Warbird Information Exchange

Yes, I saw the hanger with friends for the grand opening. A very good crowd showed up for the event. The 475th FG Hanger is a new built facility within the PoF's campus of hangers. The Museum had a nice presentation with seating in a nearby hanger, surrounded with lots of planes, for the opening with the veterans being recognized, and at the end everyone went outside to watch the PoF's P-38 being towed from the 475th hanger for its flight. The PoF hosted a BBQ for the vets and their families after the festivities. There was a good turnout of 475th vets, and we had a chat with one of them next to Glacier Girl which was being serviced in the Museum's main maintenance hanger, and everyone had a good look. The 475th FG Hanger has a very nice presentation of photos and mementoes with the Museums P-38 taking the center of the hanger. I thought both groups did a great job pulling it together. It was the best of both worlds: real flying planes and real vets.

My father was the mess Sgt. for the 432nd Squadron of the 475th Fighter Group. My brother and I donated a full field kitchen in his memory to the museum. On the day of the grand opening we fed the 475th Reunion lunch on that field kitchen. We had enough left over to feed the Planes of Fame staff also. Sadly John Loisel could not make that reunion to to health concerns fro his wife. He died the following year before the next reunion. He became the commander of the group after Col. McDonald shipped fro home.