Mon, May 30, 2005
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)
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