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July 2009
Mission Update! (Corrected) News from the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum |
Vol 8, Issue 1 |
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175 Bourne Ave
Pooler, GA 31322
912.748.8888
Open daily 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.
(Closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas) |
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| The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum Welcomes
The ASAA |
The American Society of Aviation Artist has a new exhibit at the Museum. The International Aerospace Art Exhibit can be seen now thru January 2010.
The new exhibit features art work from artist such as Gil Cohen, Wade Meyers, and Ren Wicks.
John Clark (Past Pres. of ASAA),
Henry Skipper (CEO of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum),
Bill Kluge (President of the ASAA)
The American Society of Aviation Artists is a non-profit organization founded in 1986. ASAA brings together persons who share a love of art and aviation in an organization that challenges itself to the creation of works that are unique to aviation and aerospace.
Gil Cohen with his print Almost Home
Winner of the Boeing Spirit of Flight Award
The five founding members share an average of over 45 years' experience in the field of aviation art. Keith Ferris, Jo Kotula, Bob McCall, R.G. Smith and Ren Wicks have produced some of the most famous and award winning aviation and aerospace paintings in the world.
Priscilla Mesner-Patterson; Quilted Shadows
Values in fabric illustrates a Super Cub on a frozen lake. |
| June Summer Camp |
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This June, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum education department held the first two of its week long summer camps. Students learned about the lives children experienced in America in World War II. Students tasted Spam, many for the first time! Most of them actually liked the flavor of it fried. We also sampled dried powder milk and margarine. They made and decorated thin wooden gliders and learned how to "yo-yo", a popular pastime in the 1940's. The price of movies and candy shocked most of them. Rationing, propaganda posters and war bond drives were in everyday life. Having few clothes, sugar, gas and toys due to rationing astonished them in this day of the consumer lifestyle. They celebrated a birthday party with newspaper hats and small barely frosted cupcakes unlike the two inch tall tower of mountainous frosting used today. Campers even planted a Victory Garden out in the back of the museum to grow fresh vegetables. We were novices just like many on the Home Front in WWII. |
| Youth Drawing Class held at The Mighty Eighth Museum |
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On Saturday June 27,
The American Society of Aviation Artists
held a free youth drawing class.
Children ranging from ages 8-15
attended the class, which focused
on the aircraft in the
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
 Young artist get a chance
to learn from some of the
best aviation artist in the world.
Pictured Don Malko |
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B-17 Restoration Update |
The work of restoring the City of Savannah is continuing at a steady pace. Volunteers are completing the cleaning and polishing of the exterior and will soon begin the work of finishing the interior. The restoration process is both long and expensive and the advice we have received from experienced restorers is "hurry up slowly". 
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Contribute to the B-17 Project! 
You can be a part of the Museum's B-17 Project.
The Museum appreciates all financial gifts, and for $100 or more you will receive a certificate of participation, suitable for framing, which recognizes your part in this historic Museum event.
Purchase any of our "City of Savannah" merchandise during the month of July and
$1.00 of your purchase will be donated to our B-17 Restoration Project.
Please make all checks payable to "B-17 Project" and mail to:
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum 175 Bourne Ave.,
Pooler, GA 31322.
If you would like to pay by credit card, please call Tameka Ford at 912-748-8888 ext 101. | |
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Museum Staff
Brenda Elmgren
Director of Development
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Call for Volunteers
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| Do you have a few spare hours? Need something fun and exciting to do? Do you enjoy meeting people from all over the country and World? If you answered "Yes" to any of the these questions, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is the perfect place for you to volunteer your
time. 
Volunteers Ed and Betty Robarts
To be a volunteer or for more information, please call
Heather Thies, 912.748.8888
ext 106, or email her education@mightyeighth.org
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| Discounts on Meetings and Special Events! |
The Events Department is offering special discounted rates on room rentals From corporate catering and receptions to black tie affairs, allow the professional staff at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum to make your event truly memorable. Book before
August 1, 2009, and receive 10% Off your next room rental. |
Upcoming Features!
