The Air Museum also has a special membership program available to the public, with the opportunity to actually experience the thrill of orientation flights in genuine warbirds being one of the benefits of membership. At each monthly special event, members in attendance, including last-minute sign-ups, can have their names entered into a free drawing for such a flight.The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” is open every day, except Christmas and Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. General admission is $11, youngsters 11 and under are admitted for $4, and admission is free for accompanied children under 5.For more information about The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” or its program of events, please call (909) 597-3722, or visit the museum’s website at www.planesoffame.org.
The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” at the Chino Airport
February 21, 2007
Santa Paula News
Aerial Gunners will be the subject of the monthly special event to be hosted by The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” at the Chino Airport on Saturday, March 3.
Aerial Gunners will be the subject of the monthly special event to be hosted by The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” at the Chino Airport on Saturday, March 3. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar featuring gunners who saw combat service aboard United States bombers and conclude with a flight demonstration by the “Planes of Fame” North American B-25J Mitchell bomber of World War II fame.Although aerial gunners are still employed aboard many combat helicopters, modern technology has eliminated them from the crews of today’s manned bomber aircraft. However, from World War I through the Vietnam War, aerial gunners were the first line of defense for bombers facing enemy interceptor aircraft. Even with adequate fighter escort, the aerial gunner remained an essential element of the bomber arsenal for decades.Now in its 51st year as an independent, non-profit, educational institution, The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” was the very first permanent air museum in the American West and a pioneer in the concept of restoring historic display aircraft to flying condition so that they can be more fully appreciated by the public. Among the flyable aircraft in the “Planes of Fame” collection is the North American B-25 Mitchell, a twin-engined bomber that saw extensive combat service with the U.S. Army Air Forces, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as numerous foreign air forces, throughout World War II. This was also the type of airplane employed by Jimmy Doolittle for the very first bombing raid against the Japanese homeland in that war.Staffed primarily by a core of dedicated volunteers, The Air Museum “Planes of Fame” supports its daily operations with admission fees, donations, facilities rentals and proceeds from the use of its aircraft in various productions.
