March Field Air Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Location | Riverside County, near Moreno Valley, California |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Founder | Lt. Gen. James E. Mullins |
The March Field Air Museum is an exciting aviation museum where you can see many different types of aircraft. It is located near Moreno Valley and Riverside, California, right at the March Air Reserve Base.
Contents
History of the Museum
The museum first opened its doors in 1979. Back then, it was called the March Air Force Base Museum. One of its very first displays was a collection of beautiful art painted by Hazel Olson.
In 1981, the museum moved to a new spot, which used to be the base's old store. It reopened to the public that same year. A huge B-29 aircraft was even flown to the museum to become part of its collection!
The museum moved again in 1993 to its current home. This spot is west of the runway, right next to Interstate 215. The Air Force used to run the museum. But in 1996, a special group that doesn't make money (called a nonprofit organization) took over its operation.
Exploring the Exhibits
The museum has lots to see, both inside and outside!
Outside, you can find "Firebase Romeo Charlie." This is a special area built to look just like a military base from the Vietnam War. It helps visitors understand what those places were like.
Aircraft on Display
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The museum is home to over 100 different aircraft! You can see many types of planes and helicopters, from old warplanes to modern jets. Here are some of the amazing aircraft you can find:
- Aero Commander U-9A 52-6218
- Bell AH-1F Cobra 69-16416
- Bell P-39Q Airacobra – A plane made from different parts.
- Bell P-59 Airacomet 44-22614
- Bell OH-58 Kiowa 71-61668
- Bell UH-1B Iroquois 62-12537
- Bell UH-1D Iroquois 66-0925
- Bell UH-1F Iroquois 63-13143
- Bensen B-8M
- Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-6393 "Starduster" – This plane was used by Lt Gen Ira C. Eaker for his travels.
- Boeing B-29A Superfortress 44-61669
- Boeing B-47E Stratojet 53-2275
- Boeing B-52D Stratofortress 55-0679 – This aircraft flew 175 combat missions during the Vietnam War.
- Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter 53-0363
- Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker 55-3130 "Old Granddad"
- Cessna A-37 Dragonfly 71-0790
- Cessna T-37B Tweet 57-2316
- Cessna O-2A Skymaster 68-11067
- Cessna O-2B Skymaster 67-21465
- Consolidated PT-6A 30-385
- Convair C-131D Samaritan 54-2808
- Convair F-102A Delta Dagger 56-1114
- Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
- Douglas A-26C Invader 44-35224
- Douglas EA-1E Skyraider 132789
- Douglas C-54Q Skymaster 56514
- Fairchild PT-19B
- Fairchild C-123K Provider 54-0612
- Folland Gnat E1076
- General Atomics MQ-1B Predator
- General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark 68-0245
- Grumman YF-14A Tomcat 157990 – This was the 11th test model of the F-14.
- Grumman HU-16E Albatross 1293
- Hughes OH-6A Cayuse 68-17252
- Lockheed C-141B Starlifter 65-0257
- Lockheed D-21B
- Lockheed P-38L Lightning – A copy of the original.
- Lockheed R5O-5 Lodestar 12473
- Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 61-7975
- Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star 58-0513
- LTV A-7D Corsair II 69-6188
- Martin EB-57B Canberra 52-1519
- McDonnell F-101B Voodoo 59-0418
- McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II 63-7693
- McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II 68-0382
- McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II 63-7746
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle 76-0008
- McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender 84-0185
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 0393215744
- MMIST CQ-10A Snowgoose
- Nieuport 11 – A smaller copy.
- Nieuport 11 – Another smaller copy.
- North American TB-25J Mitchell 44-31032
- North American F-86H Sabre 53-1304
- North American F-86L Sabre 50-0560
- North American F-100C Super Sabre 54-1786
- North American SNJ-4 Texan 51360
- Northrop F-89J Scorpion 52-1949
- Northrop T-38A Talon 60-0593
- Northrop YA-9A 71-1368
- Piasecki H-21 Workhorse 53-4326
- Republic F-84C Thunderjet 47-1595
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 51-9432
- Republic F-105B Thunderchief 57-5803
- Republic F-105D Thunderchief 62-4383
- Sauser P6E – A copy.
- Schweizer TG-2
- Sikorsky HH-34J Choctaw 148943
- Stearman PT-13D Kaydet 42-16388
- Stinson L-5 Sentinel
- Vultee BT-13A Valiant 41-21487
- Vultee BT-13A Valiant N54865 – This plane was changed to look like a Japanese Aichi D3A Val Dive Bomber for the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora!.
- Wright Flyer – A copy of the first airplane.
Indoor Displays
Inside the museum, you can find many interesting exhibits, including:
- A copy of the famous Wright Flyer, the first successful airplane.
- A part of a Boeing B-47 cockpit. This piece was used in the 1955 movie Strategic Air Command, which starred Jimmy Stewart.
- A movie that plays regularly, telling stories about aviation.
- A German 30mm cannon and different jet engines.
- Cutaway models of missiles and bombs, showing what they look like inside.
- A recreated mural from World War II.
Special Memorials
The museum also has important memorials to honor brave people and events:
- A memorial dedicated to War dogs, recognizing their service.
- The Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial. This special memorial honors members of the Armed Forces who have received the Distinguished Flying Cross. This award is given for amazing acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while flying. It was officially named a national memorial on July 25, 2014, and was first dedicated on October 27, 2010.
- A memorial for the NASA astronauts who lost their lives in the Challenger and Columbia accidents. This memorial uses a piece from a Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster.
The Museum in Media
Television Appearances
The March Field Air Museum was featured on an episode of the TV show Ghost Adventures in 2018. The team of paranormal investigators explored claims of strange happenings. They looked into reports of items being thrown from glass cases in the Main Hangar. They also heard voices of children who supposedly died from the flu when they lived on the property before the Restoration Hangar was built. Sounds of soldiers getting ready for battle were also reported inside the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter display aircraft.
