.
PETERSON
AIR AND
FOUNDATION
NEWSLETTER
PRESERVING THE HERITAGE
VOLUME III, NO. 9 JULY 2008
FROM THE PRESIDENT
WES CLARK
This will be my first opportunity to offer some
comments concerning the Museum since I recently became the President of the
Foundation. I can’t tell you how honored I am to serve in this position. Few people understand just what a jewel the
Over the past years there have been some steady
stewards of the Museum’s upward growth path, but I believe that the recent
leadership and volunteer staff have been superb in keeping the growth positive
and soaring. One has only to look at the
additions to the Museum in recent years to understand the significance of the
growth path. From a collection of dusty
artifacts in poorly maintained buildings some twenty years ago, it has morphed
into a true showplace in recent years.
To give credit where credit is due, I want to thank
the volunteer staff for their dedication and commitment in making this Museum
come alive. I am constantly amazed at the number of hours our volunteers are
committing to the upkeep and care of our Museum, and it is to them that we owe
so much. It is my hope and belief that
we can and will engage a greater population of Peterson AFB and our local
community to continue the expansion and growth path that our volunteers have
set us upon. We owe that to them and to
ourselves.
WHO AM I
ED WEAVER
I was manufactured by Lockheed Aircraft,
My initial assignment was with the 3300th
Flying Training Wing (ATC), Randolph AFB, TX.
By March 1961, I was flying with
the 3510th FTW but still at
Recently I got
new neighbors…three HAWKS. By now you
should have guessed…….. I’m T-33A Shooting Star S/N 57-0713, perhaps one of the most successful trainers ever to roll down
a runway.
MEET OUR
VOLUNTEERS
JACK
MSGT JOHN GRIER 
USAF RETIRED
MSgt John Grier was born
After
He transferred to
From there it was back to
Bergstrom AFB, TX, and into a new career field – Disaster Preparedness – which
is now called Readiness, under the Civil Engineers for NBC, disaster response
actions. During that assignment he was
an augmenter for HQ, 12th AF Inspector General Team inspecting TAC
bases.
Next, in 1972, he was transferred to
RAF Mildenhall,
Upon his return to the
In his last 14 years until total
retirement in 2003, John was with the
John and Mary Elizabeth , still happily married after 45 years, have two children, Denise and David and two grandchildren, TJ and Haley, now both in their teens.
ARTIFACT OF
THE QUARTER
JACK
In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited NORADHeadquarters at Ent AFB,
as well as visits to the other military
forces in the
Among the
points of interest to the President was the still-under-construction
Hosting the President were General John K. Gerhart, CINC NORAD,
and Lieutenant General Robert M. Lee,
Commander Air Defense Command. The chair
pictured here was provided for President
Kennedy, whose back problems were well known.
The chair
GALAXY OF STARS
JACK
The Peterson Air and
During the existence of the
Air/Aerospace Defense Command from the post war 1940s until its
disestablishment in 1980, and into the present day, ground environment units,
fighter interceptor squadrons, airborne early warning and airborne warning and
control units, and missile units manned the outposts of air defense from coast
to coast and from the shores of the Caribbean to the shores of the Arctic
Ocean. Supplementing their efforts were
personnel of Army Air Defense Command and Navy picket ship and fighter
units. Also involved were those who
served in air defense forces in
All those dedicated men and women
earned a place in our countries’ history as they assured the air defense of a
continent during the long days and nights of the Cold War, and into the present. Many such units were in places very few would
willingly want to call home; nevertheless they served, they watched, they
waited, and they made our skies safe for the citizens of our Nation and
Now, they will be recognized and remembered
forever as the Air Defense Galaxy of Stars becomes a living memorial to each
and every one of them in the Peterson Air and
To become a member of the Galaxy of
Stars any military member of the United States Air Force, Army, Navy or Marines
as well as Canadian Forces personnel who ever served in any of the following
commands are invited to become honorees:
Air Defense Command, Continental Air Command, US Army Antiaircraft
Command, US and Canadian Ground Observer Corps, Eastern Air Defense Force,
Central Air Defense Force, Western Air Defense Force, Continental Air Defense
Command, Army Air Defense Command, Alaskan Air Command/Alaskan NORAD Region,
Naval Forces Continental Air Defense Command, Canadian Air Defense Forces, Air
Forces Iceland, Aerospace Defense Command, North American Air/Aerospace Defense
Command.
Submit request for inclusion as
follows:
Provide clearly identifiable photograph in an
authorized uniform – said photograph to be 4” X 6” (or croppable to 4X6)
Provide full name and highest rank held
Provide job titles, AFSC/MOS (brief description of
duties if desired)
Provide unit designations and locations of one or all
air defense units in which service was rendered
Submissions may be edited and will be
appropriately displayed within the Air Defense Exhibit at the Peterson Air and
Space Museum for visitors to view (submitted materials will not be returned
unless accompanied by a request for return and a self addressed and stamped
envelope). Material should be addressed
to Galaxy of Stars, Peterson Air and
DOROTHE PETERSON
ED WEAVER
The Foundation made a contribution to the Alzheimer’s
Association in the memory of Dorothe
Peterson who passed away during May 2008.
