The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question of March 26 is a spring-loaded step on the side of our M551 Sheridan! The M551 has two of these to assist in climbing over the flotation barrier when performing amphibious operations! Have any of you ever used this step?![]()
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Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, April 2nd at 10:00 am EST!![]()
#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday
On this week 90 years ago: The Consolidated PBY Catalina flew for the very first time on March 21, 1935!![]()
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An icon of WWII, the PBY was the ultimate patrol and rescue flying boat—tracking U-boats, saving lives, and covering vast oceans with unmatched endurance.![]()
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One of those heroes, PBY-5A BuNo 2459, flew in the Battle of the Atlantic, scored 3.5 U-Boat victories, and survived. Now, it’s under restoration to flying condition in Florida and will eventually be displayed at the American Heritage Museum. Read more at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/aircrafts/consolidated-pby-catalina/![]()
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#OTD #PBYCatalina #WWIIHistory #FlyingBoat #MilitaryAviation #AmericanHeritageMuseum
Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - a close up of something in the museum or our collection for you to guess what it is in the comments!![]()
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What is it?! We are looking for what it might be part of within the museum and, for more of a challenge, what the exact part is and what it does! Answer in the comments below and tune-in for the answer next Tuesday at 10:00am EST!![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
Today, March 25th, is National Medal of Honor Day. In honor of this, we would like to take the opportunity to honor MoH recipient Colonel John Riley “Killer” Kane. “Killer” Kane was a B-24 Liberator pilot who led the 98th Bomb Group in Operation Tidal Wave; a large-scale bombing raid on German run oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania on Aug. 1st, 1943. Thanks to the generous donation of Mr. Curtis Burton, we have the honor and privilege of displaying Col. Kane’s Medal of Honor here at the American Heritage Museum as part of our Italian Campaign gallery. ![]()
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You can read more about Col. John “Killer” Kane at: bit.ly/4iVKYaq![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #medalofhonor #moh #usaaf #ploesti #operationtidalwave #wwii #wwiihistory #worldwarii #worldwar2 #b24liberator
Today is Rosie the Riveter Day, honoring the iconic symbol of female empowerment during WWII. Rosie represented the millions of women who entered industrial jobs, proving their strength and capability. Despite facing discrimination, they paved the way for workplace rights and gender equality. Rosie’s legacy lives on in today’s fight for equal pay, representation, and opportunity—reminding us: “We Can Do It!”![]()
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Read our full article about today's importance at: bit.ly/4hDJaly![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #rosietheriveter #rosietheriveterday #celebratewomen #womenshistorymonth #inspiringwomentoday #worldwarii #wwii #arsenalofdemocracy
- This event has passed.
Speaker Series: WAR PIGEONS: Winged Couriers of the U.S. Military, 1878-1957
July 17, 2021 @ 1:00 am, ending 3:00 pm
$20
For more than seven decades, homing pigeons provided the U.S. military with its fastest most reliable means of communication. Often, they were the only means of getting messages through. In the book WAR PIGEONS: Winged Couriers of the U.S. Military, 1878-1957, author Elizabeth Macalaster chronicled the service of this extraordinary bird in American armed forces, from its fledgling beginnings after the Civil War, to the birds’ invaluable role in communications in every branch of the military through both World Wars and beyond. There is no other animal as much a part of American heritage as the homing pigeon.
About the author:
Although Elizabeth Macalaster grew up among barnyard birds, she started her career as a marine biologist, studying North Atlantic cephalopods. She turned to science journalism and worked for the U.S. Department of Interior and EPA on water quality issues. Elizabeth now writes primarily science and history articles for newspapers and magazines.
Under the pen name, Ryan Ann Hunter, Elizabeth collaborated with Pamela D. Greenwood on award-winning nonfiction books for children and young adults. Their YA book, In Disguise! Undercover With Real Women Spies, reveals the achievements of unsung heroines throughout history. While researching this book, she came across information about homing pigeons making reconnaissance flights with tiny cameras strapped to their chests. The swift and strong little bird snagged her curiosity, and she began her foray into the world of homing pigeons.
Elizabeth is also the author of Reckoning At Harts Pass, an adventure/thriller in which homing pigeons play a covert role. A sequel is underway where Naomi, the main character, is being hunted by jihadists and the FBI.
