D-Day traveling museum

By REV. KNOX HERNDON
Pastor

Who would have thunk it? Did you know that there is a traveling museum in Fayetteville? There is a DC-3, Gooneybird, C-47, Dakota, Skytrain, and “Puff The Magic Dragon” all wrapped up into one traveling airplane museum right here in the neighborhood.

The above names are all the names given to this wonderful aircraft at one time or another. It has been said that “he who is called by many names is well loved.”

It all started out as the legendary DC-3 which we are all familiar with. In fact, our beloved Delta has a beautiful one restored in A-1 flyable condition.

The DC-3 was the most produced airplane in the world. It was the main airplane that saved the airline industry in the late 1930s and the free world. Almost all major airlines had these sleek, two engine, DC-3s as their main carriers.

Then World War II came along and the appropriation of all aircraft for the war effort. The beautiful silver shiny DC-3s were pressed into service as the legendary C-47. They were stripped of all their airline passenger seats and outfitted with colorful nose art and large numbers, olive drab paint and paratroop and cargo doors. They were then flown to all major battlefields of World War II.

These workhorse aircraft not only dropped paratroopers into combat and towed combat assault gliders on D-Day, but they allowed the solider in the field to be resupplied and their wounded flown to field and major hospitals.

In Viet Nam, these powerful low flying dependable aircraft were equipped with mini-guns that would fly support and attack missions, thus receiving the name, “Puff The Magic Dragon.”

If you have ever been to the 57th Squadron Restaurant at Charlie Brown Airfield near Six Flags, you have seen this Ole’ Gooney Bird. She was parked behind the restaurant and had a string of lights inside the fuselage which were often lit in the evening. If you have never been to this restaurant, you have missed a true “walk through history” evening meal. The time Dee and I went to eat there, the waitresses were all dressed in W.W.II nurse outfits and the walls were all covered with sandbags and vintage pictures. I understand they are still open for business and the food was quite good.

To make a long story short (never trust a pastor who says that), the airport security people, after 9/11, told someone to get rid of the aircraft because they couldn’t see the end of the runway. The plane was then sold to a friend of mine who salvaged the wings and motors. All that was left was the cockpit, and the large cargo bay. Then two other friends bought this huge aircraft shell, and then called me.

When I received the call from my good friend, Jim Cook, I knew my wife was going to kill me but I looked at this ugly/beautiful piece of history and my wheels started turning as to what to do with this 37 foot-long piece of an airplane. My good friend Tommy Duncan said, “When your wife sees this thing, you better put a cot and a stove in it and LIVE IN IT.” How true that almost became. I will in all honesty say that she has put up with my monolithic “collection” for over 27 years now so what could another “one of a kind” trophy matter? I better leave that alone.

Tommy Duncan is truly a multitalented individual who has never known the words “can’t do.” We both had done some interesting projects in our lives, but on both of our resumes “Gooney Bird restoration” was not in there anywhere! Many a time we would sit around his table and scratch our heads and wonder how in the world we would get a 37-foot-long cut-up fuselage on a house trailer frame and road worthy. Then would it be something that people would actually want to go inside and see?

Each of these many obstacles were knocked down like bowling pins by Tommy’s good mind and a lot of sweat and many days of very hard work. Often he would have figured out the obstacle and then three steps later I would come up with the same solution. Tommy would just smile and smile and say, “I told you that three days ago,” and I hate to admit it but he was always 99.99 percent correct, but I had to get my .01 percent in there somewhere!

We now have shown this D-Day traveling museum on two occasions. We took her on her maiden voyage in September of this year to the annual Georgia Military Vehicle Preservation Association Show in Kennesaw, and then she was in the Annual Veteran’s Day Parade in Atlanta as we honored all of America’s veterans.

The D-Day Traveling Museum will be available to schools, for onsite field trips including the Revolutionary War, The Civil War, W.W.II, and 9/11. It will also be available for any civic events, and large public or private gatherings.

Inside the Museum are very authentic military displays of events and artifacts of what our soldiers faced during the harrowing days of Normandy in 1944. Also, my wife Dee has put together several values lessons and work sheets a teacher or civic leader can use for lessons and classes.

If you know of any events where we could be of service to our country, call me at 770-719-2365. God Bless.

(Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). Rev. Greg Mausz is Sr. Assoc. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School Superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church on Ga. Highway 85, about a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, on the right just past the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365. E-mail address is KHERN2365@aol.com. Web address is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.)