NEWS & EVENTS
Whats New
Honoring Flying Tiger Lt. Glen Beneda
Nearly 200 gathered on Monday, January 30th, sharing memories of "The Flying Tigers" of WWII who did so much to help the Chinese people during the war with Japan. The event took place at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in Hangar 79 in front of the Museum's "Flying Tigers" exhibit.
Governor Neil Abercrombie talked of the service Hawaii's Chinese gave, and Madame Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries spoke and presented her new documentary, Touching the Tigers
Touching the Tigers, a 40-minute documentary, is the story of American Flying Tigers pilot Lt. Glen Beneda, who was shot down in his fighter and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II on his 81st mission with the 14th Air Force. Beneda was rescued by Chinese farmers and soldiers and escorted to a U.S. air base where he received aid and an unforgettable attachment to the Chinese people. Mr. Beneda's wife Mrs. Elinor Beneda and two sons Edward and Henry Beneda were in attendance at the Museum event, and honored.
The China Children's Choir of Beijing performed. A traditional lion dance and a pupu reception ended the festivities.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor rated "one of the top 10 aviation attractions in the nation" by TripAdvisor® is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization located at 319 Lexington Boulevard on Historic Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818.
The Tuskegee Airmen Symposium Held
At Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
Sunday, January 15
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African-American aviators of WWII, The Tuskegee Airmen Symposium was held at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on Sunday, January 15, 2012. The Symposium screened George Lucas' documentary on the Tuskegee Airmen, "Double Victory." This was an exclusive showing in Hawaii. Lucas provided the documentary to the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., as the Airmen were so instrumental in helping him produce his new film, "Red Tails" which releases nationwide on January 20.
The event was free to Museum members and was also included in the price of regular admission for other Museum visitors.
Narrated by Cuba Gooding, Jr. and utilizing footage from the new "Red Tails" feature film, "Double Victory" tells of the Tuskegee Airmen fighting a war on two fronts—in the air against fascism in Europe and at home against racism and discrimination. The documentary was screened at 2pm, followed by a panel presentation. Speakers were Dr. Dorothy Goldsborough, University of Hawaii professor and wife of one of the original Tuskegee Airman now living in Hawaii--Romaine H. Goldsborough; another original Tuskegee Airman Phillip Baham who lives in Hawaii; and LtCol Brian Hill, the Commander of the 96th Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. MSgt Chandra Mark, president of the newly formed TAI Hawaii organization also gave updates on the Hawaii chapter, the Artis-Baham-Goldsborough Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
A meet and greet followed the Symposium, in the Gallery of Hangar 37.
The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II, were the first African American military aviators in the United States military. Initially equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, the group also flew Bell P-39 Airacobras, Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, and North American P-51 Mustangs—on which they painted their famous "Red Tails."
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is open 9am to 5pm daily and is accessed by air-conditioned shuttle buses from the Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor Visitor Center parking area. For general information, phone 808-441-1000.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization which is dependent on its members, volunteers, and donors for support.
Ford Island Control Tower Dedication - December 7, 2011
The newly stabilized Ford Island Control Tower at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor was dedicated in a ceremony on the Tower Lawn, Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11:00AM, a part of the Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary Ceremonies.
Showing off the first phase of the monumental stabilization work that has been done to save the historic landmark where the first attack alert was broadcast on December 7, 1941, the Holland American Legion Band played while the flag was raised on the top and a T-6 Texan made several passes over the assembled crowd of 200.
Speakers at the event included: Acting Governor/Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz(Governor Neil Abercrombie who was instrumental in garnering federal funds to begin the preservation efforts is off island at a Governor's Conference); Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff; Museum Board President Clint Churchill; Lance Wilhelm, senior vice president of Kiewit Building Group, the contractor for the Tower; and CAPT Jeff James, commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Work on this first phase of renovation began January 2011. Mason Architects was the architectural design firm. Kiewit Building Group was the contractor. Both are in Honolulu.
A special Commemorative 70th Anniversary Coin will be available in the Museum Store.
To completely restore the Ford Island Control Tower, it is estimated that $7.5 million will be needed. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie when he was in Congress was instrumental in helping to secure $3.8 million through the Department of Defense appropriations for the stabilization and restoration of an historic landmark. This allowed the Museum to begin work. The Museum is in a capital campaign to raise the remainder needed for the complete restoration. Donations may be made online at our donation page.
The Ford Island Control Tower complex constructed in 1941 consists of a 3rd level Aerological Center and Observation Deck on top of the 2-story Operations Building, and the Air Traffic Control Center on top a 158-foot steel water tank tower. It played a major role in the naval activity at Pearl Harbor, especially during World War II. The Tower is registered as a Category I structure in the Pearl Harbor Naval Base Historic Preservation Plan of 1978.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is open 9am to 5pm daily and is accessed by air conditioned shuttle buses from the USS Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Daily, visitors from all over the world view the vintage aircraft, enjoy hands on technology experiences including combat flight simulators, hear moving stories told by aviation-experienced docents, and see "A Day That Shall Live In Infamy" through historic films and audio. The Museum gift shop and restaurant are unique in their offerings and their authentic 1940s ambiance.
