Saw some great vintage A2s and others today!

[pawineguy]

I know there have been other posts at different times, but I just wanted to comment on the final leg of my West Coast trip, which was a stop in the Palm Springs Air Museum before heading back to SoCal (flying back to Philly tomorrow from there). This was my first visit there, and it's a remarkable museum. Like most vintage air museums, it is staffed primarily by veterans, at this point mainly from Korea and Vietnam. Virtually all the planes there are in flyable condition, and on Saturdays they hit the skies. The collection is truly amazing, as is all of the memorabilia, including jackets, uniforms, small arms, etc... While there are more modern aircraft, the original focus of the collection was WWII, and so that makes up the bulk of the collection.

Just some jacket pictures for now out of the many photos I took, I'll probably put together a thread with some other plane pictures. This is a must see if you are ever in the Palm Springs area, or just want to take the day trip out from Southern CA.

 

[pawineguy]

 

[nick123]

Great place! Visited it maybe ten years ago...way before I was into jackets. Though fond memories of walking through the B-17 and speaking with the pilots.

 

[pawineguy]

Couldn't help myself, a few quick plane shots also...

 

[Fanch]

I could easily spend a full day there. Thanks for sharing.

 

[navetsea]

great photos!!
that airbrush of bikini girl looks very well made. probably only on war time military regulation became more relax to allow war machines being personalized this far.

 

[Big J]

Thanks for the pictures!
Miss Angela is gorgeous! That's why jackets should have art on the back

 

[Stand By]

Great photos!!! Thanks for putting them up here.
The jackets and their artworks/patches are always good and interesting to see (look at the strange proportions of that B-29 on The Latest Rumor! But that's how they sometimes were on jackets - and I'm sure nobody noticed or cared at the time either) - and no apologies are ever needed for posting shots of vintage aircraft. Ever. Always a treat.
It looks like a great place to spend a day just soaking it all in …
Thanks for posting!

 

[nick123]

I was at Torrance airport (named Zamperini Field) the other day and snapped some bad quality photos (I didn't keep them) of the display of Louis Zamperini's A-2. However, I don't think the jacket was original (though he did wear it). They had a Harrier and F-86 there as well! Next time I'll take some better pics.

 

[ButteMT61]

@pawine: It's a great place. I've probably taken my son (and wife sometimes) there 20 times. On occasions like the 4th of July, they have lots of WWII veteran docents there. We spent an entire day once talking with those guys which was amazing. On occasion, some of the big birds land there from airshows, etc. and if you're lucky, you can see some neat stuff land and go out for a look (and more importantly, listen/smell). Luckily for us, SoCal has a few of these places to waste a whole day on! Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[Stand By]

I was at Torrance airport (named Zamperini Field) the other day and snapped some bad quality photos (I didn't keep them) of the display of Louis Zamperini's A-2. However, I don't think the jacket was original (though he did wear it). They had a Harrier and F-86 there as well! Next time I'll take some better pics.

Nice Harrier. The Royal Navy will be needing it back soon …!

 

[pawineguy]

@pawine: It's a great place. I've probably taken my son (and wife sometimes) there 20 times. On occasions like the 4th of July, they have lots of WWII veteran docents there. We spent an entire day once talking with those guys which was amazing. On occasion, some of the big birds land there from airshows, etc. and if you're lucky, you can see some neat stuff land and go out for a look (and more importantly, listen/smell). Luckily for us, SoCal has a few of these places to waste a whole day on! Thanks for posting the pics.

Talking to the Veterans is always the highlight of visits to WWII museums. My younger sons were at the USS Iowa while my older son and I were at the air museum. We're here once a year or so, and we will definitely be making a return visit when we will have more time to spend.

 

[CBI]

I was on a recent SoCal trip but didn't get to this one, I really wanted to.

I DID get to the March Field Air Museum, Planes of Fame and Yanks Air Museum all in one day!!!!!