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Be sure to see our next edition of the "Mission Update!" online newsletter for the latest news, "What's New in the Archives", "World War II Memorial Updates", and much more.
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Turn your Gold into a Museum Donation
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| With gold at an
All-Time-High, Anderson Jewelers is buying your unwanted gold.
Come into Anderson Jewelers in Savannah, GA to sell your scrap gold & 10% of the sale will be donated to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Be sure to mention the Mighty Eighth.
For more information, call Janice at 912.355.8515 or
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| Make your Donation Count! |
Would you like to make your donation to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum work harder? If your company has a matching gift program, you can double the impact of your contribution.
Matching your gift is simple; ask your human resources department if your company has a matching gift program. Most companies have a short form you need to complete and send in with your donation. That's all there is to it! The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum will do the rest.
Please ask your company to match your donation, and be sure to remind them that it's tax deductible!
Thank you for your continued support of The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
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| Upcoming Museum Events For the month of August |
Rememberance: A Memorial Exhibit
An Exhibit dedicated to U.S. servicemen and women who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and to those who continue to serve. Exhibit will be on display August 3 - 15.
Model Airplane Building Class. Saturday August 22, 2009. 10am, 1pm, & 3pm. Free children's model airplane building class and child's admission with the purchase of a model airplane. World War II model airplanes are available in the the Museum Gift Store.
Unique model airplanes will be on display in the Museum's Rotunda August 21st - 23rd.
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| Book Signing |
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Aviation Art books were signed in the M/Gen. Lewis E. Lyle Rotunda of the
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
Andy Whyte
How to Draw and Paint Like A Pro
Hank Caruso
X-traordinary Planes
X-traordinary Pilots
Merana Cadorette
Gates of Savannah: A Walking Tour 
Adventures in Flying  Jack Eliott |
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We Really LOVE Being "Pushed" Around!!! |
You should have received the Spring "Tiny Push" campaign letter recently. It included the great Helen Keller's quote, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." Perhaps you don't think of your gifts as an important tiny push that will make a difference to the mission of the Mighty Eighth possible. But each gift we receive, no matter how big or small, is critical to the mission. Your contribution makes possible to go on honoring the past, preserving the legacy, and teaching future generations the stories of courage, character, and patriotism embodied by the 8th Air Force from World War II into the present.
If you have not received your letter, let us know and we will get one to you today. It includes a wonderful summary of new and exciting programs that our aggregate tiny pushes make possible. To those of you who have already responded, a big THANK YOU!
There are several easy ways to make your tiny push.
You can give online at www.mightyeighth.org. Just click on "Donate Now" and look for the "Tiny Push" button. Or spread your tiny push over several months by authorizing the Museum to deduct your donation monthly using your credit or debit card. It's safe and secure. Just consider that for the cost of two Starbucks coffees, or a slice of pizza and a coke, or maybe a meal for two at McDonalds, a monthly donation can add up to over $100 within the year.
If you have not had time to respond yet, please take a moment to do so today.
Each "Tiny Push" is so important to the Museum. Make yours count today! |
| The Mighty Eighth Store |
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The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum Gift Store is a unique shopping experience. In it you will find everything from clothing, jewelry, and books to models, patches and pins, and collectibles found nowhere in this area. Click on the link below to begin shopping today.
Featured items for the month of July: U.S. Military Sun Catcher/Wind Chimes.
B-24 Liberator Plane; Your little Ace will have a blast "flying" around their
foot-to-floor bomber plane. Plane also features padded seat, wing propellers, and custom decals. Adult supervision required.
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| IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf
by Vivian Rogers-Price |
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Through the Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, the Roger A. Freeman Eighth Air Force Research Center at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum has been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The research center applied for this grant in March 2009. This collection of essential texts, charts, online resources, and other materials has been carefully assembled to provide readily accessible up-to-date collections care information. The research center staff will use this resource in continuing care and preservations of the collections. In addition, this Bookshelf will assist in development of public programs on the proper care of family heirlooms. These future public programs will be in addition to behind the scenes tours of the collections storage areas. |
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Museum Volunteer Bill Barnes
by Heather Thies |
Bill Barnes moved to Savannah, Georgia just five years ago from Atlanta. He and his wife Marty moved to Atlanta from Pennsylvania many years before.
