Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society air air air S S S coop coop coop April 2018 April 2018 April 2018 Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum The word “museum” usually conjures up images of dusty relics in a building that started life as a home or business or government office. And the image usually is static—it’s a museum—what could change? The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum started life as a natural consequence of existing at a place where several obso- lete military aircraft had been parked. Because Pueblo was home to the Pueblo Army Air Base, used for training B-24 and B-25 pilots, an organization was created to track veteran B-24 pilots and crew. The retired military aircraft living at the Pueblo Airport suffered from the high desert climate, bright sunshine and marauding visitors who helped them- selves to keepsakes commemorating their visit. Almost from the very beginning of the museum, it was evident that more indoor room was needed, to not only display the B-24 tail details and the artifacts and photos relating to military aviation, but to provide a space to showcase the aircraft themselves. As the museum’s collection of artifacts and aircraft grew, a concerted effort was made to fund a hangar that would house our star attraction, the B-29 named Peachy. Hangar One was completed in 2005 and Peachy moved indoors. But by that time, it was clear that we already had more aircraft than we could fit in the hangar, so work began to ac- quire funding for another hangar. Hangar Two was completed in 2010 and space for more aircraft was available. But, it still wasn’t enough. Even though Hangar Two houses over a dozen aircraft in addition to the Space Flight Museum, we are still parking airplanes outside. Throughout the years, interested people have come to the museum, been impressed, and left to come back later with their own memorabilia to donate to the museum. This is how the museum constantly grows and changes. A visitor to the museum two years ago would be impressed at how different a visit today is. More things to see, displays and air- craft that are constantly being updated and changed, and the faces of the museum volunteers, the docents and resto- ration crew as old members fly west and new members join weekly. The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum is a dynamic, organic entity that is constantly growing and changing. We are proud to note that our restoration crew is recognized nationwide as one of the best, that our guides and docents are knowledgeable, and that everything we do is on a volunteer basis, with no government support.
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PHAS airScoop Page 1 April 2018
Pueblo Historical Aircraft SocietyPueblo Historical Aircraft SocietyPueblo Historical Aircraft Society
airairairSSScoopcoopcoop April 2018April 2018April 2018
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft MuseumPueblo Weisbrod Aircraft MuseumPueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
The word “museum” usually conjures up images of dusty relics in a building that started life as a home or business or
government office. And the image usually is static—it’s a museum—what could change?
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum started life as a natural consequence of existing at a place where several obso-
lete military aircraft had been parked. Because Pueblo was home to the Pueblo Army Air Base, used for training B-24
and B-25 pilots, an organization was created to track veteran B-24 pilots and crew. The retired military aircraft living at
the Pueblo Airport suffered from the high desert climate, bright sunshine and marauding visitors who helped them-
selves to keepsakes commemorating their visit.
Almost from the very beginning of the museum, it was evident that more indoor room was needed, to not only display
the B-24 tail details and the artifacts and photos relating to military aviation, but to provide a space to showcase the
aircraft themselves.
As the museum’s collection of artifacts and aircraft grew, a concerted effort was made to fund a hangar that would
house our star attraction, the B-29 named Peachy. Hangar One was completed in 2005 and Peachy moved indoors.
But by that time, it was clear that we already had more aircraft than we could fit in the hangar, so work began to ac-
quire funding for another hangar.
Hangar Two was completed in 2010 and space for more aircraft was available. But, it still wasn’t enough. Even though
Hangar Two houses over a dozen aircraft in addition to the Space Flight Museum, we are still parking airplanes outside.
Throughout the years, interested people have come to the museum, been impressed, and left to come back later with
their own memorabilia to donate to the museum. This is how the museum constantly grows and changes. A visitor to
the museum two years ago would be impressed at how different a visit today is. More things to see, displays and air-
craft that are constantly being updated and changed, and the faces of the museum volunteers, the docents and resto-
ration crew as old members fly west and new members join weekly.
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum is a dynamic, organic entity that is constantly growing and changing. We are
proud to note that our restoration crew is recognized nationwide as one of the best, that our guides and docents are
knowledgeable, and that everything we do is on a volunteer basis, with no government support.
PHAS airScoop Page 2 April 2018
Featured Aircraft NOTES
The MIG-15 and MIG-17 are here, have been painted and on display.
A team from PHAS has traveled to AMARG in Tucson and seen to the transporting of the F15 and F16 back to Pueblo. The F15 is being worked on first, in order to be ready for the June 2 event.
