The Membership Newsletter for The Military Aviation Museum January 2019

Museum Introduces New Education Experience Zone INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Churchill Bowler 2 The Friendly Invasion 2 Adopt-a-Plane 3 Paintings of Henri Farré 4 A Pilot's Thoughts 4 2018 In Review 5 Dinners, Dances & Weddings 6 Big Band Hangar Dance 7 Upcoming Events 8 Pictured Above: Autumn & Jason are the first to fly the flight simulators in the new kids zone; Pictured Right Bottom: Chance gets his pilot on in the kids zone

The museum has had a huge jump in visitor traffic in 2018. With over 70,000 guests coming through our doors, that’s nearly a 40% increase over last year! We’re seeing audiences quickly growing beyond our typical aviation enthusiasts, to the simply curious and those looking for new experiences. More Military Aviation Museum and more families with small children are part of the makeup www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org of this new audience, and we had to ask ourselves: are we doing everything we can to inspire new generations to appreciate Virginia Beach Airport aviation history and pursue careers in the field? The museum www.VBairport.com undoubtedly has a world-class collection to admire, but we’re Fighter Factory proud to announce our new focus on providing tangible, www.FighterFactory.com hands-on experiences at the museum. Over the Beach While yet unnamed, this new experience zone will feature www.VBairshow.com a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and historic learning opportunities for kids of all ages. New simulators, featuring our very own aircraft and air field, will allow future pilots to explore Virginia Beach through the skies with aircraft ranging from our WWI fighters to a more modern Cessna 172. Identification games, featuring historic WWII identity cards, will pair up through the prime viewing area of our ramp where historic warbirds still fly. As this experience zone builds out, expect to see flight dynamic activities, building opportunities and touchable material exhibits HAPPY demonstrating how these aircraft are made. We’re excited for this new feature at the museum, and we’re sure you’re going NEW YEAR! to love it! q Revisit 2018 at the museum on pages 5-7 Big Band Hangar Dance is back at the museum! See our ad on page 7 for more information. PAGE 2 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 HANGAR TALK

Churchill Bowler The Friendly Invasion

Two of our Volunteers working on the Goxhill exhibit, Sarah Jameson and Lanny White, show Churchill's bowler and historic certificate.