Events at the Museum December 7
(included in the price of admission and free to Museum Members)
Home of the Brave Quilt project – 10am to 2pm, Hangar 37 Sign a quilt and see quilts being sewed for the families of fallen Hawaii soldiers
Ford Island Control Tower Dedication - 11am, Tower Lawn
Holland American Legion Band - 1pm, Tower Lawn
Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson Book Signing – 2pm to 4pm, Museum Store. Meet the author of the award winning book, Pearl Harbor Child
New Exhibit: Sunrise on the Fleet ~ The Final Moment of Peace by Robert Bracci on view in Hangar 37 Gallery. An extremely detailed overhead view scale model of what the Japanese pilots saw, their first view of O`ahu, just moments before the attack. Optically positions the viewer 6,000 feet above the South end of O`ahu. The hand carved, one of a kind exhibit is on loan to the Museum by the artist, for one year.
Come Fly with Me" ~ New PAN AM Exhibit
(Photos of the exhibit available here on our Flickr stream:
PAN AM Flickr Album
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor's tribute to the greatness that was Pan American World Airways opened to the public with a special reception 2 to 4PM, Saturday, October 22, 2011, marking the 75th anniversary of commercial airline passenger service to Hawaii. Approximately 500 attended the blessing and festivities.
The reception hosted press, dignitaries, and members of the PAN AM and Museum families. Included in the dedication were: Ed Swofford, former regional vice president for Pan American and former CEO of Aloha Airlines, and founding board member of Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor; Darleen Laster of the Pan Am Association; Capt. Don Cooper, a former Pan Am pilot; Museum Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff; and Kahu Kordell Kekoa of Kamehameha Schools.
Reflecting PAN AM's importance to aviation in the Pacific, the exhibit, designed by Southern Custom Exhibits of Anniston, Alabama, and fabricated by Museum staff, features artifacts and memorabilia in two modules: the 1930s and 1940s ("The Early Years"), and 1960s, ("The Jet Age"). It was designed to be an evolving exhibit that changes and grows as more artifacts are contributed by friends of PAN AM.
"We have collected original PAN AM branded items to be viewed in what appears to be the inside cabin of an airliner. It's a fun concept and an exciting addition to our history of aviation in the Pacific. We're grateful to all those who helped make it possible," said Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff.
Included in the exhibit are uniforms, customer service items, original posters and signage, navigation tools, the maintenance manual for the Boeing 314 China Clipper, maps for routes serviced in the Islands, and biographical information on the founders and pioneers of international air service--Juan Trippe, Charles Lindbergh, and Edward Musick.
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Featured in "The Flying Tigers"
New Exhibit Opening October 27 in Hangar 79
A Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Flying Tiger, which was one of the most popular and successful American aircraft of WWII, joined the aircraft collection at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in July of 2010 and has become the centerpiece of a new "The Flying Tigers" exhibit which officially opens Thursday, October 27, 5:00 to 7:30PM, with a dedication and gala reception, by invitation to press and dignitaries.
The event will also feature a special tribute to Senator Ted Stevens, who was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force and flew the Curtiss C-46 and Douglas C-47 cargo transports "over the Hump" into China, 1944 and 1945.
The P-40 is on loan to the Museum from donor corporation FedEx. At a $1.5 million value, the aircraft is preserved in flying condition and is powered up periodically at the Museum. The Museum worked with the Flying Tiger Museum in China to create the exhibit, coordinating efforts among the state of Hawaii, the Museum, and the People's Republic of China.
Built in 1942 for the Royal Canadian Air Force and used primarily for training during WWII, the aircraft changed ownership before being shipped to Hawaii in 1969 to be used in the filming of Tora! Tora! Tora!
The aircraft is a memorial to Flying Tiger Line founder Robert Prescott, American Volunteer Group (AVG) ace and the member of Flying Tigers in China. The AVG consisted of pilots recruited from U.S. Forces and contracted with the China National Aviation Corporation to fly for China. The Tigers are credited with 299 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed during their service from 1941~1942. The FedEx aircraft on loan to the Museum is the P-40E model painted to resemble the Flying Tigers P-40B and is signed by many of the pilots. The pilots signed the left and support crew the right horizontal tail assembly during a reunion in 1981.
According to Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff, "More than 14,000 P-40 aircraft were built during WWII. Although often slower and less maneuverable than its counterparts, the P-40 could withstand amazing amounts of battle damage and could out-dive most of its adversaries. It's the aircraft in our logo and now, the star of an exceptional new exhibit. We're thankful to the generosity of donor corporation FedEx and their Chairman/CEO Fred Smith."
The P-40 carried a crew of one and was powered by an Allison 12 cyclinder V-1710 engine. Made by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, the P-40 had a top speed of 362 mph. The "67" on the side of the plane represents the original number which crashed early in the fighting. A red stripe on the rear fuselage represents the Third Pursuit Squadron, "Hells Angels." An insignia on the wings represents the Chinese Air Force.
For more information on the event, please call 808/441-1004 or email SpecialEvents@PacificAviationMuseum.org.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. Rated the "One of the top 10 aviation attractions in the nation" by TripAdvisor®, it is open 9am to 5pm daily and is accessed by shuttles from the USS Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Tickets and a free combat simulator flight coupon are available online at www.PacificAviationMuseum.org.