Bill is a Citadel graduate with a degree in History. He was on the wrestling team of which he captained his senior year. He also joined the Marine Corps Reserve during his senior year of school. Upon graduation, Bill entered the Marines where he  served as an Artillery Officer.
He was active duty for six years and in the Reserves another ten years but we all know "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."
When Bill left the Marines he went on to work for the Federal Government as a Federal Investigator for the Department of Health Education Welfare. He attended the University of Georgia for graduate school in Administration. Upon retiring and leaving Atlanta for Savannah, Museum Trustee Hap Chandler told Bill he needed to visit the museum and become a volunteer which he did five years ago. Bill volunteers in the Mission Experience Theaters.
Bill collects medals and patches from all American military branches. Part of his impressive collection of medals is on display in the Roger A. Freeman Eighth Air Force Research Center Library upstairs in the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.
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| The Garden of Folded Wings |
It has long been the mission of the Museum to honor the stories of courage, character, and patriotism embodied by the members of the Eighth Air Force and their families to provide an experience to inform, educate and inspire those who visit us from all over the world. 
In keeping with the many traditions we seek to preserve, the Museum has completed one of the most important and ambitious projects in its history. It has long been the Museum's goal to provide Mighty Eighth crew members with a permanent and significant final resting place worthy of those who proudly and heroically served in one of our nation's most renowned military organizations.
Construction has been completed on "The Garden of Folded Wings", a magnificent Columbarium program honoring the Mighty Eighth, but availabe to all. The Columbarium is located directly behind the
Museum Chapel and incorporates beautiful granite surfaces, memorial towers, and natural areas, all in a beautiful setting.
This will be one of the most important Columbaria, in the United States and we are proud of the role it will play in preserving the memory of the Mighty Eighth and others who wish to honor those who serve our country. For more information please call Peggy Harden at 912.748.8888 ext. 103
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| Emma Fern Rhoades and the B-24 Liberator
by Vivian Roger-Price |
In 1942 Emma Fern Rhoades (1902-2002) accepted a key position at the Ford Motor Company's Willow Run, Michigan, plant that manufactured B-24 Liberators. She supervised the production of the rivets needed to assemble the fuselages for these B-24s. Each fuselage used 126,651 rivets and each B-24 required 242,752 rivets. On 10 September 1942 the first completed B-24 rolled off the plant's assembly line. By the month of March 1944 at the Willow Run plant, hard tooling and procedures of mass production resulted in a completed bomber every 63 minutes. The next month Willow Run produced a B-24 every 59.34 minutes or 455 bombers in 25 working days using two nine-hour shifts. Production continued until 28 June 1945, and Willow Run's final B-24 Number 8685 rolled off the assembly line. All the employees signed this final aircraft. The personnel Emma Fern Rhoades had supervised presented her with this B-24 Pin.
The employees responsible for manufacturing
the rivets used to assemble the B-24 fuselage
at the Ford Motor Company's Willow Run,
Michigan, plant presented their supervisor,
Emma Fern Rhoades with this pin on 28 June 1945.
During World War II more than 18,000 B-24 Liberators were manufactured at the Willow Run plant as well as by Consolidated's San Diego, California and Fort Worth, Texas plants, and by North American Aviation at its plant in Dallas, Texas. Designed and developed by Consolidated Aircraft Company in response to a January 1939 USAAF request for a four-engine bomber that could be used for patrol and transport as well as bombardment, the B-24 was used by both the United States (USAAF) and British (RAF) air forces. The Eighth Air Force utilized the B-24 Liberator in the Second Air Division. | |
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| Tell Us What You Think! |
You are very important to us. We have created a short survey to help us improve membership privileges and encourage others to join. Please take a moment to answer the questions and offer suggestions. We are open to ideas and want to hear from you. Click here to begin the survey. | |
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