Welcome to our first Peterson Air and Space Museum
Foundation Newsletter. The mission of our Newsletter is to make sure that you
are kept fully aware of the many things taking place at the Museum.
We want you to feel like you are right here with us as
we go about the daily activities that maintain the planes, artifacts and
exhibits for our visitors and you.
With that in mind, we will bring the Newsletter to you
once each calendar quarter. And, we
invite you to tell us if there are other things you would like included in
future issues. Please direct your
comments, via email, to j32lmck@aol.com.
VISITING THE MUSEUM
The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from
Access to the Museum requires a military ID card or
current driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of automobile
insurance. Other than those with
military ID card, visitors must call the museum (556-4915) to arrange for
admission and admission is possible
through the North Gate only. Admission is always free.
WHO WE ARE
It occurs to us that you might like to know who we are
at the Peterson Air and
First, is our Director, Gail Whalen. Gail came to us from
Next, Gail’s assistant is Jeff Nash, MSgt, USAF, Ret.,
who came to us from the 21st Space Wing’s command post. Jeff spent his USAF career in the security
police and command post fields. He was
an active volunteer prior to assuming his present position.
Augmenting the Museum staff are several
volunteers. They come to us from the
retired military ranks, veterans, family members, and persons who want to
help. Our needs for volunteers fall into
many categories from Ramp Rats (working on aircraft, missiles, etc), Docents
(escorting visitors), Go to Gang (building walls, platforms, display cases,
cleanup, painting, etc., etc.), Volunteer Services, Public Affairs, and
Archives/Artifacts control, processing, inventory, etc.
And, last but not least there is the Peterson Air and
Space Museum Foundation. More about that
later.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Mike
Drennan, President
We are happy to publish our first “Peterson Foundation
Newsletter”. There are so many exciting
activities going on that we wanted to keep you abreast of what was
happening. We also wanted to thank the
many volunteers for your great efforts.
A recognition of your many wonderful accomplishments occurred recently
when the Museum Foundation was recognized by the Air Force Space Command Paddon
Award Selection Team with a “Special Recognition Award”, one of only two
presented to the 21st Space Wing.
Thanks again for your wonderful support to our Museum.
YOUR HELP, PLEASE
If we have an incorrect mailing address, please advise
us of corrections needed. If you have an
email address, please tell us that too (at j32lmck@aol.com), as it will cut
down on our mailing costs.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
In 2005, the Museum’s 66 volunteers served nearly
8,500 hours, in support of the Museum mission.
Their efforts included maintenance of aircraft; construction of numerous
exhibit stands, cabinets, walls, etc.; escorting and briefing visitors; and
processing of 229 new artifacts into the Museum inventory and accountability
system. Likewise, some 12,650 visitors
toured the Museum grounds and buildings.
THE FOUNDATION
Ed Weaver, Secretary-Treasurer
The Peterson Air & Space Foundation is a 501c(3)
nonprofit organization dedicated to:
*Foster and
perpetuate the
*Serve as a philanthropic corporation in assisting the
development and expansion of the facilities of the
*Receive, hold and administer gifts in the best
interests of the
Friends of the
Level Cost ID
Lapel Gift Shop
Card
Pin Discount
Annual $25 X
X X
Annual-Family $50
X X X
Life $325 X
X X
Sponsor $500 X
X X
(Life & Sponsor
memberships include Tiles; and Sponsor
membership includes a Duplicate tile)
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Gail Whalen, Director
Hi Everybody! I am so proud to be part of the Peterson Air
and
I’d like to briefly outline for you
some of the plans for
Second, we’re going to continue to expand
exhibits in the Old City Hangar and the “main” Museum building – the Old City
Terminal. Our Museum volunteers have
roughly aligned themselves into exhibit groups that are working hard to flesh
out the story of the Cold War Air Defense history for us – the
encouragement to do that. Our biggest additions to these exhibits will
be Army Air Defense and Space Operations.
And I promise to all radar operators and other air defense veterans out
there – I won’t let you be neglected! I
often hear our docents say this to visitors and it’s true: keep coming back because we are always adding
to the exhibits.
MUSEUM
DOCENT PROGRAM
Danny O’Connell, Crew Chief
The Docent (museum guide) program was established in the summer of
2003, although museum tours had been conducted for many years prior to that by Museum
volunteers. It was recognized that a
designated group of volunteers should be identified as Docents. The program has been successful because of an initial cadre of volunteers who
contributed their time and ideas to have
a standardized, informative tour.
Several of the docents, such as Gus Freyer, Jim Palmer and Ed Weaver,
were very instrumental in improving the original concept of conducting
tours. The training video narrated by Ed
Weaver and produced by Ernie Newman was the first step. The training brochure prepared by Gus Freyer and
Jim Palmer helped standardize the program for both the original docents and
other docents who joined within the past
two years.
We are always in need of more volunteers to join the Docent program. Continued
training will help all of us to be more informed guides.
Thanks to all who have contributed to the Docent program including
Director Gail Whalen and Assistant Director Jeff Nash.
RAMP RATS REPORT
Jerry
Kovach, Crew Chief
The “Ramp Rats” consist of two
volunteers with 12 aircraft in four locations to maintain and improve.
Hot weather causing fluid leaks,
deterioration of decals and paint and visitors trying for souvenirs make-up
most of the maintenance work. Most of
these are repairable immediately; except for decals. Birds love to nest where possible, leaving
deposits that mount up quickly; however, bird control is basically completed
for all aircraft, with additional efforts required when the creatures
improvise.
The P-47 awaits armor plate, control
stick and throttle grip (which are all unique) together with some more stencils
and decals. Brake lines are completed
for hangar-taxiing. The F-102 is receiving
a new belly panel – 75% complete – while we wait for fasteners parts and
repainting of the immediate fuselage area.
The right landing gear door has been reworked by the 302nd
Airlift Wing sheet metal shop, who did an excellent job. The left door is essentially unfixable; we
will continue to search for another door.
All aircraft have positive landing gear locks, except for the F-89,
which awaits main landing gear (MLG) factory locks being manufactured by the AF
reserve unit at Warner Robbins AFB.
General aircraft display improvements
are planned, but timing and effort is related to volunteer manpower.
The 302nd AW is to be
commended for the work they produce for us and the professional advice,
especially the sheet metal shop, under Mr. Bill Harris
ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS
When you travel through the buildings
and grounds of the Museum, the items you see makeup only a small percentage of
the archives and artifacts in our Museum inventory. In fact, there are more than 4,750 items
included in the inventory, excluding gift shop merchandise. Two volunteers manage the processing of
incoming items, the administrative accountability records, and security and
storage of all not on display.
Storage currently is located in the
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * The
Peterson Air and Space Museum Newsletter is published by the Colorado Springs
Peterson Air and Space Museum Foundation, Inc., a private entity no way
connected with the U. S. Air Force.
Contents of the Newsletter are not necessarily the official views of, or
endorsed by, the U. S. Government or the Department of the Air Force.
Jerry M. Drennan, BGen
(Ret), President
Jack L. McKinney, CMSgt
(Ret), Editor
Peterson
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FUTURE EVENTS
24 July Medal of
15 Aug 49th Fighter Wg Reunion
17 Aug 445th Fighter Sq Reunion
Sep Missile Procedures Trainer
Arrives at Museum
Oct “Broadmoor Hangar” turned
Over to Museum
Last Friday of each Month is Volunteer
Staff Meeting (except December)