing of their book, "Celebrating Apollo 11 - The Artwork of Paul Calle." Books are available at the Museum Store, or order online at http://www.museumofflightstore.org/

Scheduled Events

AUGUST 2009