I took a road trip up to Duluth yesterday and made the short detour over to Superior, WI to see the Richard I Bong WWII Heratige Center. I have previously seen the P-38 when it was at American Wings in Blaine, MN.
I was very impressed with the facility. The main display hall is set up like a pacific base, with a control tower, briefing hut, palm trees, and even sand. You enter the display hall on the second floor and are treated to a rare view of a rare aircraft, it was very interesting to view a P-38 from above for the first time. The P-38 on display is
P-38L 44-53236. Funny thing is, the signs comment on the fact that it shows 25 victories and not Major Bong's eventual total, and that it says Major even though he was a Captain when he flew the depicted aircraft, but nowhere is any mention of the fact that the aircraft on display is an L model.
Other artifacts on display include uniforms and weapons from both sides of the conflict, There are a large number of G.I.'s letters home on display in one room of the collection. There is a kiosk dedicated to the war in Europe which has recordings from a number of soldiers, including Tuskeegee Airman Joseph Gomer. Also on display is Major Bong's Congresional Metal of Honor.
The lighting is certainly better than I've heard other museums described. It's not dark in the museum, but it is indoors, so if you go I'd reccomend a tripod. I'm not sure what the museum's policy on tripods is, as I forgot mine and I managed to get some decent photos by playing with the camera settings.
If you are ever in the Duluth/Superior area, do youself a favor and stop in at the musem, it's well worth it.
This sign greets visitors.
Main entrance
The P-38 is in this portion of the building. The ship is the SS Meteor the only survivor of 44 "whaleback" ships built.
an unrestored piece of the P-38
The yoke from Lt. Darrel L. Johnson's Consolidated Vultee built P-38
spare wheels rest against the briefing hut.
Major Bong's famous nose art
A rare view of a rare plane
Rear view. The swastika on the wall near the right engine's prop is a piece of skin from a Do-217
A side view from half a level up.
The General Electric Turbocharger