National Museum of the U.S. Air Force selected for heritage award

DAYTON, Ohio (AFNS) — The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force was recently selected by the U.S. Air Force History and Museums Program as the recipient of the 2013 Air Force Heritage Award for an exhibit titled Destruction from High Above: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in Southeast Asia.

 

The award recognizes outstanding achievements by Air Force History and Museums personnel that foster a better understanding and appreciation of the Air Force, its history and accomplishments.

 

The exhibit, which opened to visitors last summer, teaches visitors about the B-52’s important role in the Southeast Asia War, the men who flew it in combat, and those who kept it in the air. In addition, it was the first exhibit in the museum to feature a floor graphic or composite photograph that makes it appear as though three bombs are falling from the B-52’s bomb bay. 

 

According to Museum Director and retired Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, the award is a well-deserved honor.

 

“Since the fall of 2010, museum staff has continued to work extremely hard to renovate the Southeast Asia War Gallery, and this award for the B-52 exhibit acknowledges a great accomplishment,” Hudson said. “The exhibit allows visitors to have a unique experience, while gaining a better understanding of the B-52’s capabilities.” 

 

In addition to viewing the massive B-52 aircraft, visitors can see fragments of bombs dropped on North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II, as well as a .50-caliber machine gun barrel from one of the four guns used by Staff Sgt. Samuel Turner to destroy the first North Vietnamese MiG-21 shot down by a B-52 tail gunner. Also on display are items worn by electronic warfare officer Capt. Silverio Barroqueiro, one of six crewmembers who successfully ejected from B-52G Brass 02 after it suffered severe damage from surface-to-air missiles in December 1972.

 

Planned in four phases, the Southeast Asia War Gallery renovation’s first phase was completed in the spring of 2011, and phase two was completed in the fall of 2012. Phase three is currently on-going.

 

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286.