Millville, NJ — Dick Goldstine’s father was a mechanic at the Millville airport and he grew up flying model airplanes there. Goldstine himself served in the Air Force. Now 67, the Millville resident still spends most days at the airport, part of a crew of volunteers at the Millville Army Air Field Museum who help to restore old World War II-era vehicles, or do whatever jobs are needed to keep the museum operating.
“We’re keeping alive the history of the Millville airport and what the guys who were here did,” Goldstine said.
Volunteers have always helped at local historical air museums during large events. But as grants have become harder to get and budgets get tighter, museum officials rely even more on a core group volunteers who add a personal – and sometimes historical – touch to the exhibits.
At the Naval Air Station Wildwood Air Museum at the Cape May airport in Lower Township, volunteers work as greeters, welcoming visitors and providing information.
“Most of them are older folks, interested in aviation, and they really like getting to talk to people who visit,” said Bruce Fournier, Wildwood museum deputy director.
Jane Kotz’s late husband worked as a pilot at the Wildwood airport, and since they were always out at the airport, she was asked to volunteer. She moved to Florida for awhile, but then moved back to North Cape May two years ago.
“People come when they’re on vacation, but we also recently had a young man from Cape May who said he’d never been here,” Kotz said.
Bob Olivieri of North Cape May said he’s learned things from the guests who visit, including a German Messerschmitt pilot from World War II.
Volunteers keep things flying at aircraft museums