Some of our readers know that the museum has spent the last several years searching for furnishings and equipment to accurately portray the historic and authentic Goxhill “Watch Office” building. This long-term project has been a product of the museum founder’s passion for authenticity and for the quality of the “guest experience” at the museum. The Generous Briton in Goxhill, a popular haunt for the Americans Part of this search led to a small museum in England dedicated to items memorializing the experience of the English who lived daily under threat of attack from the Some said they were over paid. Many said as one unit moved out, another would move air and at sea during WWII. Among the many hundreds they were over sexed. And in North Lincolnshire in. Late in 1943 Goxhill’s role changed when it of artifacts in the museum's collection were several from 1942 onwards, everyone knew they were became the home of the 496th Fighter Training rather amazing items. We thought our readers would be over here. They arrived in the dead of night, on Group, with two training squadrons - the 554 and interested to learn about one of them in particular. crowded trains straight from the troop ships in 555 - on its strength. Goxhill certainly played an Greenock or Liverpool. They were brash, they important role in the air war over Europe. Most Normally, most people would not get terribly were friendly, they were generous, almost to a of the American 'aces' spent some time at Goxhill excited about unwrapping a rather dusty, well-worn fault and just about everyone loved 'em. They getting used to flying in damp, cloudy conditions. hat and an old, age-spotted single-page letter. As were the Yanks, the Army Air But that is not all Goxhill will be remembered very few things around our favorite museum are ever Force, who began arriving in England in some for. The sudden and dramatic injection of large “normal”, imagine the thrill of holding (in carefully considerable numbers 50 years ago this week. But numbers of vibrant young Americans into the gloved hands of course) a simple black open-crowned here in North Lincolnshire, we had a foretaste of isolated communities of North Lincolnshire at a what was to come when RAF Goxhill, built as “Homburg” hat with the carefully penned name “W. time of national austerity had an impact which a bomber airfield and then deemed unsuitable, Churchill” and “Chartwell” (Churchill’s home of over is still hard to grasp. These young men and the became the first airfield to be occupied by the wealth they brought with them represented a four decades) written in the sweatband of the hat. USAAF. The occupation began with an opening glimpse of the future for people whose horizons Those of us predisposed to suspicion took great ceremony in May, attended by no lesser figure had rarely extended beyond a day out in Hull solace from the accompanying typed donation letter. than General Eisenhower, continued with the or Lincoln. The impact of the Americans was arrival in June of the first contingent of the This 1997 letter was on “House of Commons – London” immediate. An American Red Cross Club was thousands who were to serve at Goxhill and established in Grimsby's Old Market and was letterhead from Winston S. Churchill, the “Great Man’s” was confirmed in July 1942 when the first of the grandson, in response to the museum’s request for a later followed by an accommodation annex in base's aircraft arrived. Bargate. English pubs - despite their 'warm' beer display item that had been a personal possession of Goxhill was to play an unusual role for - were an immediate attraction and takings went this extraordinary historical figure. Both the hat and the USAAF. For the first 18 months it was the up, not only at Goxhill's two hostelries, the Ox, the letter show unmistakable signs of wear and age, temporary home of incoming fighter groups. but in Barton, in Hull and, more than anywhere including the expected “foxing” on the stationery, but They adapted European flying conditions over else, in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. The rail line they will no doubt display extremely well as unique and the relatively safe skies of North Lincolnshire that ran through Goxhill brought the Yanks by historical items related to one of the greatest leaders of before moving into East Anglia as part of the the trainload into Grimsby where they headed the 20th Century. Look for the museum to display these 8th Air Force's fighter arm. Each group spent for the pubs, the cinemas and the dance halls. items appropriately in the very near future! q between four and eight weeks at Goxhill as part Despite the affluence they brought with them, of their training and the planning was such that the Americans appear to have got on very well u VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

Keep 'Em Flying! Introducing a New Way to Support the Museum

ADOPT-A-PLANE

t with the British servicemen in the air. They showed a great deal of respect for the bomber crews operating from local airfields and the only real flashpoint came when the crew of a Royal Navy warship were invited to a party at the Red Cross Club. Their generosity knew no bounds. They shared their very ample food supplies with all and sundry and introduced locals to the delights of fruit juice, or doughnuts, Coca-Cola and Hershey bars. One Christmas they collected the staggering amount of £3,000 for a children’s party at Goxhill. On another occasion, everyone on the base went without a meal to provide the food for another party for the local children. The children's parties, at Christmas and Thanksgiving, are still remembered by all those who attended them. And the abiding memoir for all is the huge amounts of food laid out on tables for the children to enjoy. Then, of course, was the impact on the local girls. “They all looked like film stars to us,” recalled one Grimsby woman. It wasn't We’re introducing a great new way for Plane program. people to support the mission of the Military just their money. There was something different, something You can now symbolically adopt nearly Aviation Museum. What makes us unique exciting about these young men. And after the war it wasn't any aircraft in our collection, and in return among air museums is our unwavering surprising when several dozen local women caught the you’ll receive a personalized certificate of commitment to flying a complete collection stream of boats taking Gl brides across the Atlantic. It didn't adoption, a 4" x 6" photo of your aircraft and of historic warbirds. As you can imagine, it is work out for some. But today, scattered across the United a mini info card. For those at the $100 level, immensely expensive to do so. The museum States, there are dozens of women who were brought up in your name will be featured as an adopter on incurs costs of roughly $200,000 annually the East Marsh, in Goxhill, North Cleethorpes or Barton- our newly designed aircraft exhibit signs. for fuel and insurance alone, not including on-Humber who really found dreams at the end of their For the first time ever, and something that’s the enormous expense of maintaining these rainbow. q been often requested, we’re offering the aircraft in safe flying condition. With that opportunity to pose for a photograph in the in mind, in an effort to keep these warbirds Printed with permission from the July 20, 1992 cockpit of your favorite for all gifts flying, we’re introducing the new Adopt-A- q Evening Telegraph Special Publication of $500 and above. PAGE 4 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 THE MUSEUM collection

Sky Fighters of : The Paintings of Henri Farré

By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein

A Pilot’s Thoughts on the Paintings of Henri Farré.

