Around the Museum
by
Andy Anzanos

Once again our docent, Dean Floerchinger, brought his Arizona University ROTC group out to spruce up the Museum prior to our reunion.

And once again our two Museum build/support veterans, Bill Frostick and Otto Vent have joined us lending their support for the entire month of March.

Bill has refurbished and maintained “I’ll be Around” since 1985 and converting the aircraft to combat configuration. Otto assisted Bill through the years.

Otto is pictured here aided by our Monday docent, Richard Beaubien, repainting the floor in front of the airplane.

And our Museum has new skylights, 20 in all, replacing the deteriorated originals. Much better lighting was immediately noted by all.

In addition the hangar roof eaves have been modified to direct rain flow into the gutters whereas some flow was occurring into the walls becoming evident with time.

The Veterans Association has assisted us in the financing of these improvements.

The Nose Art on our North wall has been a favorite attraction. Along with the art work is the history and demise of the airplane presenting not only a colorful but a real presentation of our Group’s history.

As a result of the interest, we have now embarked on a Nose Art program to balance out our walls with Nose Art on the South Wall.

This South wall will be open for nose art that is real 390th and a good photograph exists. It is not limited to original 390th aircraft as was our North wall.

To date we have a start with veterans Richard Sawyer and Richard Drain contributing to the program. Each Nose Art costs us $250 just to print and laminate and we will entertain any interest you may have towards supporting your favorite for such donation. It will be first come first serve since our space is limited. Contact us for feasibility as there are several already colorized and ready for print.

If interested in supporting this effort contact:

Tom Drugan or Andy Anzanos
at the Museum
$275 Donation Per Picture

Your Museum will not only be the best Bomb Group Museum in the country but will also contain the most complete Nose Art display in the country