Devil wings - Flying leathernecks history preserved at Miramar

[thedrifter]

Devil wings - Flying leathernecks history preserved at Miramar
Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 200391215016
Story by Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.



MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(September 12, 2003) -- The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., preserves the history of Marine Corps aviation and the important role it played in Marine Corps history.

The museum is one of three command museums in the Marine Corps, according to retired Maj. Gen. Bob Butcher, chairman, board of directors, Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation.

The others are located at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and MCRD Parris Island, S.C.

"This is the only one in the world focused on Marine aviation history," said Butcher.

On 4,000 square feet of exhibit area, the museum boasts 25 airplanes and over a thousand artifacts in the actual museum building to show what the Marines of the past used to accomplish their missions.

"Just to think about what these men went through is enough to make anyone feel grateful," said John G. Holbrook, visiting from Milwaukee.

In addition to recognizing the sacrifice of men, there is a special section in the museum dedicated to women Marines for their contributions to the Marine Corps' success in operations.

"I was never aware of the important roles women played," said Holbrook.

The museum has a larger section for women Marine history than any of the other command museums, according to Butcher.

"We have the finest women Marine display in the world," said Butcher.

The museum receives thousands of artifacts every year from patrons who learn of the museum, according to Butcher.

"We haven't received anymore planes, but we have more artifacts," said Butcher. "We had 8,000 pieces of artifacts donated this year."

The museum has a warehouse where all of its extra artifacts are stored until they can build a larger museum to display everything.

"We are in the process of raising money for more space," said Butcher.

The museum not only needs more space, but also solicits volunteers to keep the museum operating and to maintain the aircraft.

MCAS El Toro, Calif., was the original host base of the museum until it shutdown in 1999 and the museum had to move to Miramar to maintain its status as a command museum.

Admission to The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is free, and the museum is open to the public Mon. through Sat. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit their Web site at www.flyingleathernecks.org or call (858) 693-1723.


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Ned H. Cassem of Boston observes an A-4C "Skyhawk" at the Flying Leatherneck Museum. The museum is home to 25 aircraft from the Marine Corps' past.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.


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Ned H. Cassem is seen observing an F9F-2 "Panther," a Korean War-era aircraft.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

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Shawn D. Walker of La Jolla, Calif., observes a CH-53 "Sea Stallion," a type of helicopter used in the Vietnam War. It was introduced in 1967 and is still used today.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.


Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

A few good men volunteer at the Aviation Museum
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 200392320121
Story by Sgt. Joshua Stueve



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(Sept. 18, 2003) -- The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum here has had a few extra volunteers the last two weeks. Marines from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 have spent most of their days during the last two weeks helping to restore two aircraft for the museum.

"Our (Commanding Officer) asked for volunteers one day and a few of us decided that spending our days over here helping out was much better than being back at the squadron doing maintenance and waiting for our helo's to get back," said Pierz, Minn. native Sgt. Paul M. Tschida, HMM-165 CH-46 crew chief.

Between 10 to 15 Marines a day have given their time to help with restoration projects supervised by Dave Koning and Steve Smith, restoration chiefs at the museum.

The Marines have been working on a B-25 Bomber and a F-8 Crusader. Cpl. David A. Navarre and Lance Cpl. Ryan D. Harvey have been working on the B-25 at the museum completely sanding down the aircraft and repainting it. The same work is being done on the F-8, with Cpl. Rachel Garza, Lance Cpl's. Adam Miles, Ethan Lucas, and David Sochar, PFC's Jeremy McMurrin, Matt Hinote and Nativadad Herrera contributing to getting the F-8 ready for the Miramar Air Show on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of October.

"The work that the Marines have done in two weeks here would have taken our other volunteers over a year," said Tom O'Hara, curator of the museum. "They've been working everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., doing all the nasty work on the planes that nobody likes to do. When you come by the museum you see the aircraft and how nice they look, but what you don't see is all the hard work and elbow grease it took to get the planes to look that good."

Recent cutbacks have taken the museum staff from 10 full time workers to three. The museum receives a small amount of money from the base, but not nearly as much as a museum of its size should.

"We are the only museum in the military with only three full time employees," said O'Hara. "Our historical foundation does fund raisers, but because we are a federal museum we can't charge admission."

HMM-165's helicopters have finally made their way back from the middle east. The helicopters were transported on ship and have recently arrived at Point Mugu, where they will undergo flight testing before they return to Miramar.

While the Marines have been back from Iraq they have completed various training requirements such as Marine Corps Martial Arts training and aviation training within the squadron.

"We had some manpower around the squadron because of the absence of our helicopters, so I decided to give the museum a call and ask what we could do to help," said Lt. Col. Jon G. Doering, Commanding Officer, HMM-165. "Not only does it help out the museum and the preservation of their aircraft, it's also training for us because we do the same type of corrosion prevention the museum does."

Doering added that some Marines from his squadron have been school trained in the exact type of corrosion prevention that they are helping with at the museum.

The aircraft at the museum require more preventive maintenance than they did in El Toro because of the high humidity here in Miramar. The work the Marines are performing on the aircraft is essential to the preservation of the individual aircraft and of the museum as a whole. Volunteers have been hard to come by for the museum since the layoffs that took place in 2001.They have a few volunteers that come and spend three to four hours a day once a week, but nothing close to what the Marines from HMM-165 have provided.

"I think most of the Marines enjoy being around aircraft and this gives them a chance to get back into the swing of things after the time off they've had since returning home," said Doering.

The museum is looking forward to a brighter future in 2006, when their new building is supposed to open directly across the street from the current one. But even when they move into their new home, the museum will still be looking for a few good volunteers to help preserve the Marine Corps' proud aviation history.

"The Marines from HMM-165 have really been a life saver for the museum this year," said O'Hara. "We certainly appreciate all the hard work and dedication that they've shown while restoring these two aircraft. We definitely couldn't have done it without them."

If you are interested in volunteering your time at the museum, please contact Tom O'Hara, museum curator, at (858) 577-6125.



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Cpl. Dedrick P. Richard, CH-46E crew chief, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, removes layers of paint from an F-8 Crusader at the Flying Leatherneck Museum's restoration hangar here Sept. 18. The volunteers from HMM-165 removed all paint from the aircraft in preparation for a new layer of paint.
Photo by: Sgt. M. P. Shelato



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Cpl. Richard S. Go, CH-46E helicopter mechanic, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, removes layers of paint from an F-8 Crusader at the Flying Leatherneck Museum's restoration hangar here Sept. 18. Approximately 15 Marines from HMM-165 worked on aircraft at the museum in preparation for the Miramar Air Show Oct. 17, 18 and 19.
Photo by: Sgt. M. P. Shelato



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Sgt. Thomas T. Stuckenschneider, CH-46E crew chief, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, and LCpl. Alan L. Michaud, mechanic, HMM-165, remove paint from an F-8 Crusader at the Flying Leatherneck Museum's restoration hangar here Sept. 18.
Photo by: Sgt. M. P. Shelato


Sempers,

Roger