By Robert “Boom” Powell, Volunteer & Pilot During the First World War, French artist, Henri Before long, however, he was making accurate Farré produced 175 paintings that did more than observations of the colors of the sky as seen at Pilots like looking at pictures of airplanes; especially any photograph to depict the color and movement high altitude, of the formation of clouds and of airplanes in flight. Photographs are good but the bulky of a new invention that forever changed the nature the earth below, as seen from a point of view no cameras of the day were seldom used to take air-to- of warfare and the destiny of mankind. He used his artist before him had been privileged to enjoy. However, his attention was not always on his air pictures during World War One. Therefore, artists canvas to record the daring encounters of men and machines in the skies over the Western Front. The art. On one occasion, with only a pocketknife had to create those images. The problem was drawing aeroplane had barely been in existence ten years ready to hand, Farré had to lean over the side airplanes was difficult. Wings look crooked, propellers when Farré sketched evocative scenes of air combat of his aeroplane to cut away an obstinate bomb become ridiculous and a myriad of other details are from his perch in an open cockpit. that had failed to release. His actions helped to wrong. Not so with Henri Farré. Not only was he an save the ship, the pilot, and himself from almost accomplished artist, but a fully qualified French military Born in Foix, France, on 13 July, 1871, Farré certain destruction upon landing. One should aviation observer who flew combat missions. excelled as a student at the École des Beaux-Arts, keep in mind that crews of the day flew without holding his first exhibition at the Salon des Artistes the benefit of parachutes. Recently, I had the privilege of attending an exhibit at age 26. The influence of the French Impressionist of Farré paintings at the Chrysler Museum of Art. I and Post-Impressionist movements on art at the Flying as an observer, Farré almost certainly was amazed. Farré’s talent got it right. The Voisons, turn of the 20th Century was reflected in Farré’s would have been called upon to defend himself and Farmans and Bleriots were readily identifiable. predominantly landscape and portrait work. his fellow fliers in action. Observers, in general, were Better still, his use of light and color, of angle and tasked with the operation of at least one machine gun. When war broke out in August of 1914 he was perspective, presented what it’s like to fly. That use of Depending on the configuration of the plane, they pursuing a career as a portraitist in Buenos Aires, might be compelled to stand up to operate the guns bright color and light came from his training in the Argentina. Determined to defend his native country school of Impressionism. While capturing the mood, mounted to their aircraft, placing themselves at even against a German invasion, Farré returned to France greater risk and sometimes obscuring the forward Farré manages details that only someone who had and attempted to enlist for active duty. However, view of the pilot. Even if afforded the limited advantage actually been flying would understand. Especially his age (43) was sufficient to have excluded him of multiple gun mounts, the observer would have to noteworthy is his realistic rendering of night scenes. from selection for service. Undeterred, placed on transfer manually the plane’s armament from one Even the best photographs cannot compare. the “shelved” list by the recruiters, he badgered his mount to another in order to traverse the gun. The Chrysler Museum of Art displays the friends with military connections until they relented and ultimately paved the way for Farré’s investiture. Since few, if any, photographs were taken of actual paintings in a special, well-lighted exhibit room, in aerial combat during the First World War, Farré’s a path chronological from training to combat. The No sooner had he reported for duty when Farré oil paintings represent a visually and historically guide notes for each painting are very informative. I was asked to paint as well as to fight for France. The significant record of French air operations. His first- have been looking at the paintings in our museum French Minister for War had directed Farré’s division hand impressions of the exciting and dangerous air for several years and I was struck by how vivid they commander, who also served as director of the Hôtel exploits by men in canvas-covered crates were, for appeared. In preparing them for exhibition, the restorers des Invalides and the Musée de L’Armée, “to create many, the only representations of their kind known at the Chrysler cleaned them with remarkable results. a group of artist-painters, whose duty it will be to to the European and American public during the paint certain phases of action, so as to immortalize First World War. The Military Aviation Museum provided a flyable on canvas true pictures of fighting in the field.” And this is ironic. The introduction of the Nieuport aircraft in the atrium area for the reception. Intrigued by the unique vantage afforded him by the aeroplane into military service had been concerned The comparison of the paintings with a real aircraft coincidence of his assignment to a flying squadron, largely with one thing: aerial observation and later made an impression on all the guests. Volunteers Farré obligingly accepted the dual role of military aerial photo reconnaissance. In fact, in 1914, from our museum were there to help the non-aviation orderly and aviation painter. reconnaissance was widely perceived as the only crowd, primarily interested in art, by answering their From this unlikely beginning, Farré maneuvered practical use of the aeroplane. Ultimately, very little questions and explaining what flying in World War his way into a post as an observateur-bombardier attention would be paid to the documentation One would have been like. with a Voisin bomber squadron. It took five of air operations, with nearly all camera lenses The exhibit continues until January 27, 2019 and months of flying before he learned to, “see vertically,” focused on the persistent carnage unleashed night is well worth the visit. q to accurately record the reconnaissance missions, and day upon the beleaguered trenches of the bombing raids, and air attacks that he witnessed. opposing armies. u VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5

