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National Museum of the U.S. Air Force fourth building now open

  • Published
  • By Rob Bardua
  • National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
DAYTON, Ohio --  Visitors from around the world can once again walk in the footsteps of presidents, astronauts, test pilots and those brought out of captivity as the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force opens its fourth building on June 8.

The new $40.8 million, 224,000 square foot fourth building, which was privately financed by the Air Force Museum Foundation, will house four galleries - Presidential, Research and Development, Space and Global Reach, along with three science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Learning Nodes.

During the official Grand Opening Ceremony on June 7, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said the stories that will be told in these four galleries feature fascinating and important aspects of the Air Force mission.

"This new building is full of compelling stories of men and women who for many decades have served and defended this nation," said James. "These people, their stories and the weapon systems they designed, developed, flew, maintained and supported are worthy of recognition and will be highlighted in this magnificent new building to millions of visitors for generations to come. Thank you to all who helped make this fourth building possible -- especially the Air Force Museum Foundation and their contributors."

Among the stories found in the fourth building will be the VC-137C Air Force One (SAM 26000), which was used by eight presidents - Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton; the only remaining XB-70 Valkyrie; the C-141C Hanoi Taxi, which airlifted the first American prisoners of war out of North Vietnam in February 1973; the Space Shuttle Exhibit featuring NASA's first Crew Compartment Trainer; and a massive Titan IVB space launch vehicle that weighs 96 tons.

It took leaders in both industry and the military to field weapon systems and other important artifacts that are now on display at the museum. Many of these prominent aviation figures had a significant connection to the fourth building galleries, and deserve a special and lasting distinction as individuals whose legacy continues to further the U.S. Air Force mission today.

In honor of these individuals, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh unveiled the new official names for each of the four galleries would be the "Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd and Maj. Gen. Fred Ascani Research and Development Gallery;" "Allan and Malcolm Lockheed and Glenn Martin Space Gallery;" "William E. Boeing Presidential Gallery;" and the "Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Global Reach Gallery."                                              

Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd and Maj. Gen. Fred Ascani were two people who spent their lives in research and development. Boyd, commonly called the "Father of Modern Air Force Flight Test," had a remarkable career as a test pilot. He flew over 700 types of aircraft including many of the experimental aircraft on display here, directed the X-1 program, and commanded the Air Force Flight Test Center. Ascani was an accomplished combat leader in World War II and became the Director of Experimental Flight Test and Engineering at Edwards AFB. He also flew some of the aircraft on display in the R&D Gallery and managed the XB-70 program.

Allan and Malcolm Lockheed overcame numerous challenges and setbacks and founded the organization bearing their names. Their company grew into one of the Air Force's most important producers of military rockets, aircraft and other systems that helped move America and the Air Force into air, space and cyberspace. Martin helped develop the close relationship needed between the military services and American industry. He built many military aircraft between the 1920s and the 1940s, and the company he founded continued by producing such systems as the Titan launch vehicles, including the core of the Titan IVB.

The first aircraft that carried a U.S. president was produced by a company founded by William Boeing. Aircraft from The Boeing Company have carried U.S. presidents for most of the time since then and continue to do so to this day. In addition to the numerous Boeing aircraft and missiles on display throughout the entire museum (including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, B-52 Stratofortress, LGM-30 Minuteman IA and III, etc.), Boeing's legacy is also on display with the C-17 Globemaster III (in the Air Park) and Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey (currently in the Restoration Hangar).

William H. Tunner was known as the "Father of Modern Airlift." During WWII, Tunner established the Ferrying Command that flew desperately needed American aircraft to the beleaguered British; organized the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) that became the famous Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs); and commanded "The Hump" airlift over the Himalayas to China. After the war, Tunner commanded the Berlin Airlift operations in Germany -- the newly created USAF's first military operation. During the Korean War, he commanded the critical airlift operations into Korea, and as the commander of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), he directed major strategic airlift operations during the Lebanon and Taiwan Crises.

Although the building will open to the public on June 8, special weekend activities and demonstrations are being planned to continue celebrating the building opening, June 11-12. However, if you can't make it out during the opening week, there is a good chance some kind of activity or event will be taking place taking place in the fourth building the next time you visit, said Museum Director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hudson.

"Educating the public about the Air Force story and inspiring our youth are the primary missions of the museum," Hudson said. "This fourth building - with the air and space vehicles, dynamic exhibits and three STEM Learning Nodes - will help us to accomplish our mission even better."

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world's largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.


NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact Rob Bardua at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1386.