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! ![]()
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Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for August 28 was a ballistic computing cam in the Kommandogarat 40 fire control computer… see the previous post for the full details!![]()
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Good luck on this week’s challenge! ![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question of August 28th is one of the ballistic cams used in the German Kommandogerät 40 that is part of the anti-aircraft battery exhibit in the Defense of the Reich gallery. The Kommandogerät (“command device”) is a fire control computer that used a combination of optics and mechanical computing to develop a firing solution that would be relayed to the anti-aircraft gun crews, like the 8.8 cm Flak 36 German 88 mm anti-aircraft cannon we have displayed. What is pictured is a solid computing cam that, when combined with precision gears connected to rollers on follower arms, could solve multivariate calculus problems in real-time to provide accurate fire to track bomber formations and time shells to detonate at precise altitudes. There are a number of these cams within the Kommandogerät 40 and combined they made a powerful mechanical analog computer that made Flak the most dangerous defensive weapon against daylight precision bombing. ![]()
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Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” later today! ![]()
#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday
Join us for a great 5K run around the American Heritage Museum grounds this Saturday, September 7th in support of the Travis Manion Foundation. We invite you to run, walk, or ruck to honor our nation’s first responders who selflessly sacrificed on September 11th and service members who have served in the wars since. Join us to raise awareness and honor the fallen. Participants get a 50% admission discount to the American Heritage Museum. For more information and to register see: www.travismanion.org/events/911-heroes-run/2024-bostonnew-england-ma/
The American Heritage Museum not only honors those who served in the service of the United States, but we also honor those who served with our allies during all wars and conflicts. Because of this, we’d like to take a moment in honor of Polish Aviation Day on August 28th, to highlight the story of Stefania Wojtulanis-Karpińska, a female pilot of the Polish Air Force at the outbreak of WWII. After the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, she evacuated to Romania with the Polish Air Force and made her way to France where she once again had to flee in 1940 as France fell. She made her way to England and was assigned to the Polish Air Force Headquarters in London until later in 1940. In January 1941, she and Anna Leska became the first two Polish women pilots to join the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which delivered aircraft to operational units from factories and ferry aircraft for maintenance. This role, very similar to that assigned to female WASP pilots in America, required pilots to learn and fly a wide variety of aircraft types in all sorts of weather and mecahnical conditions.![]()
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As it turns out, the American Heritage Museum’s Supermarine Spitfire IX, BR601 was one of the aircraft that Wojtulanis-Karpińska flew in her career with the ATA. On July 9, 1942, she ferried BR601 from Prestwick, Scotland to its first operational unit, 64 Squadron at Hornchurch, Essex, stopping in three places in poor weather before arriving on July 11th. The photo in this post is her in BR601 and her logbook entries of those flights!![]()
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74 years later, BR601 would fly once again after a full restoration by Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and arrive shortly after in the United States to join the collection of the Collings Foundation. Though not currently on display at the American Heritage Museum, Spitfire BR601 is maintained in flying condition and is stored off site to fly at events. The next event it will be taking part in will be Green Mountain Aviation Field Days in Burlington, VT on September 14-15, 2024. Eventually, when our expansion is built, BR601 will be displayed at the AHM.![]()
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#polishaviation #wwii #spitfire #supermarinespitfire #worldwarii #femaleaviator
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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This one might be a little more challenging! What is it?! We are looking for what it might be part of inside the museum and what exactly it might be for even more challenge!![]()
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Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for August 21 was the crew compartment of the Daimler Mk.I Dingo scout car in the Pacific War Gallery. The Dingo was used in Burma by the 16th Light Calvary of the British Indian Army armored car regiment.![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
Capital Campaign 2018
Since 1979, the Collings Foundation has led the way in the creation and operation of the nation’s most engaging living history events focused on aviation, military, and transportation history. Through nationwide programs like the Wings of Freedom Tour, the Vietnam Memorial Flight, and the annual local events at our Stow, Massachusetts headquarters, we have directly impacted millions of people.
The Collings Foundation is nearing completion with one of our most ambitious projects to date – construction of the new American Heritage Museum at the Collings Foundation campus in Stow, MA. Designed to world-class museum standards, the facility displays 85 of the most historically significant military vehicles and equipment from the Jacques M. Littlefield collection in an immersive and engaging environment, bringing history alive for visitors. The 73,000 square foot facility is a major addition to our Stow, MA facility and the American Heritage Museum will host visitors from all over the world and be an educational facility that is open each week to school children, educators, researchers, and the general public.
Your Support is Needed!
Though the construction of the American Heritage Museum is moving forward at a rapid pace, there is still a lot more to be done – and we need your help.
The American Heritage Museum is designed to be different than other museums. While many museums focus on the major artifacts alone, the AHM focuses on the story of warfare as seen through the eyes of those who fought and the artifacts become the catalysts for discussion, education, and understanding. Through the hard work of our design and curatorial team, the immersive educational experience will be unique for all who visit.
Such an ambitious project comes at a cost – and your help is critical to our success!
The extensive research, design, production, and construction of the display environment requires time and capital to complete to transform the collection into the world-class vision of the American Heritage Museum. Your generosity provides the momentum needed to open the American Heritage Museum in late 2018!
How Can I Help?
The American Heritage Museum Capital Campaign is underway. As a 501c(3) non-profit educational foundation, every dollar donated to the Collings Foundation toward the AHM Capital Campaign is tax-deductible. You may make a one-time donation, or a monthly sustaining donation online at the link below:
To make a donation to the American Heritage Museum Capital Campaign, please visit the link here.
American Heritage Museum Founders Society
A variety of giving opportunities for both individuals and corporations are available to help fund the display build-out. Individuals may become members of our Founders Society to take their donation even further and receive permanent recognition, valuable benefits for experiences with the operating artifacts, and exclusive access once the museum is complete in 2018.
- Bronze Star – $2500 to $4999
- Silver Star – $5000 to $9999
- Gold Star – $10,000 to $24,999
- Platinum Star – $25,000 to $99,999
- Diamond – $100,000 to $999,999
- Medal of Honor – $1 Million and up
To become a member of the AHM Founders Society, please click here.
Naming Opportunities and Corporate Sponsorship
Corporations, foundations, or family trusts may wish to consider a naming opportunity for funding a gallery, exhibit, or theater – thus creating a lasting legacy to be seen by millions. There are a number of naming opportunities available
Just as our American citizens have stepped up to support our nation in wartime, we know that dedicated supporters like you will also step up to fulfill the need. Support our American Heritage and please donate today!
Contact Us for Information on All Opportunities
For more information on all giving opportunities, please contact Ryan Keough, Director of Donor Relations and Development at 978-562-9182 or rkeough@collingsfoundation.org. To give a donation online, please visit this link to the American Heritage Museum Capital Campaign.
Be part of our American Heritage – Give today!
Please mail checks to:
Collings Foundation
Attn: AHM Capital Fund
P.O. Box 248
Stow, MA 01775
