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
- This event has passed.
WWII Tank Demonstration Weekend – Memorial Day
May 25 @ 9:00 am, ending May 26 @ 5:00 pm
$20 – $30
NOTE: EVENT ADMISSION INCLUDES ADMISSION TO MUSEUM
Our WWII Tank Demonstration Weekend on Memorial Day Weekend is where you can see some of the American Heritage Museum’s tanks including the M4 Sherman, M24 Chaffee, M5 Stuart, M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer, and more! Captivating historical narration will bring these amazing machines to life.
Gates open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm each day. Tank driving demonstrations are ongoing through the entire day with at least 1-2 or more tanks driving on the operation grounds. Don’t miss the WWII Parade of Armor taking place at 11:00am and 2:00pm featuring all the tanks on display with historical narration. WWII re-enactor camps such as the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Able Company will be here with displays and exhibitions through the weekend.
All three museums will be open: The American Heritage Museum, The Historic Aviation Hangar and Classic Automobile Barn. This is a unique opportunity to see some of the world’s most rare aircraft, extraordinary American classic automobiles, historic tanks, armored vehicles, military artifacts and much more.
Special to Saturday, May 25th – Professional photographer Jason Kennedy from Bay State Images will be offering portrait shots for veterans. This is a great opportunity to give a professionally rendered photo to your friends or family.
There is over 100,000 square feet of space within the American Heritage Museum and Hangar combined.
Picnics are allowed.
Event Schedule
9:00am – 5:00pm
Gates Open – All museum buildings open to visitors.
9:30am – 4:30pm
Re-enactor encampments open to all visitors.
9:30am – 4:30pm – Saturday Only
Free Veteran Photos by Jason Kennedy, Bay State Images – Aircraft Hangar
Bay State Images will be offering portrait shots for veterans of all eras. This is a great opportunity to give a professionally rendered photo to your friends or family.
10:00am – 4:00pm
War Gaming Demonstrations – American Heritage Museum
Guides will be demonstrating tabletop strategy war gaming in the American Heritage Museum through the day, explaining how games are played and how you can get a start in this unique hobby.
10:00am – 4:00pm
Paint-A-Tank – In Front of American Heritage Museum
For kids of all ages – come to the Paint-a-Tank tent in front of the museum to get a 3D printed tank to paint in the battle colors YOU choose! $5 donation per tank.
11:00am – 11:45am
World War II Parade of Armor – Driving Grounds
All World War II tanks in operation on the Tank Driving Grounds with narration by our resident historians and our invited World War II veteran guests. Includes the M4 Sherman, M24 Chaffee, M5 Stuart, and M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer.
2:00pm – 2:45am
World War II Parade of Armor – Driving Grounds
Our second presentation of the day with a similar schedule to the 11:00am program.
5:00pm
All museum grounds and buildings close for the day.
Event Weekend Map – Click for full size PDF
Event Day Admission Tickets
Admission for the Saturday and Sunday events are as follows:
$30 Adults | $25 Seniors/Veterans | $20 Children 3 to 16 years old
Members, WWII/Korean War Veterans and Children Under 3 are Free – No ticket required. Admission discounts can not be used for special event weekends.
*EVENT ADMISSION INCLUDES ADMISSION TO AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
Buy Tickets Online Today!
Tickets may also be purchased the day of the event by Credit Card or Cash at the entry gate on the access road as well.
Admission for AHM / CF Members
This is a Members Free Event Weekend: one (1) free admission per day for Individual and Participating Members, two (2) free admissions per day for Dual Members, and two (2) adult and two (2) child free admissions per day for Family Members. No advance ticket purchase required, just bring your VALID membership card or recent membership receipt to the entry gate for proof. You may buy tickets online or at the gate for any additional people in your party.
Tank Driving Experiences and Tank Rides Available
Tank Driving experiences and Tank & Half Track Rides will be taking place over the weekend. You can register online, by phone, or on-site, but spaces are limited!
Tank Ride Experience Prices:
– M36 Jackson (10 minute ride) – $195 per person – Maximum of five (5) riders per trip (four in turret, one in bow gunner position. Click here to book.
– M24 Chaffee (10 minute ride) – $595 per group of Three (3) persons – two in the turret, one in the bow gunner position. Click here to book.
– M4 Sherman (10 minute ride) – $595 per group of Two (2) persons – one in the turret, one in the bow gunner position. Click here to book.
Tank Driving Experience Prices:
– M24 Chaffee Light Tank (20 minutes driving the tank) – $995.00 donation (tax deductible) Click here to book.
– M4 Sherman Medium Tank (20 minutes driving the tank) – $1495.00 donation (tax deductible) Click here to book.
Schedule your tank driving or ride experience above or call 978-562-9182 to reserve.
