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 November 2009
Mission Update! News from the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum |
Vol 11, 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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| Veterans Day |
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Come remember those who served our country. All military veterans will be recognized. Military veterans along with their families will receive half off of admission to the Museum.
A flag retirement ceremony will be held at 1 pm by The American Legion Post 322 of West Chatham. Individuals who wish to retire their flags at the Museum prior to the event can do so at any time.
World War II in HD
In celebration of Veterans Day the Museum will be pre-showing Episodes 1 & 2 of the History Channels, "WWII in HD." The 100 minutes of video footage shows the war as it has never been seen before. The Museum will be previewing this series to its guests included in the Museum's admission rate in the DeCicco Theater Monday, November 2 thru Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm.
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Upcoming Events at the Mighty Eighth |
November is Community Appreciation Month
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is continuing their initiative to encourage local citizens to take advantage of what is right here at home. The Museum has dedicated November as Community Appreciation Month to the Coastal Empire and Low Country, and has reduced its regular admission rate of $10 for adults and $6 for kids to only $5 for adults and $3 for kids.
November 1 - 8
Pooler Residents
November 8 - 15
Liberty & Tatnall County Residents
November 15 - 22
Bulloch, Effingham, McIntosh & Long County Residents
November 22 - 29
Chatham, Jasper, Beaufort, & Bryan County Residents
In addition to the reduced admission rate, guests will also receive a 10% discount in the Museum Gift Store. This is the perfect time to visit the Museum and see our B-17 "City of Savannah."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Model Airplane Building Class
Free children's model airplane building class & child's admission with the purchase of their model airplane; model airplanes will be on sale in the Museum Gift Store for $10. Unique models from the Museum's Archive Collection will be be on display. Classes will be held at 10 am, 1 pm, & 3 pm. Spaces are limited in each class, please call Heather at 912-748-8888 for reservations. |
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"City of Savannah" |
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Contribute to the B-17 Project!
The B-17 "City of Savannah" restoration process is moving along nicely. Volunteers sweat has gotten us through the first stage of the project - now we are going to need significant financial backing to begin the acquisition of the parts necessary to restore the plane to it's full combat configuration.
You can be a part of history and 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.
Please make all checks payable to
"B-17 Project" and mail to:
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
P. O. Box 1992
Savannah, GA 31402.
If you would like to pay by credit card, please call Tameka Ford at
912-748-8888 ext 101. |
| The Biggest Little Christmas Party |
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Friday December 18, 2009; 6:30 - 11: 00 PM
The Mighty Eighth events department  presents the Biggest Little Christmas Party. Are you a small but fun business seeking an effortless, economical solution to your Christmas Party budget blues? Come Rock Around our Christmas Tree & join us for a jingle bell rock!
For more information contact
Holly Kirkpatrick 912.748.8888 x 160 |
| New 2010 Calendars just arrived! |
2010 Historical calendar. Each month features photos, dates and historical information from the personal archives of Bomber Legends Magazine and its readers.
Size: 9 x 12 (Opens to: 18 x 12)
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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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Museum Staff
Brenda Elmgren
Director of Development
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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 that 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.
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| Donations |
| Artifacts, archival materials and books may be added to the Museum's collections by means of gift, bequest, purchase, or exchange with other non-profit museums. Individual parties wishing to make a donation are requested to contact the Museum's Registrar at 912.748.8888, prior to sending or delivering material to the Museum. |
| Call for Volunteers |
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 these questions, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is the perfect place for you to volunteer your time.
For more information on becoming
a volunteer contact:
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| Museum Update
Henry Skipper |
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The real heart and soul of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is located upstairs in the Research Center and Library.
The Roger A. Freeman Eighth Air Force Research Center encompasses the manuscript and photographic collection, the artifact collection, the Harry D. Gobrecht Family 303rd Bombardment Group (H) Research Center, and the John H. Woolnough Library with a reading room sponsored by the 361st Fighter Group Association.
Manuscript highlights include original diaries and letters as well as over 25,000 previously unpublished photographs. The oral history collection begun by Major General Lewis E. Lyle, the founder of this museum, continues to expand and has been described as the premier collection of oral histories of Eighth Air Force veterans. There are countless stories of character, courage, and sacrifice contained in the Museum's archives and the oral history collection. The Museum is initiating a program to transfer the oral history collection to a digital format in order to preserve the collection forever. Highlights of the Artifact Collection include over 80 hand-painted leather flight jackets as well as the Medals of Honor awarded to William R. Lawley, Jr. and Forrest L. Vosler. The artifact collection, with over 7,000 three dimensional items, allows the researcher to actually see objects used by members of the Eighth Air Force during World War II.
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| The Mighty Eighth Store |
The day after Thanksgiving is the perfect day for Moms to shop and Dads to spend the day with the kids. Why not spend the day at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum? Visit us and see our "City of Savannah" B-17, test your skills on the B-17 Interactive Gunner, experience what it was like to fly a B-17 combat mission at our " Mission Experience", and visit our Gift Shop. While in the Gift Shop you can make a "wish list" since the holidays are just around the corner. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you. We'll keep your list for those who want to purchase the perfect gift for you. We have unique items for children of all ages, so moms stop by and do some of your shopping with us.
November 27 & 28; 10% OFF your purchase!
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| Honor Tree |
 Each year, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum displays the "Honor Tree" in the Museum's Rotunda. The giant lighted tree is filled with photographs of Veterans and Active Duty Military. To honor your loved one who is currently serving in the military or is a veteran, send us a picture by email marketing@mightyeighth.org or mail a copy of the photo (the photograph will not be returned) to the Museum: 175 Bourne Ave, Pooler GA 31322 ATTN: Honor Tree.
