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#AmericanHeritageMuseum #visitma #militaryhistory #historymuseum #WWII
Did you know that our TBM-3E Avenger currently on display in our annex hangar during special event weekends operated as a fire bomber / sprayer in civilian service after WWII and before we restored it from 1984-1986? Here is a photo of it in 1978 courtesy of the Warbird Information Exchange (WIX) and Warbird Resource Group as taken by Martin Kyburz - it certainly looks a lot different today! See more photos of the TBM both before and after restoration at: www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerregistry/avenger-91733.html
Today we celebrate the birthday of Harriet Quimby, one of America’s great aviation pioneers. Born on May 11, 1875, Quimby became the first American woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1911 and quickly captured national attention with her skill, courage, and unmistakable purple flying suit.![]()
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In 1912, she made history again as the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel, piloting a Blériot XI, the same type of early aircraft now on display in the American Heritage Museum’s annex hangar. Her achievement came just years after the dawn of powered flight and helped inspire generations of women in aviation.![]()
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The included photo shows Connie Tobias, pilot and Harriet Quimby re-enactor, flying the AHM Blériot 20 years ago, bringing Quimby’s remarkable legacy back to life.![]()
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#HarrietQuimby #AviationHistory #WomenInAviation #AmericanHeritageMuseum #BleriotXI #LivingHistory
On this day in 1940, Germany launched its invasion of Western Europe. Aircraft, tanks, motorized units, and communications helped change the pace of warfare in the opening phase of the Battle of France. The American Heritage Museum has several notable artifacts on display related to the Battle of France including the German Panzer 1 tank and the British Matilda Mk.II. Additionally, the museum is currently restoring an original German Junkers Ju 87D-5 Stuka in the Czech Republic and a German Heinkel He 111H-3 bomber in Florida for eventual display - both key aircraft used by Germany in its Blitzkrieg tactics. Learn more about the Battle of France by visiting us today!
On this day in 1945, Victory in Europe Day marked the end of World War II in Europe. For millions, it meant liberation, relief, grief, and the beginning of rebuilding after years of destruction. The American Heritage Museum has one of the largest collections of tanks, military vehicles, and artifacts from the European Campaign and we invite you to come and explore more!
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Speaker Presentation: Firefighting During WWII
February 22, 2025 @ 1:00 pm, ending 2:00 pm
Free with standard museum admission
The lecture by Jason Cleary aims to provide a very brief overview of US firefighting during WWII – from the Office of Civil Defense Auxiliary firefighters helping to supplement firefighting forces in US cities and towns during the war; to the historically obscure US Army Engineer Firefighting Platoons deployed to the front lines overseas; to the civilian firefighters that protected our state-side military installations. Hear about some interesting, lesser-known WWII firefighting facts. Learn about how a “barn-find” military fire truck forged a new friendship between two firefighters across generational lines.
Jason M. Cleary has been in public safety for over 40 years, having worked in safety & security, law enforcement, EMS, and as a full-time firefighter for more than 30 years. He currently serves as the Fire & Life Safety Specialist for the Brunswick, Maine Fire Department. He recently retired in 2023 after 3 years as the Fire Chief in Manchester By-the Sea, Massachusetts. Prior to that assignment, he spent the previous 23 years working in the full-time fire service in New Hampshire with the Salem, Portsmouth, and Durham Fire Departments. He has been an antique fire memorabilia collector and fire buff since age 4 and has been a long-time WWII history enthusiast, researcher, collector, and reenactor as well. Having grown up in Medford, Mass., Jason now resides in Windsor, Maine with his wife Teresa. Their daughter, Eireann, now resides in Manchester, NH.
Photos are courtesy of Ted Heinbuch and the www.Firetrucks-atwar.com website.
