P.I.E.

The motto of our museum is PIE: preservation, inspiration and education.  We preserve the past and use those pieces to educate our community and work to inspire our youth to careers in aviation and aerospace.  PIE is easy to remember and relate to our visitors.   All three of these elements can take a variety of forms and this last week was a great example of how we work to achieve our goals.

Recently we formed a relationship with one of our local Civil Air Patrol units, TX-388 Phoenix Composite Squadron.  Maintaining our aircraft collection is a very labor-intensive operation but does not require the same level of expertise that an airworthy aircraft would.  To help us, we are making the TX-388^th cadets “Crew Chiefs” for our A-7 Corsair II and F-105 Thunderchief aircraft.  They will work under the direction of our maintenance staff to help with preservation, while learning about aircraft and hopefully gaining some inspiration along the way - Win, Win, Win.

In a similar manner, we have formed a collaboration with the VMFA-333 Association, Inc. to manage our QF-4S Phantom II.  It was assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333 “Shamrocks” while it was aboard the USS America in Southeast Asia in 1972.  One former “Shamrock” is a member of the Devil Dogs Motorcycle Club, a group of present and veteran Marines.  Their local chapter will be refurbishing our airplane to the markings that our Phantom wore while on the USS America.   Again, preservation that will lead to education and inspiration through that squadron’s history, including the only all-Marine MIG kill during the Vietnam War.  Our airplane was there.

Also last Saturday, our outreach program through the North Texas Aviation Centennial celebration plan, focused on a community activity to paint a mural for the benefit of the community.  The mural depicts the aviation history of Fort Worth and North Texas.  It was a collaboration between the Fort Worth Parks Department’s Graffiti Abatement Program, the Civil Air Patrol’s TX-388 squadron and a group from TCU called Leaps, a community service organization comprised of student, alumni and teachers from TCU.  Together, under the direction of Alison Letnes, GAP director, they transformed the wall of a pavilion constructed in 1935 by the WPA  (Works Progress Administration) at Trail Drivers Park, into an educational piece for the local community to enjoy.  Along the way, local history is being preserved while educating the community and just may provide a touch of inspiration for our young people.

Our work takes many forms and our motto helps all of us to focus on where we need to direct our efforts.  It is as easy as PIE and we like PIE.  How about you?