The 5K run/walk is to benefit the restoration of the Museum's B-17 the "City of Savannah". Runners will begin the 5K course at the Museum and wind their way through the sprawling campus of fellow neighbor JCB, ending back at the Museum. Registration is $25!

Register Online!

You might consider this a bit early to start your Christmas plans, but the Events Department is already full of activity with December bookings.  And what a super event they have lined up for anyone who wishes to join us! 

After last year's success, the "Biggest Little Christmas Party" is in high demand by our local businesses.  It is a fun, economical and effortless solution to celebrate with co-workers and mingle with other area businesses.  Tables of ten (10) include DJ, dinner in our magnificently decorated Rotunda and a cash bar.  Come rock around our Christmas tree - - last year, over 250 people did!

We try in each of our newsletters to bring you up to date on the activities going on at the Museum.  We also want you to be aware of some of the planned activities happening at later dates.  We have so many things going on right now; I hardly know where to begin.

One of the most important functions of the Museum is hosting Bomb Group Associations.  We had the privilege of hosting the dedication of the Deenethorpe Diorama by the 401^st Bomb Group Association over last weekend.  The Diorama upgrade was funded by the 401^st and includes a video monitor with a sound dome and fiber optic lighting coordinated with buttons on text panels that highlight different portions of the display.  The dedication was a great success. 

Museum President Henry Skipper welcomes members of the 401st Bomb Group Association

Sam Najarian was born in Brooklyn, New York and volunteered for the Army Air Corps cadet program while still in high school in 1943.  He was deferred until graduation and left for training a few weeks later.  Sam trained as a navigator in a B-17 and was sent to Chelveston Airbase, England to serve in the 364^th BS of the 305thBG of the 8thAF in 1944.  On his thirteenth mission Sam's crew flew to Cologne and the plane suffered an engine loss to and from the target.  With only two engines and heavy damage, the pilot gave the bail out order.  Sam convinced the pilot to rescind the order believing they could fly the plane over Allied occupied territory making bailing out a less dangerous action.  He navigated the plane west and hoped they had traveled far enough to reach friendly territory before notifying the pilot.  As Sam puts it, there is no line on the ground telling you where the enemy is.  The crew bailed out and unfortunately two of the nine crew members did not survive.  Sam and the bombardier eventually ended up in the same Belgian farmhouse.  The Germans had retreated only two days before and they were the first Americans the farm family had met.  Sam returned to England and flying missions after an R and R in Scotland.  Sam completed 26 missions in the Eighth before the war in Europe ended.  Sam returned home to his life in New York and Connecticut.  After retirement, Sam moved to South Carolina with his wife Helga.  They have two children.  Sam volunteers at the Mission Experience every Saturday afternoon guiding visitors through the three part movies and telling them his experiences during WWII. 

RAF Deenethorpe Airfield 1945.

Located in the Combat Gallery among the engines and aircraft lies the Deenethorpe Air Field Diorama generously donated by the 401^st BG that worked so valiantly from this air field near Weldon, England.  By showing visitors what an airfield in England looked like, they can better understand the experiences of the men of the Eighth.  The missions the Eighth flew were long, cold and difficult but the flight crews and especially ground crews spent much of their time in England at their assigned air field.  The exhibit layout includes all aspects of Eighth life from repairing planes, taking off, air traffic control to leisure time activities.  It has been newly renovated to help visitors understand the diorama built by the Atlanta Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society more clearly.  Buttons now illuminate a particular section of the air field when pushed.  Visitors can then read information about the lighted sections on the maps located next to the buttons.  These buttons and maps are on story board consoles located around the diorama case.  A television now plays video of Deenethorpe from archival WWII footage with added audio and maps of the air field. This footage enhances the illuminated sections of the exhibit by going into more detail and showing pictures and video of life at Deenethorpe.  The museum staff extends a special thank you to Arthur Seder, Matthew Miller, Christopher Hendricks, Andrew Hieronymi, Azniv Korkejian, Marie Le Pichon, Alex Mattice, and Wenjin Zhou who helped complete the improvements to the Deenethorpe diorama. The exhibit improvements were funded by the 401^st Bombardment Group Association.

Deenethorpe Exhibit in the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum

 

The painting was presented on behalf of the Trustees of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum by Trustees John O'Neil and Hap Chandler at the banquet concluding "Thunder Over Michigan" air show at the Willow Run (Detroit Municipal) Airport.

Mark Copeland served two terms as president of the society and is currently editor of the Eighth Air Force News. The painting was a tribute from the Museum to Mark for his outstanding leadership and support of the Museum.

On Tuesday, August 24, the Education Department at the Mighty Eighth welcomed over 70 members of the faculty and staff of Thunderbolt Elementary School, as the Museum laid out its expanded Character Education program, CHARACTER COUNTS!® @ The Mighty Eighth. Also in attendance at the seminar was Capt. Larry Branson, representing Chief Willie Lovett and the Savannah Metropolitan Police Department.  Dr. Quintina Miller-Fields attended and welcomed the group on behalf of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System's Superintendent, Dr. Thomas Lockamy.

As part of its mission, The Mighty Eighth has taught character education since opening in 1996.  Founder, General Lew Lyle, felt the stories and courageous lessons of the Eighth Air Force during World War II needed to be preserved and used as examples of great character and American values.  The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is a Georgia Center for Character Education as established by the Georgia State Legislature.