I just got back from a weekend in New Orleans and thought I would share a few pictures from The National WWII Museum, I visited. What a great time. This place was outstanding. Unfortuneately, The batteries in my camera died and my visit was cut short by a malfunctioning alarm system in the place. Someday I’ll get back there and see the whole thing though.
Chris
Chris:
I, too, was fortunate enough to have visited this wonderful museum several years ago, well before Katrina hit. It is one of the most touching and informative museums I have been to and I am proud to be a charter member of he museum. It’s a definite “must see” for all interested in this period of history and I really felt the museum did a terrific job keeping things objective and giving viewpoints of the War from different countries’ perspectives. Very tastefully done, and still very, very comprehensive.
Someday I hope to re-visit.
I went there several years ago, and I see from the photos that they’ve added a C-47. All I remember was the Spitfire and an Avenger.
Have they opened the Pacific Wing? When I went there was talk of a Pacific Wing to the museum since D-Day technically can refer to any invasion but as typically used refers to June 6, 1944.
The Pacific wing is open. Unfortuneately, I was at the battle of midway when the alarm went off[%-)] and I never got to see the rest of it. Someday…
Chris
I read an interesting article about the C-47 hanging in there. One of the museum staff found it on e-bay, I believe. They bought it, restored it in Texas and flew it to NO airport. Then, they took the wings off and pulled it on surface streets thru the French Quarter to the museum. If I remember, this particular a/c actually served in the Normandy invasion.
Andy
Couldn’t help but noticing but that lady in the first picture has the EXACT seem expression on her face as my wife does in military museums.
At the Aerospace Museum of California (McClellan to most people) there is a C-53 type DC-3 that flew paratroops to Normandy on D-Day. It has a plaque inside with the names of the crew. I give tours of it as well as tours of the rest of the airplanes in the Air Park. Yesterday I nearly ripped a teen ager’s heart out when he ran out of the airplane and landed with no care at all on the bottom step of the air stair. Gave him my best DI dress down, I did, about respect for such a distinguished artifact. Including that part about some of the guys on that D-Day trip probably spent the last hour of their young lives in the back of that very airplane. Guys that were likely no more than 2 or 3 years older than him.
Maybe I should quit watching the Ken Burns program and chill, huh? Not likely.