Sky Fighters of France: The Paintings of Henri Farré, continued

t Vertical cameras were used from the outset of the maps of the frontlines derived from mosaics made up The New York Times recalled that Farré, flying with war, but they were too heavy and bulky for the light of thousands of aerial photographs. alone his sketch pad tied to his knee, “circled over the scene of aircraft of the day. Most early reconnaissance flights were reportedly generated 4,000 images a day in 1918. The action and, oblivious to the shells, noted the details…. recorded through visual observations or written reports. British are known to have developed some 80,000 He never got a scratch.” He witnessed the first night Handheld cameras were sometimes employed but with images in the course of a single battle. bombardment attempt, which ended in disaster for the mixed results. To achieve a satisfactory image required French aircrews involved. He also participated in other It is likely Farré’s own hand-written notes and both a skilled pilot, to maintain level flight, and a capable more successful raids; he observed the sky fighters of preliminary sketches often served as an authoritative operator who could handle the bulky camera and the France in action in their SPADs, Voisins, and Nieuports, account of sorties flown. It is known that on more than heavy glass plate negatives. captured scenes at aviation schools and of activities at one occasion, he returned to the scenes of earlier battles airfields, and even flew aboard the early seaplanes on long- All belligerent nations soon learned the importance to sketch details of the topography he claimed to have range maritime patrols. As Farré said, the observateur- of aerial photography. By 1916, air reconnaissance was missed or misinterpreted. Apart from a determination bombardier’s work was, “not only painted but lived by me practiced regularly along the Western Front. This in for accuracy in his own paintings, it may very well be on the different fronts of France.” turn necessitated fighter escorts, and thereby drove that Farré was ordered to revisit the sites of these much of the rapid progress in aeronautical engineering past engagements in order to clarify or revise his The Times went on to say Farré’s works opened a for the duration of the war. It is estimated that about one earlier observations for senior Allied commanders. “completely new field of vision to the general public and third of all sorties flown were devoted to reconnaissance. Presumably, there were unforeseen consequences to the stirred both the emotions and the imagination.” As a By the end of the war both sides maintained detailed production of, “true pictures of fighting in the field.” means of raising Allied support Continued on page 7.