Be sure to include the name of the soldier.
The Honor Tree will be on display November 25, 2009 through January 10, 2010. |
| A Night of Possibilities |
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Your Invited...
Calling all Meeting Planners, you are invited to a
"Night of Possibilities"!
Do you make the arrangements for your companies off site meetings? Did you know the Mighty Eighth is home to SIX Event Rooms, which can accommodate groups from 10 to 300. Think of the possibilities! We invite you to be our guest and come to our Open House at your leisure. Relax, enjoy a glass of wine and sample some great hors d'oeuvres from Caterers on our Preferred Caterers List, while you see our spaces...and you'll be pleased to see them set up by some of the areas premier event companies and florists. We'd like to show you what we have to offer and remember,
The sky is the limit as you
"Imagine the Possibilities"
for your corporate and social clients.
~ Please join us on Thursday Nov. 14th, 2009 ~
5:30 P.M.- 7:30 P.M.
RSVP to The Events Department at 912-748-8888 ext. 124 or 160 |
| Christmas on the Homefront |
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On Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 10 am to 4 pm the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum will be holding Christmas on the Home Front. Christmas on the Home Front focuses on the way families and military troops celebrated Christmas during World War II. These home front activities are FREE & great for ages 3 to 13.
Activities Include:
- creating Christmas cards, (construction paper, old greeting cards, and
 scissors will be provided for the activity)
- stringing popcorn and cranberries to decorate a tree
- cookie decorating with an emphasis on rationing during WWII and learning about the kinds of treats eaten during the war
- learning how the men of the 8th AF helped English children celebrate Christmas
Appointments are also available for any group, please call Heather Thies, Education Director at 912-748-8888 ext 106 or e-mail her at education@mightyeighth.org for more information. |
| Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony |
The Fleet Reserve Association, JJ Burke Branch 215, and the Savannah Council of the Navy League will be hosting this memorial service. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 6th from 2 pm to 3 pm in the Museum's rotunda, it is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.
Photograph from Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony 2008
From left, Leon Stebord, Earl Sheppard and Robert Taylor, of the Chapter 671 Vietnam Veterans of America, salute to the symbolic "Missing Soldier"
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| Lt. Nancy Luce Van Epps
by Dr. Vivian Rogers Price |
In late June 1943 approximately sixty Women's Army Corps personnel or WACs arrived at 2nd Air Division headquarters and within twelve months their numbers increased to 150. Most worked as plotters, typists, and teletype operators.
Then in January 1944, five lieutenants of the Women's Army Corps were assigned as cryptographic security officers to the 2nd AD. One was sent to each of the Division's four combat bomb wings and the fifth went to Division Headquarters. The women kept in touch and visited each other when duties allowed.
 Lt. Nancy Luce went to the 14th CBW at Shipdham and for her it was a demanding but rewarding billet. Her collection at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum includes her uniform as well as photographs showing her fulfilling her duties as cryptographic security officer and an autographed photograph from General Leon Johnson, CG, 14th CBW with the added inscription, "To Our WAC." Lt. Luce recalled that she enjoyed visiting Lt. Doris Fullerton at the 2nd CBW at Hethel, where the actor Jimmy Stewart was serving as Chief of Staff. At one division dance she was able to have about a minute's worth of dance with him as the nurses, Red Cross women, and other WACs queued up to cut in. She remembered that "...he didn't seem to be that great a dancer. Left foot, left foot, left foot!" |
| A Distinguished Visitor |
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Mark Copeland, President of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, visited the Museum on October 22nd, 23rd. As President of the Historical Society, Mark's schedule stays very busy and we appreciate being able to spend time with him. The Historical Society's office is located in the Museum. . |
| Museum Volunteer Del Lamb
by Heather Thies |
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Del Lamb
Del Lamb was born in Appling County, Georgia. He moved to Savannah in  1950 and enrolled in Armstrong Jr. College. The Korean War started and he joined the 117th Aircraft Control and Warning Sqd. of the GA Air National Guard for four years and was activated on Jan. 8, 1951. He remained on active duty until Aug. 21, 1952, during which time he was shipped overseas and ended up stationed near Osaka/Kobe, Japan. The mission was bringing the wounded soldiers from Korea and admitting them to the hospitals in Osaka and Kobe. The R&R soldiers were sent in for Rest and Recuperation around the area. After his release from active duty at Hunter AFB, in August 1952 he enrolled in Armstrong again where he completed his studies at Armstrong State College with a degree in Business Administration.
In Sept. 1955 Del started his career with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and remained there through several mergers and retired from CSX Transportation in January 1995 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Korean War Memorial |
 On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum dedicated its new Korean War Memorial. This new Memorial is placed in the Museum's Memorial Gardens in honor of the men and women who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of June 1950 to July 1953.
During the Korean War 54,246 American Service Men and women sacrificed their lives with an additional 105,000 casualties.
Joe Reese, coordinator of the Korean War Memorial project, diligently spent five years raising funds for this Monument. |
| Tell Us What You Think! |
You are very important to us. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.
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We hope you've enjoyed this issue of the Mission Update! News from the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. If you have any story ideas you think is a good fit for next months edition please e-mail Tameka Ford or Mandy Livingston.
Activated in 1942 in Savannah, GA the Eighth Air Force was an important strike element in World War II and remains an active force today. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum honors the Mighty Eighth's proud legacy by preserving the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present.
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is open daily from 9AM until 5PM except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Museum is located just minutes from downtown Savannah in Pooler at 175 Bourne Avenue off I-95, exit 102. For more information, please call 912-748-8888.
Sincerely,
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
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