We have been advised that the museum will receive a donated Learjet 25 this spring. Check back for more details.
The Vagabond has been sold for $15,000 plus delivery of the B-52 training cockpit to PWAM
We have the donated Harley-Davidson motorcycle for sale
PHAS airScoop is a free publication pro-duced by and provided to the members of the
OFFICERS President Mike Wright Vice President Dick Wood Secretary Mac McCormack Treasurer Dennis Murphy
DIRECTORS Curator Shawn Kirscht Historian Danny Passig Restoration Rex Hefferan Facilities Roger Brown Docent /Tours Paula Haskell Newsletter Steve Galusha STEM Lab Howard Hayden Space Museum Steve Janssen
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum is the
property of the City of Pueblo. It is operated
and staffed entirely by the volunteer mem-
bers of the Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society
and is funded by private donations.
The Museum is open 10am to 4pm Monday
through Saturday, 1pm to 4pm on Sunday.
THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON:
New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Stealth technology at AMARG
PHAS airScoop Page 3 April 2018
PHAS OFFICERS 2018
PRESIDENT
Mike Wright
PHAS member 4 plus years
President for 1 year
Retired USAFR
Retired tech industry teacher
Originally from New Hampshire
VICE PRESIDENT
Dick Wood
PHAS member since 1993
“I have watched the museum grow from the air-
craft parked on the dirt to hangars for the display
aircraft. I have been able to help with many of the
projects that have happened at the museum.”
SECRETARY
James „Mac‟ McCormack
Mac is a 28-year active duty Marine. He has been
a docent at the museum since 2012. Mac was
elected as secretary in 2014.
TREASURER
Dennis Murphy
Dennis is a former Air Traffic Controller with an
accounting degree and computer experience. He
joined the PHAS in 2008.
Dennis lives in Colorado City.
PHAS airScoop Page 4 April 2018
BO GEN HUANG HO
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum recently had the pleasure and honor of a visit from Mr. Shawn Ho. Mr. Ho is the grandson of a Chinese aviator that trained at what was then Pueblo Army Air Force Base during WWII. That aviator was a member of the Republic of China Air Force that trained as an aircrew as part of the lend lease program initiated just before the second world war. Another member of the Chinese command was Da Do Wu. Da Do Wu was the best friend of Bo Gen Huang.
On the completion of their training and the certification of their preparedness by the USAAF the Chinese command returned home. Once there the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) became an integral part of the allied effort to de-feat the forces of Imperial Japan. Huang and Wu probably served in the 10th Bomb Group of the ROCAF flying the Con-solidated B-24 heavy bomber.
On May 11, 1950 Bo Gen Huang and his crew were shot down on a raid against Shanghai, China by the air defense forces of the communist Chinese. None of the crew survived. Mr. Ho calls Da Do Wu as the only grandfather he ever knew.
Mr. Ho presented a painting to the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum depict-ing the Consolidated B-24 that both of his grandfather’s flew during the war. His painting both honors, respects and remembers Bo Gen Huang and Da Do Wu.
Da Bo Wu is standing first on the left Bo Gen Huang is standing second from left
PHAS airScoop Page 5 April 2018
Peachy: Bringing Home a Legend
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-
driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing, and flown primarily by
the United States during World War II and the Korean War. It was
one of the largest aircraft operational during World War II and
featured state-of-the-art technology. Including design and pro-
duction, it was the single most expensive weapons project under-
taken by the United States in World War II, exceeding the cost of
the Manhattan Project by between $1 and 1.7 billion. Innovations
introduced included a pressurized cabin, dual-wheeled, tricycle
landing gear, and an analog computer-controlled fire-control sys-
tem that directed four remote machine gun turrets that could be
operated by a single gunner and a fire-control officer. A manned
tail gun installation was semi-remote. The name "Superfortress" continued the pattern Boeing started with its well-
known predecessor, the B-17 Flying Fortress. Designed for the high-altitude strategic bomber role, the B-29 also ex-
celled in low-altitude nighttime incendiary bombing missions. One of the B-29's final roles during World War II was car-
rying out the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The B-29 production total was 3,970 aircraft. Dozens of B-29s remain as static displays, but only two examples, Fifi
and Doc, have been restored to flying status, with Doc flying again for the first time from McConnell AFB on July 17,
2016.
