Grissom Air Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | 1000 W. Hoosier Blvd. Peru, Indiana 46970 |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Founder | John Crume |
The Grissom Air Museum is a cool place to visit near Peru, Indiana. It's a special museum all about military airplanes, called an aviation museum. You can see more than twenty real aircraft on display here!
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
The idea for the museum started in 1981. A man named John Crume and other military veterans wanted to save the amazing aircraft at the base. They created a group to help protect these important planes.
The Grissom Air Museum officially opened in 1987. This is when the aircraft were moved to a special area outside the main gate. Later, in 1991, an indoor museum building was finished. This allowed for even more displays.
For a while, the museum faced some challenges. In 1992, some planes were moved to other places. People worried about the museum's future. But thanks to new leaders and fundraising, enough money was collected to keep the planes.
In 1995, the museum became part of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites system. This helped it grow even more. Two new buildings, called Quonset huts, were added in 1997 for extra display space. In 2010, the museum became independent again.
In 2015, a large B-17 plane from the museum was moved for restoration. By 2020, the museum was working to build a shelter for its B-58 aircraft. This helps protect the planes from the weather.
Exploring the Collection
The museum has over twenty aircraft displayed outdoors. These planes tell stories about the history of the base and the United States Air Force and Navy. Inside the museum, you'll find many interesting items. These artifacts show the history of the area's military bases, from 1942 to today.
You can even sit in some of the displays! Imagine being in an F-4 Phantom cockpit or a Huey Helicopter. There's also an A-10 Trainer and an F-16 Mock Cockpit for you to explore.
Aircraft on Display
Here are some of the amazing aircraft you can see at the museum:
- Bell UH-1H Iroquois 68-16256
- Boeing B-47B Stratojet 51-2315
- Boeing EC-135L 61-0269
- Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter 52-2697
- Cessna O-2A Skymaster 68-6871
- Cessna T-37B Tweet 54-2736
- Cessna U-3A 57-5922
- Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk 153671
- Convair TB-58A Hustler 55-0663
- Convair TF-102A Delta Dagger 56-2317
- Douglas C-47D Skytrain 43-49270
- Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar 52-5850
- Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 77-0228
- Grumman C-1A Trader 136790
- Grumman F-11A Tiger 141790
- Grumman F-14B Tomcat 162912
- Lockheed T-33A 52-9563
- McDonnell F-4C Phantom II 64-0783
- McDonnell F-101B Voodoo 58-0321
- NAMC YS-11A
- North American B-25J Mitchell 44-86843
- North American F-100C Super Sabre 53-1712
- North American T-2C Buckeye 158583
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 51-9456
- Republic F-105D Thunderchief 61-0088
Inside the Museum Building
You can see parts of real aircraft inside the museum. The cabin of an HH-1K helicopter and the cockpit of an F-4C Phantom are on display. It's a great way to see what it's like inside these amazing machines!
Climbing the Observation Tower
The museum has a five-story Observation Tower. From the top, you can see the entire Grissom Air Reserve Base. You also get a fantastic view of all the aircraft displayed outside. It's a great spot for taking pictures!
Special Events at the Museum
The Grissom Air Museum hosts several fun events throughout the year. These include an Open House, an Armed Forces Day Celebration, and a Warbird Cruise-In. These events are a great chance to learn more and see special demonstrations.
Images for kids
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Convair TB-58A Hustler
See Also
