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Show D June 6, 2002 n Museum marks 20th year But collection began long before present facility was built by Beth Young Hilltop Times staff ? I The Hill Aerospace Museum is celebrating its official 20th anniversary. However, museums on Hill AFB have a past that go back much further than 20 years. "In 1946, the base had its first museum. It was a room within a building. It was pretty much an extension of our elation and pride in having won the war. From 1946 to 1982, Hill's museum was best described as fits and starts; it would exist for a time and then d it would languish. It was kind of a grass roots effort It was David and sustained entirely by volunteers," said Kendziora, Hill AFB historian. , While preserving history has always been important to people at Hill AFB, 20 years ago the museum as it is known now did not exist In fact, there was no building or even an airplane. The museum was just a hopeful idea in the minds of a few people who thought that the history of Hill AFB and the history of the Air Force were important enough to officially memorialize with brick and mortar, and maybe a few airplanes. In September of 1981, Gen. James P. Mullins, then commander of Air Force Logistics Command (now Air Force Materiel Command) wrote a letter that helped to establish Hill AFB's and other museums across the Air Force. In his letter he said: "While it may be true that our progress should not be hindered by tradition, it is also true that much can be learned from lessons of the past Nor should we forget the traditions and history from which the logistics profession has developed. I am, therefore, directing the establishment of the Air Force Logistics Command Heritage Program with the participation of all major AFLC orga nizations." In May of 1982, a policy statement from Verne Orr, Secretary of the Air Force, reiterated that point and reinforced the idea that Air Force museums were important It was this letter that set up some of the basic guidelines for Air Force museums and it also did one other very important thing. While the letter stated donations and foundation funds would be used to the "maximum extent possible," the policy statement said that installation land,man;, power and even a limited amount of operation arid maintenfflclf funds could be used to run the museum. This proved the level of support the Air Force was giving its museum program. Because of these letters, Hill AFB "started a Heritage Program and in 1983 the Aerospace Foundation of Utah was formed. The it foundation is a private, organization whose mission at that time was to raise money to build a museum and the acquisition of artifacts. "We were given 25 acres and of Bldg. 1919. We had a couple little events and ribbon cuttings and a couple different events in 1985 to show people we were serious. In 1986, the Army's lease was up and we got the entire building. During that time we were planning and developing. We established the gift shops. We were collecting exhibits; people were donating. It was more of a preparation phase," said Carol Nash, current director of the museum and prior management assistant for the Heritage Proi ' fLf. '- - - t- I - employee-generate- Hill Aerospace Museum, above, moved Into its present facility in 1990. Hill's first museum, left, was on the east side of the base In 1946. A museum open house in August 1946, below, had displays such as the one showing "Operation Cross Roads." I , " non-prof- one-four-th gram. With the acquisition of the entire Bldg. 1919, the museum had its grand opening May 2, 1987 and to make it officially open ii TTT we were gi ven 25 acres and one-four- th I r i i n of Bldg. 1919. We had a couple little events and ribbon cuttings and a couple different events in 1985 to show people we were serious... to the public. As ifto prove that the museum was a worthy endeavor, more than 6,000 people came to look at the 30 aircraft and avia- tion displays. The foundation was hard at work also, making plans and raising money for a new building. They had even finalized the master plan for the new museum building and Aerospace Park. ' "Although the construction of the park will begin in early spring, construction of the building will begin when sufficient funds are raised," said John Barton, Chairman of Air Force Historical society in a January 1984 newsletter. It would be five years until sufficient funds were raised. The foundation lobbied Utah State legislature and in two years 1988 and 1989 the legislature appropriated $3.7 million for the construction of a 53,000 square foot facility. In 1991 the museum moved to its new building complete with gift shop, administrative offices, theater, classrooms and the Hadley Gallery, which displayed various aircraft indoors. However it was not complete enough. In 1999 the Lindquist-StewaFighter Gallery was opened,, doubling the indoor space for air- Carol Nash 36-ac- re if rt craft The museum has come a long way since its beginnings in one room in Bldg. 1919, which is now used for restoration. Starting with one airplane and no building it now has 65 aircraft, 100,000 square feet of exhibit area and nearly 200,000 visitors a year. H See Museum, page 12 I 'f 1 45 ryiI ' s, BMwiaMiriiitiirtiif,..iiiwii 75th Air Base Wing A small, piece of England was added to the Hill Aerospace Museum May 9 when former members of the 8th Air Force gathered to honor of all those who lost their lives. The stone is from the landmark White Cliffs of Dover, which symbolized a safe trip home to former "Mighty 8th" aircrew members who lost their comrades during World War II bombing raids. "When we returned from a mission, upon seeing those beautiful white cliffs, the thought of every man on board was 5,200-poun- d jl -- , . -- f r.ihjjHfnj Tii Photo by Rhonda Elmort Nate Mazer, World War II veteran and a member of the 8th Air Force Association, Utah Chapter, looks over the White Cliffs of Dover exhibit recently added to the Hill Aerospace Museum. The exhibit features an actual piece of the landmark White Cliffs. COPYi A ..i Jf ii tmif-'i- ' Display recalls 'White Cliffs' mission by Rhonda Elmore . Hill's museum displays have come along way. Above, uniforms In Bldg. 1919 In the left, a display of headgear In the uniform room in the current museum. 'we're almost home,'" said Claude Sher-wi- n, 8th Air Force veteran. Dover served as a World War II command center in southeast England, and many aircraft flew from there to northwest France across the English Channel. Acquiring the stone for the "White Cliffs of Dover Project" started nearly five years ago with a discussion by the 8th Air Force Association's Utah Chapter board of directors. A board member then traveled to Dover to find out if getting a piece of the cliffs was possible. The city council of Dover donated the rock piece to the 8th Air Force His- - torical Society," said Carol Nash, museum director. "The historical society then paid to have it packed, crated and shipped to RAF Mildenhall. It flew 'opportune air' in a 5 to Dover AFB, Md., and from Dover to Hill AFB." Once the rock arrived at the Hill museum, it was cut down to fit in the display case and shaped to resemble the original White Cliffs. According to board member Nate Mazer, Lindquist Mortuaries provided a sculptor to work on the rock. Trophy C-- size portions were encased and engraved and are at the 8th Air Force Museum B See Stone, page 12 |