Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks Honors Veterans with Variety of Interactive Exhibits

By Leo Cachet

On a trip to Springfield, MO last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks.  It happened to be Veterans Day weekend, which allowed me to enter free of charge as they were holding their annual open house. The entrance fee on a normal day is $5, and well worth that charge.

 

Upon entry you will see several glass cases containing various pieces of military memorabilia: medals, helmets, uniforms, even a radio compass antenna from a B-17. You will also see many well-crafted model aircraft hanging from the ceiling and displayed on top of several display cases. There is also a huge handmade model of the Titanic, which really grabs your attention, along with several radios, typewriters and teletype machines used by the military at various times in history.

 

After spending time inside the display room, you then can make your way into their garage area where some real treats await. First thing you notice is the Iowa National Guard AH-1 Cobra helicopter with it's guns and rocket pods still attached and operational. Mr. Ron Cutter was on hand to explain how he restored the Cobra, showed how to activate launch sequences and even installed a working CD player. He took the time to pose with his labor of love, looking dapper in his Navy uniform, before allowing me to hop in the cockpit for a closer look at the instruments.  The experience of being in the cockpit gave me a greater appreciation for the men who flew these gunships. After looking at the Cobra, the open cockpit of a T-33 caught my attention. I continued up the ramp to enter the cockpit and take a look in the cockpit of one of the greatest jet trainers in history. The engine for this trainer sits on the ground just left of the cockpit and is also accessible for inspection. There is also the frame of a Scweizer TG-6A glider hanging from the ceiling.  Just below the glider is a mock up of a B-17 cockpit, in which you can sit and transport yourself back to the days of WWII and imagine yourself on a bomb run over Germany. And if you like vehicles, there are four vintage Army jeeps and two vintage Army trucks that you can examine.  

 

While we were leaving after our enjoyable time there, a hand drawn map on the wall next to the door caught my eye.  The map showed the directions to the Downtown Airport where an F-84 was on display, so it was off to the airport to see this beautiful little fighter. This F-84 looked sharp and well maintained, sitting on a platform inside the fence just left of the airport parking lot.

 

This concluded my visit to this nice and surprisingly vast museum. If you happen to be heading to Springfield or Branson, MO and you like military aviation or just like military history, stop in and see the great artifacts and talk to the very friendly and very hospitable staff.  You won't be disappointed.

 

Here are more views from the museum visit.

 

 

 

World War II Veterans Recognized by Missouri Aviation Historical Society

By Carmelo Turdo

Two World War II veterans, the Late Arthur F. O'Keefe, Lt. Colonel, USMC (Ret.) and Thomas Mohan, SSgt, USMC, were recognized by the Missouri Aviation Historical Society at their August meeting yesterday at Creve Coeur Airport.  Both gentlemen served with VMSB-232 "Red Devils" and crewed a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber together on Guadalcanal Island.  Mohan, a Missouri resident now 92 years old, was present at the meeting, and relayed many experiences from his deployment in the Pacific Theater as a tail gunner aboard the Dauntless.  Sadly, Lt. Colonel O'Keefe, Mohan's pilot in the Dauntless, passed away August 3, and was buried with honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA.   



Thomas Mohan With the Douglas Dauntless
(Myron Lane photo)

Thomas Mohan enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, while his cousin, James, enlisted in the U.S. Navy a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  James was involved in the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway, escaping from the sinking USS Lexington.  Meanwhile, Thomas was assigned to aviation after boot camp, and after seeing the gunner position on the unit's aircraft, he requested training for an aircrew position.  "I asked, 'What do you have to do to get to fly,'" Mohan told those present at the meeting.  "The first twelve guys who pass Morse Code at eight words a minute could fly.  I was happy to be one of them."   Mohan and O'Keefe parted ways when O'Keefe was redeployed, but they exchanged Christmas cards until about four years ago.  O'Keefe went on to serve 22 years as a Marine aviator, retiring as commander of VMCJ-2 flying Vought Crusaders.  Mohan was honorably discharged following the war, having missed an opportunity to go to flight training due to an automobile accident that injured his legs.  He later retired from the U.S. Postal Service after a long career.

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society, led by Dan O'Hara, contacted the current Red Devils squadron, VMFA-232, requesting recognition for Mohan's service.  The response was in true U.S. Marine Corps style - swift and direct.  O'Hara presented several items from the VMFA-232 to Thomas Mohan: a letter from the squadron commander and a lithograph of the current F/A-18C Hornet aircraft, signed by the squadron pilots.  The Aero Experience joins the Missouri Aviation Historical Society in thanking Thomas Mohan for his service, and wishing him continued good health in the years to come. 

Dan O'Hara (R) Presents Letter and Print to Thomas Mohan
(Carmelo Turdo photo)



Thomas Mohan Shows His New Autographed Print from VMFA-232
 (Carmelo Turdo photo)

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012: E-2C Hawkeye

By Fred Harl

More U.S. Navy aircraft could be found at Phillips 66 Plaza, and this sharp Grumman E-2C Hawkeye from Reserve Squadron  VAW-77 based at NAS Atlanta, GA taxied up to the P-3C and the KC-135 already on the ramp.  VAW-77 "Nightwolves" is the only dedicated counter-narcotics squadron, patrolling the Caribbean Sea in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard.  The light gray paint scheme is in contrast to the darker shades of gray sported by the other nearby aircraft.  Here is a close-up walkaround of the Hawkeye: