Indy Transponder: National Museum of the USAF: News and Notes: November 2013

News & Notes

November 2013

Doolittle Raiders' Final Toast

WWII aviation heroes to meet Nov. 9

When the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' make a final toast to their fallen comrades on Nov. 9 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the world can witness the historical moment. Although the final toast ceremony is not open to the public, a LIVE feed of the event will be broadcast on The Pentagon Channel at 6 p.m. EST. A link to the LIVE stream will also be available on the day of the event at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil and www.af.mil. Other opportunities to celebrate these World War II aviation heroes that day include a grand arrival, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Doolittle Raiders memorial and a flyover of B-25 aircraft. In addition, the Air Force Museum Theatre is planning to show Doolittle Raider and World War II-themed films. Click here for more information about these activities.

Presidential, R&D Galleries reopen

Galleries open Thursday-Sunday

The museum reopened its Presidential and Research and Development Galleries on a limited basis beginning Oct. 24. The galleries were closed beginning May 1 as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration. Current resources will allow the galleries to be open from Thursday through Sunday. Click here for more information about visiting these galleries.

Free Family Fun on Nov. 16

Learn about the International Space Station

Commemorate the anniversary of the greatest engineering feat in modern history -- the International Space Station -- during Family Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. This month marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of the first module of the space station and the 13th anniversary of a continuous human presence on this fascinating human outpost in space! Visitors will be able to learn about spaceflight, living in space, and rocketry through a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities, including building your own space station from recycling materials. "Storytime," which features space-related stories and a hands-on craft for preschool and primary grade children, will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Click here for more information.

Featured exhibit

Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 (Air Force One)

Nov. 22, 2013, marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. SAM 26000, Kennedy's Air Force One, is on display in the museum's Presidential Gallery. He flew aboard SAM 26000 to Dallas, Texas, where he was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 -- and it was on this airplane that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president. SAM 26000 then carried Kennedy's body and Johnson back to Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more about President Kennedy and SAM 26000.

Note: The museum is planning to offer more shuttle bus trips to the Presidential and R&D Galleries beginning in mid-November. Please watch www.nationalmuseum.af.mil for an announcement in the coming weeks.

This month in USAF history

Nov. 7, 1918

Dr. Robert H. Goddard demonstrated tube-launched solid-propellant rockets at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. This device evolved into the anti-tank bazooka used in World War II. The museum has an exhibit on Dr. Goddard, the "father of modern rocketry," in the Missile & Space Gallery. Click here to learn more about this exhibit.

Featured Product	Commemorative Coin of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force For information about this product and more, visit the online store at store.airforcemuseum.com.