Baker Street Bed & Breakfast

Corsair

by SteveOSF

An airworthy Corsair, with its distinctive bent wing, is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. The Corsair was an American fighter used by the Marine Corps and Navy Pilots during World War II. This fast, rugged, and maneuverable airplane could easily tangle with the best planes Japan had to offer. The Corsair, along with the Hellcat, played a significant role in the war. Corsairs also saw action during the Korean War.

The Corsair was the type of aircraft flown by decorated Marine ace Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, when he commanded the Marine 214th Fighter Squadron. The nickname "Pappy" was due to his being over 30, which was old at the time for a fighter pilot. As a true leader, Boyington would always fly the oldest Corsair on the runway, leaving the newer ones for his men. Boyington was credited with shooting down over 20 enemy planes. (Some of his kills were with the famed Flying Tigers, who served in China as volunteers prior to the United States' entry into the war.) In January of 1944, Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. He spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner and living under atrocious conditions.

A highly fictionalized 1970s television series was based upon the exploits of Boyington and the 214th Fighter Squadron. This was "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (and was latter renamed "Black Sheep Squadron"). Actor Robert Conrad stared as Pappy Boyington. Corsairs were used in the filming of this series.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Grounds

by SteveOSF

Throughout the grounds immediately outside the Evergreen Aviation & Space, some interesting exhibits can be found. This includes a few of the museum aircraft as well as some historic military vehicles. The military vehicles are mostly old tanks and armored reconnaissance vehicles and are located behind the main museum building. You can see these items by taking a short (and free) stroll around the grounds.

More Airplanes

by SteveOSF

"AIRCRAFT OF THE EVERGREEN AVIATION & SPACE MUSEUM"

This is a World War Two American medium bomber.

This is a rare German built fighter. The Bf 109 was an excellent aircraft at the outbreak of the Second World War. It was matched however by the British Spitfire and outclassed by later Allied aircraft. This airplane was built 1944 and sent to Bulgaria. Postwar it served briefly in the Yugoslav Air Force.

This was an early U.S.S.R. jet fighter.

The Navy's SNJ-4 and its sister the Army Air Corp's AT-6 were advanced training aircraft for American pilots during the Second World War. Many of these airplanes are still flying today. In fact, the annual National Air Races held every year in Reno, Nevada has a racing classification strictly dedicated to racing these old planes.

This was an early WWII United States Navy fighter.

This is a late World War II version of the famed British fighter.

This is a United States military jet training aircraft.

Not all the aircraft in the museum are military planes. This 1930s era Beechcraft is an example of the many general aviation aircraft found at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. This plane is commonly called the Staggerwing. Most biplanes have their upper wing located further forward than the lower wing. As the reverse is true with airplane, it gained its nick named of Staggerwing.