B-29 44-62022 was stored out in the open for many years in poor condi-
tions at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, CA. This aircraft was
donated to the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Colorado in 1976
and underwent an extensive restoration. In 2005 Peachy was moved
into Hangar One and is currently on display inside the Pueblo Weisbrod
Aircraft Museum. Peachy is named in honor of all the crews who
fought in the Pacific Theater. A B-29 by that name was piloted by a na-
tive of Pueblo, Lt. Robert T. Haver, who gave it his pet name for a
younger sister. The original Peachy flew 35 combat missions into enemy
territory from Tinian Island in the Marianas islands chain in the central
Pacific.
B29 Rear gun turret being delivered 1976
Forward fuselage being unloaded 1976 Peachy moves into the new hangar in 2005
PHAS airScoop Page 6 April 2018
B29 Facts
3,970 B-29s were produced between 1943 and 1946. That's an average of over 2.7 aircraft built per day.
The B-29 was one of the first military aircraft to have a pressurized cabin with the fuselage designed as a cylinder to han-dle the pressurization.
The Superfortress was initially designed as a high altitude bomber, but after poor results, it was primarily used
in night time low-altitude bombing missions. The B-29 was capable of reaching 31,000 feet, which put it out of
range of most Japanese fighter aircraft. When the B-29's role of high-altitude bomber was changed to low-
altitude night bomber, Curtis LeMay ordered the removal of most of the sighting and defensive equipment, so
it could carry more fuel and bombs.
The B-2 9 had a 'Central Fire System' that included 4 remotely controlled guns turrets, each armed with two .50
caliber machine guns. The guns were aimed electronically from the nose, tail, and mid-fuselage. The gun sys-
tem also used analog computers to help operators aim, compensating for airspeed, gravity, temperature and
humidity.
During WWII, B-29s dropped over 180,000 tons of bombs, and shot down 27 enemy aircraft.
The most famous B-29s were the 'Silverplate' series, which were modified to drop atomic bombs. On August
6th, 1945, the 'Enola Gay' dropped the first atomic bomb in combat on Hiroshima, Japan.Three days later, on
August 9th 'Bockscar' dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
During WWII, four B-29s made emergency landings in the Soviet Union after making bombing runs over Japan.
The US asked the Soviets to return the aircraft, but they refused. Three of the B-29s, which were repairable,
were flown to the Tupelov design bureau in Moscow. The bombers were then reverse-engineered and turned
into the Tu-4. 847 Tu-4s were produced by the Soviet Union.
B29 Facts Peachy: Bringing Home a Legend
Peachy in Hangar One at Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
PHAS airScoop Page 7 April 2018
The Strike Eagle and Fighting Falcon Come to PWAM
As an organization dedicated to the preservation of
historical military aircraft, members of PHAS are con-
stantly on the lookout for possible additions to our
collection. One primary source of planes is the
309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration
Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
near Tucson, Arizona. Sometimes we get hints of air-
craft there we would like to have but we have to con-
sider our resources, including space to store and dis-
play planes. If we had the money and space, we
would want them all!
For the past couple of years we have been aware of an F-
15 and F-16 at AMARG and looking at them wistfully, but
the estimated cost of transporting them to Pueblo was in
excess of $40,000—too much for our limited donation-
only budget.
And then the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum was vis-
ited by Air Force General Glen Davis, who was impressed
with our work and had a personal interest in F-15s.
Learning of the museum’s interest a particular F-15, he
got involved, contacted friends and colleagues, pulled
some strings and helped turn the acquisition of the plane from wishful think-
ing to reality. That’s when a crew of PHAS members, including Rick San-
dridge, Rick Sargeant, Rex Hefferan, Dick Wood, and Paula Haskell traveled to
Tucson to get the planes loaded and on the way.
The F-15 and F16 both arrived at the museum in March, this year. A crew of
PHAS members went to Tucson to dismantle the planes and load them on
flatbed trailers. The planes were transported to Pueblo at a cost of about
$50,000, money raised from donations to the museum.
On June 2, 2018 the PHAS will host a free admission day at the museum, fea-
turing the newly acquired aircraft and recognizing the help from General Davis, the man responsible for moving the
aircraft acquisition along.
As a bonus to this entire episode, we
have learned that the F-15 we now
have was involved in combat during the
Gulf War and earned a kill over a MIG-
23. The Restoration Crew have deter-
mined to preserve the original win info
painted on the side of the plane.
F-15 and F16 at the AMARG boneyard
Rex Hefferen and Dick Wood preparing the F-15 for shipment
