Local Aviation Museum Celebrates Lives of Veterans

MORENO VALLEY >> Perhaps nothing complements Moreno Valley's March Air Reserve Base as well as the March Field Air Museum, a museum dedicated to bringing aviation stories alive through expositions, air shows, and more. The March Field Air Museum, dedicated on Dec. 19, 1979 with an address delivered by Lt. Gen. James P. Mullins, is home to aircraft and photographs that depict the stories of countless aviators over time who served in the World Wars and the Korean War, among others. In 1980, the March Field Air Museum was officially recognized as an air force facility. The display area for museum aircraft also opened in the same year, along with the March Field Air Museum Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the museum with fundraising and volunteer help. Now, the museum offers visitors the chance to view more than 70 aircraft and 30,000 individual artifacts dating back to the times of World War II and the Vietnam War. Different exhibits such as the B-17, space, and World War I exhibits are available for visitors of all ages to walk through, explore, and learn more about the development of flight over the decades. Because the museum is a staunch proponent of education, people of all ages can come to different events held at the museum to glean from history and use the teaching resources available to learn more about aviators that have shaped flight and made it was it is today. Past events that have been held at the March Field Air Museum include veterans ceremonies and briefings on different aviation topics, such as B-17s and paranormal activity at the museum. The museum held a ceremony commemorating veterans from the Korean War in 2013, honoring the heroes that fought in what is often referred to as "The Forgotten War". "The museum is privileged to mark this important date in our history with this event," said Jamil Dada, museum board president. The museum continues to honor war veterans, most recently with the 3rd Annual Patriots of the Past, Present, and Future, which will be held April 1 at the museum. Veterans from around the 23rd Senate District in the Inland Empire will be recognized in five different categories: business, education, public safety, civic engagement, and community service. The museum also has hosted and continues to host several educational briefings throughout the year featuring different speakers. In the past, Ken Wright, World War II veteran RAF navigator (ret), has briefed audiences on the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and its use by the Royal Air Force during the early years of World War II as part of the museum's "Summer Briefings". Jim Shelton, former SR-71 pilot, has also contributed through his briefing on the SR-71, of which the museum houses one of only 12 that are displayed in the United States. Gary and Nancy Lacey of "Synergy Paranormal" have also presented the findings of two years worth of investigation and research of paranormal activity at the museum. Along with educational briefings and ceremonies honoring veterans, the March Field Air Museum also hosts several fun events throughout the year for guests of all ages. In the past, the museum has held a yearly “Fright Night” event, a scary sleepover that runs all night and gives visitors the opportunity to camp out overnight under the wings of indoor aircraft, listen to spooky tales and take a paranormal tour with a museum employee where professional paranormals such as the Laceys have conducted research. “[The team] has been collecting evidence similar to that found in other aviation museums in the country,” said Patricia Korzec, museum director at the time of the 2013 event in an article with City News Group. “Their approach is very scientific and they are using state-of-the-art equipment to discern any paranormal activities at our site.” As mentioned before, the museum has more than 30,000 different artifacts from the World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other battles in American history. Residents from around the Inland Empire and beyond who have an interest can donate personal artifacts relevant to the time and subject through the museum’s “Find Our Hidden Treasures” campaign. The “Find Our Hidden Treasures” campaign began in 2013 as a way to increase “finds” brought to the Curatorial and Collections Management departments at the museum. The goal of the campaign was to encourage people to look for treasured artifacts in their storage areas, attics, and basements that they might not have been aware were even there. “With aging veterans, families might not be aware that their personal records, scrapbooks, and letters may have priceless value to museums,” Korzec said. “Many people have items that they do not know what to do with them or how to properly take care of them,” said Michelle Sifuentes, museum collections manager. “They are stored away in closets, attics, boxes, trunks or other places collecting dust and developing irreversible damage. It is our job to preserve such items for future generations’ education and enjoyment.” One Riverside resident brought in a scrapbook that contained a G.I.’s original World War II photos taken on Okinawa, the Philippines and Formosa, plus an original Goldfish Club membership card and 1944 issues of “Inside Japan”. Another Inland Empire resident, from Moreno Valley, brought in his father’s original 1947 “Permission to Marry” documents. At the time when his father served in the Air Force, these documents were necessary for him to marry a Chinese citizen, which reflects the differences between then and now. Jeff Houlihan, museum curator, was particularly excited about a box of personal letters written during World War II that was dropped off at the museum in 2011. The museum was unable to find any surviving family members, but Houlihan expressed his appreciation of the find. “The letters cover SSgt Rogers’ experiences as a young airman in the Second World War,” Houlihan said.“Intimate and uncensored, the letters give a candid view of army life, training, flying, and the gradually increasing awareness of the terrors of war. By preventing the letters from destruction, the museum has been afforded an opportunity to preserve the legacy of the common Army Air Force service members of World War II, all through the first-person voice of SSgt Rogers.” Many new things are coming up for the museum in the next few months, according to Houlihan, including an Iraq and Afghanistan mobile radar site that will be patterned after the museum’s Vietnam Firebase, complete with sound effects, helicopters, mine-resistant vehicles, and equipment that will simulate the Vietnam experience for visitors. A replica of the interior of the 1944 March Field Officers’ Club will also be opening soon. The museum is currently restoring two planes to add to the collection of aircraft: a B-52D Stratofortress from the Vietnam War, and the B-29A Superfortress used during World War II. Last, but certainly not least, March Field Air Museum will also be celebrating AirFest 2016: Thunder Over the Empire, returning after a four-year break. Admission is free for visitors, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be headlining. April 16 and 17, visitors can come watch the air show and enjoy food trucks, Kona Ice and a beer garden.