Gary Army Airfield

Updated July 21

Tim Black, B-25 pilot, briefs the group.
The Commemorative Air Force was started in Harlingen by two old fighter pilots with 9 airplanes.
It's based in Dallas now with about 14000 members and 160 flying airplanes.

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Clint Epley briefs a section in the museum.

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OV-1 Mohawk

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The standard issue water tower

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L-5 Sentinel, forward observation airplane

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C-45
trainer and utility aircraft with nose art

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P-39Q Bell “Airacobra"
The engine is behind the pilot, and it has an Oldsmobile 37 mm cannon that fires through the propeller hub.

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Vintage Control Tower with rotating beacon on the top.
Military airfields had a split white beam on one end, and the other end was a green beam.
Civilian airfields had a simple white beam and green beam.

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Iconic World War II Jeep

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In the far right corner hangs the metal back plate from one of the Doolittle Raiders pilot seats.
Below it is the white bombsight they used.
One plane went to Russia, and all the other crews crashed landed or bailed out at night.
Only three crewmembers were killed at the end of the mission.
Five crewmen were captured. Dick Cole is 101 and the only living member.

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The Navy painted a line on the deck for the nose wheel and for the left main.
All planes took off next to the tower.

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Handheld camera used in an open window.

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The "We Can Do It" poster was called "Rosie the Riveter" after 1980.

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You learn so much more with a tour guide.

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In a rotary engine, the pistons rotate with the propeller.

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There was also a large display of cars on the ramp.
Bet you can't guess what this is by the upholstery.

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Slightly modified 1957 Chevy

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Lunch at 54th Street Cafe

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Very busy ceiling

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The gang is all here except the shoppers.

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Barbara Waite, Ashley Taylor, June Bohn. and Laurie Taylor
The power shoppers.

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