Texas Air Museum, Rio Hondo (Harlingen)

[michaelharadon]

Are the aircraft, artifacts, and bits of ships, especially the Cabot, that I saw there in the summer of 2001 still there? If not, where did they go to? What shape are the ship pieces in? I spent several nights there at the invitation of John Huston, and had the time of my life walking around everything in the evenings when nobody else was there. Thanks!

[aerojock]

I dont know if this helps but try these links.

http://www.texasairmuseum.org/

http://www.thetexasairmuseum.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Air_Museum

[Russ Matthews]

The late John Houston was fine southern gentleman and, from what I understand, the heart and soul of the Rio Hondo facility. After his passing and the closing of his branch, I believe most the aircraft and more easily transported artifacts were dispersed to the other locations.

The island from USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) was taken apart and sent to the Museum of the American GI in College Station, Texas where I think it is still awaiting reassembly and restoration.

The unfortunate Cabot (CVL-28) would suffer one last indignity when the island (an expanded post WWII structure) was finally demolished about 5 years after the rest of the ship fell to the scrappers' torch. The final moments were captured on the following video link (which is not for the faint of heart) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlJIzmoT ... re=related