CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | 780 Heritage Way Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Type | Aviation museum |
The CAF Rocky Mountain Wing (RMW) Museum is a fantastic place for anyone interested in airplanes and history! It's one of about 75 local groups that are part of the national Commemorative Air Force (CAF). This non-profit organization is dedicated to remembering and honoring American military aviation. They do this by flying old planes, creating exhibits, and sharing the stories of those who served.
You can find the museum at the Grand Junction Regional Airport in Colorado. Inside, you'll discover amazing items and displays from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
What makes this museum extra special is that they operate two real, flying airplanes! These planes are part of the CAF's large collection of over 170 vintage "warbirds." The two planes at the Rocky Mountain Wing are quite unique: one is the biggest single-engine aircraft used by American forces in WWII, and the other is the smallest! You can even schedule a ride as a passenger in these historic aircraft. The museum first opened in 1981, and its main building was finished in 2000.
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Flying Aircraft on Display
The museum proudly displays two fully working aircraft. These planes are not just for looking at; they actually fly!
The TBM Avenger Aircraft
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TBM Avenger Aircraft N53503
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| Location | 780 Heritage Way,, Grand Junction, Colorado |
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| NRHP reference No. | 100001791 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 2017 |
The TBM Avenger Aircraft N53503 is a type of plane called a Torpedo Bomber. It's a single-engine aircraft from World War II that is still able to fly today. In 2017, it was even added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical importance. This plane is about 40 feet (12 meters) long, and its wingspan is 52 feet (16 meters). When its wings are folded, it's about 16 feet (5 meters) wide.
History of the Avenger N53503
This specific TBM Avenger, with the Navy number 53503, was first accepted by the U.S. Navy on June 1, 1945. It was assigned to the VT-75 "Fish Hawks" Squadron. Later, in 1947, it moved to the VT-82 "Devil's Diplomats" Squadron for naval air training.
In 1950, with only 546 hours flown, it was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy. There, it flew with the 881 Squadron from the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21). Its job was to hunt for submarines. After its military service ended in 1958, the Avenger had a new career. From 1963 to 1970, it was used to spray insecticide for a flying service in Connecticut.
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) acquired the plane in 1970. It was painted to look like a plane from the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. During this time, the Avenger even made a movie appearance! You can see it in the first few minutes of the famous Steven Spielberg movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
From 1981 to 1985, the Avenger was stored outside in Arizona and needed many repairs. On January 17, 1985, it was officially assigned to the CAF Rocky Mountain Wing. By July 1989, it was ready to fly again! It even had its dorsal gun turret reinstalled. The plane was given a new paint scheme, matching a TBM from the VT-84 "Wolf Gang" squadron. This squadron was the first to attack Tokyo in February 1945. The bright yellow front of the plane helped identify it as a "friendly" aircraft when returning to the fleet.
The Piper J-3 Grasshopper
This amazing and adaptable aircraft was first known as the Taylor Cub in 1930. Later, as the Piper J-3 Cub, it became the most popular trainer plane in the world. Over 14,000 civilian versions were built, plus 5,703 for military use.
The military version was nicknamed "Grasshopper." It was called the L-4 by the Army Air Corps and the NE-1 by the Navy. Besides being used for basic flight training, the Grasshopper had many other important military jobs. It was used for scouting, connecting different military units, coastal patrols, and even for medical evacuations (carrying injured soldiers).
See Also
- Colorado Aviation Historical Society Denver, CO
- Peterson Air and Space Museum Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO
- Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO
- Spirit of Flight Center Lafayette, CO
- Vintage Aero Flying Museum Platte Valley Airpark, Husdon, CO
- Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Old Lowry AFB Campus, Denver, CO
- Related lists
- List of aerospace museums
