World War II Diary Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/18/2008 - 16:21
Description

Wes Cowan of PBS's History Detectives gets into a B-24 bomber with World War II pilot Jack Pelton to talk about his experiences.

Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site [AL] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:37
Description

The Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is located on Tuskegee University. Sights include the George W. Carver (circa 1864-1943) Museum and The Oaks, Booker T. Washington's (1856-1915) home. Other figures honored include Dr. Frederick W. Patterson (1901-1988), founder of the United Negro College Fund, and Dr. Robert Moton, who stressed the need for health care for African American veterans. Carver is known for his support of the peanut as an alternative to the southern cotton crop, which had been ravaged by the boll weevil. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, later the Tuskegee Institute, to provide education to African American students. Due to the strength of the aeronautical engineering program at the institute, the site was selected by the military to train African American pilots for World War II.

The site offers exhibits, interpretive programs, 30-minute introductory films on George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, guided tours of The Oaks, period rooms, tours of the historic Tuskegee University, and 2-hour curriculum-based programs. Reservations are required for curriculum-based programs. The Oaks is not fully wheelchair accessible. Films can be played with captions.

Tuskegee Airmen of World War II

Description

This presentation exhibits excerpts from the film Tuskegee Heroes, covering the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, World War II's African-American 332nd Fighter Group. The film clips are followed by questions and answers with attorney Enoch Woodhouse, who served in the Bombardment Group as a young man during the War.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Description

At its two locations—the National Mall building and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia—the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum stewards "the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world," according to its website. Through a combination of state-of-the-art exhibits, programs, and media presentations, the Museum interprets aeronautical history for the public.

The museum offers exhibits, self-guided and guided tours for school groups, on-site presentations for school groups, IMAX and planetarium shows, occasional electronic field trips and videoconferences, and on-demand professional development workshops for educators.

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum [GA]

Description

On January 28, 1942, 53 days after the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, the Eighth Air Force was officially activated in the National Guard Armory on Bull Street in Savannah, GA. Today, the Museum honors the men and women who helped defeat Nazi aggression by serving in or supporting the greatest air armada the world had ever seen—the Eighth Air Force.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and research library access.

Gulf War

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Image for Gulf War
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Focusing on Operation Desert Storm, these materials emphasize the perspectives of those directly involved. There are 19 oral history interviews (up to 20 pages each) with eight "decision makers," seven commanders, two Iraqi officials, and two news analysts.

"War Stories" presents the personal reminiscences of five pilots, available in text and audio. "Weapons and Technology" details 10 ground, aircraft, and space weapons systems and munitions. A seven-minute video excerpt from the "Frontline" program is available as well as four 15-minute episodes of a BBC radio program in text and audio. The site includes a chronology, 10 maps, a bibliography, facts and statistics, and brief essays on press coverage and Iraqi war deaths. Links are available to five sites produced to accompany more recent "Frontline" reports on Iraq.

Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega

Description

Aircraft restorer Karl Heinzel and curator Dorothy Cochrane look at Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega aircraft, discussing its construction and the technological developments it represents. They discuss why aircraft are selected and restored for museum collections as examples of specific moments in history and technological advancement.

National Naval Aviation Museum

Description

At the Museum, visitors can experience hands-on history displays on naval aviation and see more than 150 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation. They can feel the sensations of flight in a flight simulator or visit the Naval Aviation Memorial Theater and view an IMAX film.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, film screenings, and educational and recreational programs.

Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum [MD]

Description

Founded in 1990, the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum is a private, nonprofit corporation. The Museum's purpose is to maintain an educational institution dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and documentation of aviation and space history in Maryland—namely, the contributions of Glenn L. Martin and his successful company. On display are many items of Maryland historical significance, including industrial models of aircraft and rockets, wind tunnel models, restored and partly-restored aircraft, and many original photographs outlining the growth of the Martin Company. An effort has been made to chronologically depict this growth from its beginnings in Santa Ana, California, to its current standing as the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The Museum also spotlights aviation history in Maryland. Unknown to most, the United State's earliest manned flight took place in Maryland.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, and lectures.