Indy Transponder: USAF Museum | News and Notes: December 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

USAF Museum | News and Notes: December 2009

News & Notes

December 2009

NMUSAF Aerial View

Air Force One off display

Dec. 5, 2009-Feb. 13, 2010

The Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000, also known as Air Force One when a president is on board, will be taken off display on Dec. 5 to be painted back to its original presidential paint scheme. Painting is expected to take several months, and the aircraft is currently slated to return to the Presidential Gallery on Feb. 13, 2010, in time for Presidents Day. The Presidential Gallery will not be open for touring on Dec. 5 due to aircraft movement, but the regular schedule will resume on Dec. 6. Visitors are asked to plan their trip accordingly. Click here for more information.

Korean War 60th anniversary

Event registration now open

The museum wants to make sure veterans who served in the "Forgotten War" are remembered and honored throughout 2010, and it has partnered with other organizations in the Dayton area to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War with special events and the opening of the museum's renovated Korean War exhibit area. Korean War veteran groups as well as individual veterans and their families can find additional information and register now for the Dinner Under the Wings and Exhibit Opening, Freedom's Call Military Tattoo and Korean War Memorial Ceremony.

Free family fun on Dec. 12

Learn about the Wright brothers during Family Day

Commemorate the 106th anniversary of the world's first heavier-than-air flight by learning about the Wright brothers and their incredible invention during Family Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 12. Activities include comparing heavier-than-air flight to lighter-than-air flight by observing model (paper) hot air balloons as they're launched as well as hands-on demonstration stations and storytime. Visitors can also make paper flight-related ornaments from 1-3 p.m. in the Modern Flight Gallery. Click here for more information.

Holiday gift ideas

Air Force Museum Foundation offers several options

Looking for a unique gift for someone on your list? An Air Force Museum Foundation membership or something from the museum's gift shop could be just what you need. Shop online at www.airforcemuseum.com or purchase gift cards for use in the gift shop, IMAX Theater or Morphis MovieRide.

Holiday closings

Mark your calendar

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1. The gift shop will be closed for inventory on Thursday, Dec. 31 (museum still open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.). The IMAX Theater will be closed Jan. 4-6 (museum still open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.).

Featured exhibit of the month

Day of Infamy: The Pearl Harbor Attack

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked U.S. military and naval facilities on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands without warning, dealing the United States a staggering blow. On Dec. 8, the U.S. declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy in turn declared war on the United States on Dec. 11. The U.S. then declared war on those two Axis partners of Japan. The museum's Pearl Harbor exhibit features a diorama of Lt. Phillip Rasmussen and his P-36, a flag flown on the USS St. Louis during the attack and an A-2 flying jacket worn by Col. (Ret.) Lew Sanders when he reportedly became the first person in U.S. uniform to shoot down an enemy aircraft in World War II. Click here for more information about this exhibit.

This month in USAF history

Dec. 17, 1950

During the Korean War, Far East Air Forces F-86 Sabres met North Korean MiG-15s for the first time in combat. Lt. Col. Bruce H. Hinton achieved the first F-86 aerial victory over a MiG-15. The museum's F-86 is marked as Hinton's 4th Fighter Group F-86A (S/N 49-1236). Hinton passed away on June 27, 2009. (Information provided by Air Force Historical Studies Office)