She was the wife of Lt Col
Maurice D. Peterson, USAF (Retired) brother of Lt Edward J. Peterson, USAAF,
Both Dorothe and Maurice have been frequent visitors and
strong supporters of the Museum. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
GAIL WHALEN
I want to thank all the Peterson Air and
We’ve been visited by the Air Force Vice Chief of
Staff, General Frank Klotz; the
senior curator of the
Our Board members have secured funding and significant
donations from the Association of Air
Force Missileers, Northrup Grumman, and Boeing corporations. Through it all, the volunteers have flown
cover and been the best wingmen the 21st Space Wing could ask for.
I’m grateful everyday for the work you do. This could be the year when we “git
‘er done!”
MPT
DEDICATION SUCCESS
It’s not a real exhibit opening if there isn’t some
paint still drying, or a poster being delivered just before show time, or
someone comes out of the back room carrying a model and chanting like the
Israelites carrying Joseph’s bones to the Promised Land. This happened on May 9th,
as the 21st Space Wing and the Peterson Museum Foundation dedicated the
Peackeeper Missile Procedures Trainer at the Museum’s Old City Hangar.
Foundation Board Member Tim McMahon was also able to acknowledge
the donation from Northrup Grumman
for our display of the DSP satellite in the Missile Warning Exhibit.
Guests
included General Robert Kehler,
commander of Air Force Space Command; Major
General Roger Berg, Commander of 14th Air Force; Charlie Simpson, executive director of
the Association of Air Force Missileers, and the wing commanders and
competitors from all three Missile Wings attending the Guardian Challenge
competition at Peterson AFB.
It was a captive but appreciative audience, as old
timers mingled with and dazzled the young competitors with tales of derring do,
Crits versus HQ’s, brown trouts and silent running. In short, the dedication
provided the experience that we hoped for from our Museum: a place where the
exhibits let people talk to each other about their experiences. Our thanks
again to all the volunteers who put in many hours to assemble the MPT and
Peacekeeper ICBM re-entry vehicle shroud and put together an outstanding
display.
STATIC
DISPLAY UPDATES
The CF-100 “Canuck” is finally getting the paint job
she deserves. Contractors performed walk-around inspections the week of June
23. We expect to have her painted, complete with all her correct Canadian Air
Forces markings, by the end of August. Besides the F-101 Voodoo that used to
guard the West Gate, the Canuck needed the most serious paint work of all our
static displays. Vive la
Speaking of the F-101, we have confirmed from the 21st
Space Wing that our Voodoo will be installed at the East Gate’s
The F-4 Phantom will get patched up this Summer as
well. The stabilators (correct term) will be removed and replaced in August,
with the help of our Big Brothers at the 302nd
Air Wing and 21st
The Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
(ICBM) will be gracing Peterson AFB this year. Air Force Space Command General Robert Kehler has released funding to the 21st Space Wing to bring a
Minuteman to the base from the depot in
FACILITY REPAIRS
Drainage improvements behind Building 981 (Terminal
Building)begin the week of June 23rd. Contractors will be removing
portions of the concrete patio and flower beds behind the building (facing the
airpark), then digging under to the foundation walls of the east side of the
building. They’ll seal any damage, back fill the soil, and install more drains
to slough the water away from the building. This will address two major
problems: water flooding the patio and into the lobby; and water leaking into
the basement which floods the floors and destroys the retaining walls. It also
means that if we have to “shelter in place” in the basement during an emergency
or base exercise, we won’t have to cling to the ceiling like Spiderman to avoid
possible electrocution as the water seeps through the electrical outlets. And finally, as part of this project,
contractors will emplace the newest set of Commemorative tiles around the
flagpole.
SPORTING NEWS FROM CIVIL ENGINEERING
Bulldozer
vs. Gas Line, ends in Bulldozer 1, Gas Line Zip! On June 18th, a bulldozer carrying a new
condenser for the malfunctioning air conditioner in Building 982 (‘The
Broadmoor Hangar’) snagged the natural gas line and popped the line open. Wing
civil engineers made a quick escape, ran to nearby buildings (including the
Museum Terminal) and got emergency responders there in a heartbeat. It was a great real-world exercise: our staff
(TSgt Dishion) and docents (Jim Palmer, Gus Freyer, Gordon Scott)
were able to evacuate the buildings and get our visitors safely out of the
airpark. I was really proud of everyone. Next time, though, could someone maybe
come look for me and let me know my building is about to explode? Apparently I
was the only person left in the building as the leaking gas flowed RIGHT INTO
MY OFFICE!!
Woodpeckers
vs. Hangar Door Insulation, another blowout as the Woodpeckers completely shut
out (or opened up a commanding lead) against the Insulation! Its true, the Great Northern Flicker, a beautiful
woodpecker about 11 inches tall, has managed to pull ALL the insulation off the
top of the Hangar doors. The yellow fiberglass apparently dampened his love
calls. We’ll get the insulation replaced, but meanwhile, let the staff know if
you see any small birds in the Hangar, and we’ll shoo them out.
Yellow
Jackets Beat Connie In a Four to One Blow-out!
