Ride In An Authentic Warbird At CAF Museum
The "Greatest Generation" Of Our Nation's Military Is Honored In Museum That Values The Sacrifice Soldiers Have Made In The Name Of The U.S.
It's hard to argue with Tom Brokaw's term the "Greatest Generation" when referring to the men and women who grew up in the Great Depression, then were instrumental in the victory of the Allies in World War 2. They are people who believe in being free and fighting for the future to have the same opportunity. They sacrificed so much for this ideal, sometimes willingly entering situations that almost ensure death to do it. There are museums and exhibits all over the country that are there to preserve this ideal and one of the best is the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona.
The Field the museum is on, Falcon Field, originally got its start from associations with Hollywood and the British during World War 2. “It was a British Training Facility,” explains Mike Harrod, docent at the museum, “they had places throughout the USA that had good weather and were out of harms way.” The Field was funded by Hollywood elite of the time – Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Jimmy Stewart, and more. After the war, it was acquired by the city of Mesa and eventually being used for pilot training and the home of Commemorative Air Force Museum (CAF) in 1977.
"We have 25 planes, 7 of which we own and we still fly," explains Harrod. Some of the planes they have are the C-47 cargo plane, known for carrying out secret missions, the B-25, and the B-17. The museum also features artifacts from wars and newspapers from World War 2. An example is a flight jacket that the was worn in World War 2 with a patch on it, “In 6-7 languages that basically says ‘I am an American pilot and I fight against your enemies. If you find me return me to a US base,’” explains Harrod.
Of all the planes, Harrod's easiest favorite is the B-17. The B-17 at the museum is 1 out of about 10 that still fly and is named "Sentimental Journey." "She came out of Long Beach, California in 1945," Harrod explains, "and she was already to go and the war ended a week later." He says that "Sentimental Journey" flew over to Japan after being manufactured, but "just sat around looking pretty." One of the most recognizable aspects of "Sentimental Journey," as well as many different aircraft, is the nose art. "We contacted the family of Betty Grable to ask if we could put her picture on our B-17," says Harrod. Betty Grable was the most popular pin-up model during World War 2. The family said they would be honored.
Now "Sentimental Journey" is used for flights at the Museum, as well as tours around the country. "The last one we went on was to Bowling Green, KY, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Lexington, TN," Harrod says. This is one of his favorite parts of working at the museum. He says there are so many there to hear stories and share stories. One of the most touching memories Harrod has of this was in Bowling Green. "An elderly gentlemen came over to her and put his hand on the star," recalls Harrod, "I recognized he was having a moment, so I made sure he had his space." The man pointed to the Ball Turret underneath the plane and said, "'that's where I was,'" Harrod says, "then he explained that he came to Bowling Green to take his last ride on the B-17." In World War 2, after the crew would land the B-17, they would all take time to touch the star on the plane and give a moment for their lives and for the lives that have been lost.
Experiences like these are central to why the Commemorative Air Force Museum exists and why people like Harrod are there. Harrod, an 8-year veteran of the Navy who served in Vietnam, became a flight instructor for Navy and Marine Corps pilots after serving and eventually settled in with CAF about a year and a half ago. "Most veterans from World War 2 and Vietnam just don't want to talk about things that happened," explains Harrod, "and you can't really force it out of them." However, having the museum helps to honor the veterans and give them space to share if they want.
It was a different world during World War 2 and the sacrifice the young men and women gave to the country was extraordinary. The crews that manned the B-17’s are a good example of this. “B-17’s are non-pressurized,” explains Harrod, “which means when they are above 10,000 feet, you need an oxygen mask and the height they usually fly at, 25,000-30,000 feet, the temperature is -40 degrees Fahrenheit.” This explains why old photos have soldiers in bomber jackets and gloves – if they were to touch any of the metal with their skin, they would stick to it.
Beyond the physical discomforts, these crews of 10 soldiers were typically between 17 and 19 years old. “They had a 33% chance of being killed every time they flew into Germany,” Harrod says, “They also had a 33% chance of being shot down and taken as a Prisoner of War. So basically they had a higher chance of not surviving, but these men did it because it was their job.” Harrod sees a lot of types of people come through like veterans, citizens, and current military personnel. “The younger guys are really impressed by the old school technology,” Harrod says. He says that he sees the same spirit in the current military as the ones in the past – sacrifice for the United States. This kind of sacrifice is what people face in these wars, as experienced at CAF, and it is a reminder of the sacrifice members of the Armed Forces are willing to give up every day.
Andrew Malo
A graduate of Northeastern Illinois University in Education, Andrew has taught for the past decade in Chicago, New Mexico, and Japan. He enjoys tinkering with trucks and motorcycles, woodworking, reading and computer programming.
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