Quonset Air Museum
 MiG-17 on display at the Quonset Air Museum. | |
  Location within Rhode Island | |
| Established | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 2015 |
| Location | North Kingstown, Rhode Island |
| Coordinates | 41°35′20″N 71°24′58″W / 41.589°N 71.416°W |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Founder |
|
| President | David Payne |
| Curator | David Payne |
| Website | www |
The Quonset Air Museum was an aviation museum located at Quonset Point Air National Guard Station in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
The museum's collection included military vehicles, missiles, aircraft and over 5,000 smaller aviation artifacts. An extensive archive of books, magazines, manuals, photos, documents and blueprints was preserved within the museum.
Notable aircraft in the collection included the last surviving Curtiss XF15C mixed propulsion prototype and a twin tail C-1A Trader. This one of a kind aircraft had been fitted with twin tails and radome (but without associated electronics) to serve the aerodynamic prototype for the E-1 Tracer Electronic Counter Measure aircraft. This C-1A has the distinction of being the last aircraft to fly from Naval Air Station Quonset Point upon its closure in 1974.
History
[edit]The museum recovered an F6F-5 Hellcat from Martha's Vineyard on 4 December 1993. It became the subject of a court battle after the U.S. Navy claimed that the aircraft had been salvaged without their permission.[1] Eventually, a settlement was reached where the museum received the aircraft on loan from the Navy.[2]
An Antonov An-2 at the museum was given to the Antonov Foundation in 2004.[3] The following year David H. Payne Sr. became the museum president.[4]
The museum occupied Painting Hangar #488 located at what was once the Naval Air Station Quonset Point. This 50,000 sq. ft. facility was one of only three existing specialized wood and brick hangars built during WWII. Heavy snowfall in March 2015 partially collapsed the building's roof and the hangar was condemned.[5][6]
In January 2016, plans for a new museum were announced.[7] The museum was originally supposed to leave by April 2, but it was given an extension.[8] Later, in June, a $4 million request for state funding failed to materialize.[9] On December 16, 2016, it was announced that the museum would not reopen.[10] Although many aircraft in the collection have been transferred to other museums, the museum's P2V was scrapped in May 2018, as it was too large to move.[11]
Formerly on display
[edit]- Bell AH-1S Cobra[12][failed verification]
- Bell OH-58A Kiowa 70-15117[12]
- Bell UH-1 Huey[12][failed verification]
- Curtiss XF15C 01215[12]
- Douglas AD-5W Skyraider 135188[citation needed]
- Douglas A-4M Skyhawk, BuNo 158148[12]
- Douglas F3D-2Q Skyknight 124620[12][failed verification]
- FV433 Abbot SPG[citation needed]
- General Motors TBM-3E Avenger 53914[12]
- Grumman A-6E Intruder 155629[12][failed verification]
- Grumman C-1A Trader 136792[citation needed]
- Grumman F-14 Tomcat[12]
- Grumman F6F Hellcat 3/4 scale hand built[12][failed verification]
- Grumman F6F Hellcat 70185[citation needed]
- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse[12][failed verification]
- Lockheed P2V Neptune 131427[12][failed verification]
- LTV A-7D Corsair II 75-0408[12][failed verification]
- M35 Recovery Truck[citation needed]
- McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II[citation needed]
- McDonnell Douglas F-4A Phantom II[12]
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F[12][failed verification]
- MIM-14 Nike-Hercules[12][failed verification]
- Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King 149738[12][failed verification]
- Silkworm missile[citation needed]
- Type 74 37 mm AA gun[citation needed]
- ZPU-4 Type 56 AA gun[citation needed]
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Arnold, David (5 March 1994). "Museum, Navy battle over plane". Boston Globe. pp. 21, 24.
- ^ Dailey, Keli (26 August 2001). "Fossils of Flight". Westside Weekly. Times Community News. p. 2.
- ^ "A sight that's bound to stop traffic". The Record. Associated Press. 6 March 2004. p. A-13.
- ^ Bessette, James (16 March 2017). "Passages: Former Quonset Air Museum president had 'great love' for state's military past". The Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Quonset Air Museum may stay closed after building condemned". WPRO. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Towne, Shaun; Wright, Madeleine (18 April 2016). "Airport Road dome may end up at Quonset Air Museum". WPRI.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Bessette, James (30 January 2016). "Plans for new Quonset Air Museum in their "infancy"". The Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Kirby, Shawn (2 April 2016). "Air museum to get extension from RIAC". The NK Standard Times. RICentral.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Parker, Paul Edward (10 June 2016). "Quonset Air Museum threatened by lack of funds". Providence Journal. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Bessette, James (16 December 2016). "Quonset Air Museum won't reopen". The Independent. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ Crandall, Brian (8 May 2018). "Old military plane demolished at Quonset Air Museum". Turn to 10. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Exhibitions". The Quonset Air Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
Bibliography
[edit]- Harris, Patricia; Lyon, David (19 August 2007). "Restored war birds guard a proud history". Boston.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Quonset Air Museum Photos of aircraft and aviation related exhibits at the Quonset Air Museum