Yellow jacket wasps have been
swarming the four engines on the EC-121T Warning Star for about a week
straight. On June 20 they began to move down the
fuselage towards the passenger door. Apparently they wanted docent Jim Bowden to give them a tour. Base Environmental officers asked that
we keep the Warning Star closed until the exterminator could come take a whack
at the wasps. He came, he squirted, he
did not conquer. The wasps were back the next day. (We blame the Ramp Rats for
this. If they hadn’t done such a good job sealing the Warning Star engines from
the birds, the yellow jackets would never have had an opportunity to
colonize.)Please be cautious as you approach the Warning Star until we remove
all the wasps over the next few weeks.
Sun’s Violent
Rays No Match for Wonder Film and Curtains. We’ve finally won one. In an effort to block the Sun’s invisible
ultra-violet light from entering the Museum’s Old City Hangar, TSgt Dishion has installed UV-blocking
film on the inside of the windows, and UV tubes on the fluorescent lights. This
3-M film is able to block 97% of the UV spectrum. UV causes slow but steady
irreversible damage to our artifacts. In order to add a further layer of
protection to the Museum’s historical property, and also to allow our visitors
a better viewing experience, we’re also adding curtains inside the window
frames. This two-pronged approach should help reduce the temperature, cut down
on glare, and help reduce UV degradation of the exhibits.
ADOPT-A-PLANE
SUCCESS AGAIN THIS YEAR
Assistant director Jeff Nash has gotten good response from the Adopt-a-Plane “parents”
this Spring during our second year of the program. As an added bonus, he found
the US Army Space Command’s 1st Space
Company willing to tackle the Nike Ajax and Hercules missiles. They not
only cleaned and polished the missiles, but they put the Air Force to shame, as
they showed up in Battle Dress and put a
spit and polish on those missiles not seen since they were installed! BEW-YAH
ARMY!
As we’ve mentioned in the past, the National Museum of the Air Force is
sending a team to Peterson Air and
AIR DEFENSE
WORKING GROUP
I want to thank the volunteers who are putting their
time and effort into developing the Air Defense exhibit for the Museum’s Old
City Hangar: Jack McKinney, Gus Freyer, John Brown, Scott
Lee, Ed Weaver, and Erv Smalley are doing the lion’s share, but I know many
of our volunteers are providing them with research as well. This is the year we want to complete as much
of our CORE exhibits as we can, even if we do keep tweeking them after they’re
in place. I know these guys are going to see this through if they have to kill
the Director to do it.
1ST
SPACE COMPANY CLEANS MISSILES
JEFF NASH
The US Army
has joined in the fun with the museum’s Adopt-A-Plane program. On June 12th,
Soldiers from the 1st Space
Company, 1st Space Battalion
here at Peterson AFB came out and gave a much-needed cleaning and polish to the
museum’s Nike Ajax missile display. 1st Company is part of the
Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and has committed to coming out
periodically and keeping both Nikes squared away for the future. You can
see these Soldiers in action on the museum’s web site at: http://www.petemuseum.org/WD12Jun08Page01.html
Not to be
outdone, the following Saturday I was assisted by our junior docent Trent Harding and his friend Cody in giving the olive drab booster
section of the Nike Hercules missile a good clean and polish. Made quite
a difference.
RAMP RATS REPORT
JERRY KOVACH
The repairs
to the tail section of the F-4C will begin in earnest by the end of July.
You may remember the F-4 received some “battle damage” from an errant
base landscaping contractor driving a tractor. Replacement
horizontal stabilators are in hand, and the AF Reserve’s 302Nd Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron here at Peterson will lend a big hand to get them
installed. Just as soon as the right experts complete a short deployment
to the desert. The 302nd’s Aerospace Ground Equipment
shop has also offered to help us do some repairs on the MD-3 ground power unit
on display next to the F-106. There are
all kinds of smaller jobs on the “to do” list, ranging from replacing fading
decals to applying preservative on aircraft tires. There’s never a dull
moment.
MUSEUM NOTES
Tom Allee
has received confirmation from Medal of Honor recipient Col Bud Day USAF (Retired), who is also an ex POW, that
he will attend the Peterson Air and Space Museum’s Medal of Honor Grove ceremony to be held 18
Sept 08. Please mark your schedule accordingly...more details to follow.
Our
new ICBM Exhibit continues to receive attention. The 3 Jun 08 “Air Force Association”' Magazine's Daily report. outlines the Peacekeeper
missile and construction of the Museum's Peacekeeper Missile Procedures Trainer
(MPT). The web site also links to the Air Force Space Command's Web
Site's Home page which features the ceremony at the Museum. You may
view both stories by clicking on dailyReport@afa.orgon
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The Peterson Air and Space Museum
Newsletter is published by the Colorado Springs Peterson Air and Space Museum
Foundation, Inc., a private entity no way connected to or with the United State
Air Force. Contents of the Newsletter
are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the
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G. Wesley Clark, Maj Gen (USAF, Retired),
President
Jack L. McKinney, CMSgt (USAF, Retired),
Editor
Peterson Air and Space Museum Foundation,
Inc.
Peterson
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Peterson Air and
Peterson