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American Museum,Duxford
War Museum Celebrates British-American Heroism
By Staff Sgt. Angela Stafford
Air Force News Service
Duxford Airfield, England
Her Majesty the Queen of England
accompanied by
His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh,
officially opened the American Air Museum in Britain at the
Imperial War Museum Duxford on Aug. 1.
Secretary of the Air Force Sheila E. Widnall stood in for President Clinton,
and was seated next to Queen Elizabeth during the official ceremony.
Also attending were
the Duke of Kent, Prince Andrew,
Congressman Floyd Spence from South Carolina, and
actor Charleton Heston, U.S. co-chairman of the museum.
Heston served as a B-25 crewmember
in the Aleutians during World War II.
The museum stands as a testimony to Anglo-American cooperation
as a memorial to the 30,000 Americans who died flying out of British bases during the war.
This special bond between the United States and Britain makes the American aircraft
collection at Duxford part of Britain’s history.
Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the museum’s curved roof is reminiscent of an aircraft body.
Europe’s finest collection of historic American combat aircraft are home
in this 70,000 square-foot structure displaying a range of aircraft
from a World War I biplane to a B-52 bomber.
Its aim is to use aircraft and other exhibits to show the significance of American air power
in the 20th century from World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War.
Aviation is represented by aircraft such as
a B-25 Mitchell, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, U-2, F-100 Super Sabre,
F-4, F-86, A-10 Thunderbolt, F-11, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, PT-Stearman
and a C-47 Skytrain
. Also on display is a TBM Avenger, a replica of the aircraft
President Bush flew when he was shot down in World War II.
With American aircraft, old and new, as a backdrop, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band
entertained the crowd with nostalgic big-band sounds.
Four F-15 Eagles from Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath also joined vintage World War II aircraft
in a brief air show showcasing America’s air power then and now.
Many World War II veterans,
including Memphis Belle pilot Col. Robert K. Morgan,
and Air Force members stationed in England,
attended and shared stories of the Army Air Corps
beginnings and the Air Force today
as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Duxford Airfield served as a Battle of Britain fighter station and
later as an American 8th Air Force base.
Historians said the addition of the American Air Museum
makes Duxford the premier museum of its kind in Europe.
September/October 1997
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