Please Don't Take My Bomber Away

As ANN reported on May 5th,  the National Museum of the United States Air Force has decided to ship the last B-36 Peacemaker to the Pima Air Museum from its current location in Fort Worth.

The bomber was built in Forth Worth and served for only five years before being retired and returned to the city. It was named "The Spirit of Fort Worth", and although owned by the Air Force, has been on loan to the B-36 Peacemaker Museum while they have attempted to secure funding and a site to build a permanent display facility for the aircraft and memorabilia.

Not one to give up without a fight, Retired Brigadier General Bill Guy, acting as the musuem's president, is asking for help.

Here's his plea to the community:

In January of this year, after two long years of working to become eligible, we filed an application with NMUSAF for recognition as a legitimate museum and for loan of the B-36. (As you may know, the B-36 is the property of the Air Force Museum and as such is subject to a loan-for-display policy that is described in Title 10 of the United States Code.) On May 2, 2005 we received a denial of our application from the civilian director of NMUSAF based on technical items contained therein and in the same letter were notified that the B-36 was being transferred immediately to the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona because "this is what is best for the airplane and it will complete Pima's bomber collection".

A local reporter has spoken with the curator of Pima Air Museum and has learned that plans call for moving the B-36 from Lockheed Martin's storage lot during the first week of July. Due to the size and weight of the main wing section, the beautifully restored wing will be cut in half to allow it to be placed on two trailers for transport.

We believe the Air Force decision is premature and blatantly unfair. We believe cutting the aircraft into pieces small enough to load onto trucks and transporting it by ground to Arizona where it will bake unprotected on the desert floor is not what is best for the aircraft. We believe Pima Air Museum has no historical link to the B-36 and that it already has enough bombers. We believe the aircraft should remain in Fort Worth and be displayed at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport along with its vast collection of supporting artifacts.

If you agree with us please take a few moments to help us complete our commitment to the citizens of Fort Worth and North Texas. Please write or email the mayor and city council members and your state and national elected officials and urge them to become involved. Only they can reverse this travesty and its insult to our community. (Contact information can be found on their website)

FMI: www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org