2018 in Review

Ten years ago, this museum first opened to the public. Founded by Jerry and Elaine Yagen, the museum started with little more than a skeleton crew, a handful of new volunteers, and a collection of vintage aircraft. With little public recognition and far from the bustle of the popular ocean front, no one really knew what the future held for the fledgling Military Aviation Museum. For all these years, the museum has steadily grown, and with rising attendance came an increase in events, programs and new exhibits. 2018 was a banner year for the museum, with big gains in visitor traffic, fundraiser efficiency and new exhibits. Over 75,000 guests visited our museum this year, an increase of 44% over 2017. These guests were treated to two significant new exhibits. Snoopy & The Red Baron, a traveling exhibit from the Charles Schulz Museum and Research Center, was on display in the mezzanine from July to October of this year. Our first inaugural Summer of Flight, a weekly warbird flying demonstration, was also a big hit. We’re happy to announce we are bringing back Summer of Flight for 2019, with a new line-up, new histories and more flying! Flying Proms received a classy VIP upgrade, with Museum Director Jarod Hoogland takes a gourmet dinner from the award winning culinary team With each passing year, the Military Aviation selfie with Aaron Tippin, country music star at Atlantic Shores that brought in a record number of Museum just keeps getting better. The dedicated staff and warbird pilot, at the 2018 International guests. and Brews, a makeover for our classic and volunteer corps are here to bring you the very best Council of Air Shows convention WWI air show, also proved a hit with delicious brews experience, and we hope to make 2019 even more and a record audience. exciting. Cheers to a new year! q PAGE 6 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1

2018: Dinners, Dances & Weddings Galore

5K Run

Big Band Hangar Dance

Kids and Trains

Summer of Flight

Fireworks Aviation Summer Camp

Armistice Day Ceremony

2018 was a very successful year for the museum felt excruciating for the kids of all ages, but there was as it offered a unique destination backdrop for a plenty to see and do with the model trains running wide variety of events throughout the year. Hosting in the Navy Hangar, the Pungo Independent Fire Weddings a centennial celebration for the RAF, numerous Company fire trucks on the ramp, the USMCR Toys wedding, parties, formal dances, 5Ks, small business For Tots Marines receiving donations for their boxes meetings, dinners and numerous holiday celebrations and motorcycle sidecar rides running all over the kept the calendar full. Guests constantly state that this airfield. Santa even had communications courtesy of is the first time they have been to the museum… and the Tidewater Amateur Radio Operators Club linked they will be back! And many have… either as visitors, to the North Pole and Mrs. Claus. airshow guests, or even as brides and grooms at their Two weeks later, the Symphonic Artistry Wind own celebrations! Ensemble played a wonderful holiday concert on Two special museum events wrapped up the year: Saturday evening. With a brisk chill in the air and the Planes, Trains & Santa (PT&S) and our 2nd annual holiday sound drifting throughout the museum, the Holiday Hangar Concert. PT&S was a great success spirit of the season was in full swing. with nearly a record breaking crowd attending the With so much to offer our guests, the Events Staff three day event. Even the rain arriving on the heels of would love to help create a unique and memorable RAF Centennial Santa on Saturday failed to dampen the spirits of the event here at the museum. The photo collection is a kids waiting to visit with him. Wait times for Santa small sample of this year’s activities. q VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7

Coming in 2019!

The Big Band Holiday Hangar Concert Hangar Dance

NJROTC Ball

We’re back Saturday, February 9th at the MUSEUM

Featuring Doors Open: 5: 0pm Live Entertainment Dinner: 6: 0pm 7: 0-11: 0 Costume Contest Silent Auction Dance: pm Photo Booth Dancing Opportunities

Santa Arrives by Stearman For more information 757-721-7767 | www.MILITARYAVIATIONMUSEUM.ORG/EVENTS/

