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
Corporate Memberships at the American Heritage Museum
History comes to life at the American Heritage Museum as the stories of those who served is combined with the technologies that emerged from times of war and peace. Our Corporate Members are important annual partners with us to help grow our programs, exhibitions, classes, and events through the year.
As a Corporate Member, you’ll enjoy premium benefits ranging from free and discounted admission as well as enhanced access to special events and exclusive tours and entertaining opportunities. Please explore the Corporate Membership levels below to find the best fit for your organization.
For further information or to enroll, please email or call Ryan Keough, Director of Development, Membership, and Corporate Relations at rkeough@collingsfoundation.org or 978-562-9182 x203.
SMALL BUSINESS CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
$650 Annual (Fewer than 30 employees)
2 Corporate Membership Courtesy cards granting free admission, 10% discounts to the Museum store, free entry to summer monthly event weekends, and 5% discount on tank driving and riding experiences.
10 additional Museum admission passes
$5 discount on additional adult ticket purchases, $3 off child/senior with valid corporate ID
Host meetings & gatherings at American Heritage Museum **
Acknowledgement in the Annual Report and on our website
CORPORATE SUPPORTER MEMBERSHIP
$3,500 Annual
4 Corporate Membership Courtesy cards granting free admission, 10% discounts to the Museum store, free entry to summer monthly event weekends, and 5% discount on tank driving and riding experiences.
30 Museum single entry admission passes
10 Premium vouchers for Battle for the Airfield in October
$5 discount on additional adult ticket purchases, $3 off child/senior with valid corporate ID
Host meetings at the American Heritage Museum **
Acknowledgement in the Annual Report and on our website
CORPORATE PARTNER MEMBERSHIP
$5,000 Annual
6 Corporate Membership Courtesy cards granting free admission, 10% discounts to the Museum store, free entry to summer monthly event weekends, and 5% discount on tank driving and riding experiences.
40 Museum single entry admission passes
20 Premium vouchers for Battle for the Airfield in October
1 private VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, aircraft hangar, and car collection, exploring interior of three select tanks – good for up to 12 people per tour
1 entertaining opportunities in the Pergola Garden **
$5 discount on additional adult ticket purchases, $3 off child/senior with valid corporate ID
Host meetings at the American Heritage Museum **
Acknowledgement in the Annual Report and on our website
CORPORATE LEADER MEMBERSHIP
$10,000 Annual
8 Corporate Membership Courtesy cards granting free admission, 10% discounts to the Museum store, free entry to summer monthly event weekends, and 5% discount on tank driving and riding experiences.
100 Museum single entry admission passes
50 Premium vouchers for Battle for the Airfield in October
2 private VIP behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum, aircraft hangar, and car collection, exploring interior of three select tanks – good for up to 12 people per tour
$5 discount on additional adult ticket purchases, $3 off child/senior with valid corporate ID
10 Exclusive 50% Discount Vouchers on Tank Drive / Tank Ride Programs **
2 entertaining opportunities in the Pergola Garden **
Special events concierge available to help with your events at the Museum
Host meetings at the American Heritage Museum **
Acknowledgement in the Annual Report and on our website
1 print ad in our annual magazine
** All additional event costs assumed by the Corporate Member. Details subject to vehicle and staff availability
