Latest news with #NationalMuseumoftheMightyEighthAirForce
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum WWII panel features two veterans' tales of valor
Driving rain fell with the ferocity of machinegun fire while thunder bombarded the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force's rotunda as if it were distant air strike's. Yet, the elements could not overcome the power of the stories being told by World War II veteran airmen 1st Lieutenant Kenneth Beckman and Staff Sergeant Bruce Cook during the museum's 5th Annual WWII panel. Sean O'Dwyer, the museum's education program manager and panel moderator, said while all four panelists from last year's event were alive, Beckman, 102, and Cook, 99, were the only two who could make the trip. Beckman, originally from Northampton, Massachusetts, now hails from St. Petersburg, Florida. Cook lives in West Columbia, South Carolina. The two told stories about close calls, fellow crewmen's practical jokes and harrowing missions. They did so to the best of their recollections, which were much better than they let on, particularly Beckman's as many of his stories were accompanied by the exact date of the mission. The panel was one portion of Sunday's events, which were part of four days of Memorial Day events that the museum planned in honor of the 26,000 airmen of the Eighth Airforce who never returned from WWII. More of the museum's Flags for the Fallen events have been planned for Monday, May 26. O'Dwyer asked the two centenarians a series of questions, helping them call up long dormant moments from their pasts. He started by asking what they were doing when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. Cook said he was 16 and standing in a doorway when someone came by saying that the Hawaiian naval station had been bombed. "And to me, that didn't mean a whole lot," he said because he had never heard of it before. Beckman actually resigned from the Naval Academy because his roommate's grandfather was a doctor with the with the Navy, and he had heard that a war with Japan was "just around the corner." So he signed up with the Army Air Corp in November of 1941. For him, Dec. 7 of that year started like any other day until about 4 p.m. when he heard what had happened at Pearl Harbor. Beckman went on to serve as a navigator within the 305th Bomb Group while Cook was a waist/ball gunner and toggler for the 379th. Beckman attributed his desire to be an aviator to his first flying experience when he was five years old. The manager of Northampton airport knew his father and invited Beckman for a ride in a two-seater airplane. During the war, he went on 48 missions over two tours. He signed up for a second tour after he decided he wanted to become a permanent officer. He flew with two U.S. presidents, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. Beckman described two close calls he had in service. One involved a German pilot who flew his Messerschmitt Me 262 "absolutely vertical" 20 feet off the right wing, so close Beckman could see he was blond with glasses and a white scarf. "I guess I saw him for all of a split second," he said, but he never forgot it. Another close call occurred when his crew's right wing engine had been hit and caught fire. He called that a death notice because a fire usually proceeded an explosion, which typically meant crew members had five to 10 seconds to grab a parachute and jump. In that moment, he secured his parachute and dangled his feet out the escape hatch and then he heard a copilot tell everyone the fire was out. He did not have to jump. Had he jumped he would have done so over enemy territory and undoubtedly been taken as a prisoner of war. Cook could not recall ever being scared beyond his first mission when he told a peer he could not get into the ball turret with his parachute on. The peer said that they could leave his parachute aside and if they got shot down maybe he could get up and grab it in time. Cook was then worried the whole four hours and fifteen minutes of that first, and likely his shortest, mission. Beyond that, he did not recall being scared very much in the air. He did remember a time when a plane ahead of his caught fire. The flames streamed behind it so much that a crewman on his plane thought their plane had caught fire and a miscommunication led another crewman to grab his chute and jump out over enemy territory. Cook told another story of how he shot at an approaching fighter, taking him out. Later the other gunner on the plane also claimed to have shot the enemy fighter down. When the crew got back to base they flipped a coin to see who would claim the hit. "Malone won," he said. Years later when he looked at the military records it only stated that a bomber shot down a fighter, giving no particular airman credit. Both Cook and Beckman flew dozens of missions throughout their tours of duty. Cook joked that officers and enlisted men such as himself did not always hang out during the war, but it was an honor to be speaking with Beckman about their experiences and the men they served with. Beckman and Cook, while grateful for the museum's recognition, deflected any praise heaped upon them. When asked to reflect on Memorial Day's meaning, Cook said he did not deserve the praise that the museum and community were giving him. To underscore the point of the holiday, he recollected one more story of a fellow airman who was less fortunate. During the war, a young man Cook referred to as Albert was moved to another plane to make way for Cook's return to his crew. Cook said on Albert's first mission with the new crew their plane was shot down. Albert and others bailed out over enemy territory while the crew's pilot went down with the plane. For Beckman, Memorial Day is an "opportunity for me to think about the fellows that didn't make it, they were the real heroes." He then paused before expressing that he was at a loss for words "to describe how wonderful life can be when the world is at peace." Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@ and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum WWII panel features two veterans
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers no longer needed to take Mighty Eighth flags down
POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) — Due to the threat of bad weather, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force staff will remove the flags from their Flags for the Fallen tribute. 'We are so grateful to everyone who took the time to volunteer this year,' said Dawn Brosnan, Director of Communications and Marketing. 'Your dedication ensures that the service and sacrifice of these airmen are never forgotten.' Nearly 300 volunteers came together to help install 26,000 flags, honoring the Eighth Air Force airmen who lost their lives during World War II. All of the flags were placed in under two hours — the fastest time in the program's history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mighty Eighth commemorates VE Day
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. In Savannah, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force honored the day with remembrance, education and personal stories. Visitors to the museum experienced their special 'Salute to Victory' event. One of the highlights was a talk by the son of a World War II airman from the 100th Bomb Group. He shared his father's story of surviving as a prisoner of war. Visitors also learned about two missions where American bombers dropped food, not bombs, over starving parts of the Netherlands in May 1945. With fewer than 1% of U.S. World War II veterans still living, events like this are crucial in preserving their legacy. Dawn Brosnan, director of communications for the Mighty Eighth says, 'It is important to remember. Even though we have so few World War II veterans left, their families, their relatives, their descendants…they gave sacrifices of their time, their efforts, sometimes their lives. Sot it is always important to honor and remember them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mighty Eighth Museum marks 80th VE Day with tribute events
POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) – Today marks a powerful moment in history, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Here in Savannah, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is honoring the day with remembrance, education, and personal stories. The museum shared with WSAV an original 48-star American flag, just like the ones our airmen fought under during World War II. Thursday, as the museum marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, this flag is a symbol and powerful reminder of both the triumph and the tremendous sacrifice. Today, the museum is inviting the public to commemorate VE Day with their special 'salute to victory' event. One of the highlights is a talk by the son of a World War II airman from the 100th bomb group, who will share his father's story of surviving as a prisoner of war. Visitors can also learn about two missions where American bombers dropped food, not bombs, over starving parts of the Netherlands in May 1945. With fewer than 1% of U.S. World War II veterans still living, events like these are crucial in preserving their legacy. 'It is important to remember. Even though we have so few WWII veterans left – their families, their relatives, their descendants…. they gave sacrifices of their time, their efforts, and sometimes their lives. So, it is always important to honor and remember them,' said Dawn Brosnan, the Director of Communications and Marketing for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth. Admission today is just $6 for adults and children, and as always, veterans enter historians will also be on-site, including a portrayal of a wasp – a female pilot who served during the war. For many at the Mighty Eighth today, this isn't just about history – it's about honoring real people, families, and sharing stories that shaped the world we live in. At the museum… those stories take flight once again. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WATCH NOW: The Vietnam War 50 Years Later
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — WSAV held a special screening of 'The Vietnam War 50 Years Later' Wednesday at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler. Attendees held a discussion after the screening. Watch the entire special now. GALLERY: Special screening of The Vietnam War 50 Years Later Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