Sky Fighters of France: The Paintings of Henri Farré, continued and money for the orphaned children of French When Lieutenant Henri Farré died in Chicago Museum (MAM). They will be exhibited at the aviators killed in action, the French government on 6 October, 1934, at the age of sixty-three, the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, through authorized the artist to take his paintings to America world was again on the verge of war. This time, 27 January, 2019. Therefore, even after this exhibition in 1918. In New York’s Anderson Galleries, as well however, there would be little room for the officially closes, the paintings will be returned to the galleries of as in Chicago, his efforts garnered great acclaim sanctioned combat artist ducking bullets while the MAM in Virginia Beach. from all walks of American society. Gustave Kobbe, sketching out impressions of aerial engagements on then art critic for the New York Herald, wrote of the his knee. That being said, Farré’s paintings today serve If not for these historic works by Farré, we hope to exhibition: “Wherever these pictures are shown they as a compelling record of the rapid advancement of see you at the MAM on some future occasion, where you will make a sensation.” The sensation they made, military aviation during the Great War, documenting will find many of the same ancient aeroplanes depicted “extended even to the children of America… a boy far more than the thousands of reconnaissance by Farré – still in their natural element – taking to the air of eight came one day bringing a bouquet of flowers photos that had cost the lives of so many men. occasionally, and serving as a memorial to those aircrews to place beneath the portrait of Captain [Georges] It is remarkable to find such a variety of Farré’s who served a century ago in the first battles for mastery Guynemer.” works on permanent display at the Military Aviation of the skies. q NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID VIRGINIA BEACH, VA PERMIT NO. 235 Membership Newsletter for the Military Aviation Museum ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED 1341 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach, VA 23457 (757) 721-PROP

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

1941 Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk

May 17-19 May

April 27 April

operations, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time! in back stepped have you if as feel will you operations,

drinking Virginia craft beers and enjoying live entertainment! live enjoying and beers craft Virginia drinking

With over 300 re-enactors on site, representing all theatres of WWII-era WWII-era of theatres all representing site, on re-enactors 300 over With

to vote for their favorite burger after sampling the delicious sliders, sliders, delicious the sampling after burger favorite their for vote to

one of only three airworthy de Havilland DH.98 Mosquitos in the world. world. the in Mosquitos DH.98 Havilland de airworthy three only of one

battle it out to become CoVa’s Best Burger. Attendees will be invited invited be will Attendees Burger. Best CoVa’s become to out it battle

and in the air for three days in May. Among the stars of the weekend will be be will weekend the of stars the Among May. in days three for air the in and

Join Coastal Virginia Magazine as they invite local restaurants to to restaurants local invite they as Magazine Virginia Coastal Join

The air armada of the Military Aviation Museum will be on display on land land on display on be will Museum Aviation Military the of armada air The

CoVa Battle of the Burgers Burgers the of Battle CoVa

Warbirds over the Beach Air Show Air Beach the over Warbirds

April 13 April

FEBRUARY 9 FEBRUARY

Come join the fun. Tickets are on sale now! sale on are Tickets fun. the join Come

Bounce House, Face Painting and much, much more! much much, and Painting Face House, Bounce

This year’s activities include: Archery, Roping, BB Gun shoot, Pony Rides, Rides, Pony shoot, Gun BB Roping, Archery, include: activities year’s This museum. our at away night the dance and dash a Cut

This is a great opportunity to get your kids outdoors for a fun-filled day! day! fun-filled a for outdoors kids your get to opportunity great a is This 2019. 9, Feb. Saturday, on lands Dance Hangar Band Big

annual Unplugged Youth Event, June 11th at the Military Aviation Museum! Museum! Aviation Military the at 11th June Event, Youth Unplugged annual annual our as romance, and food, fine dance, swing music,

The Saving Kids’ Dreams Foundation is excited to announce the 5th 5th the announce to excited is Foundation Dreams Kids’ Saving The live with event Dancing and Dinner Band-themed Big A

Saving Kids Dreams – Youth Unplugged Youth – Dreams Kids Saving Dance Hangar Band Big

UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING

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