There are plenty of fine venues for viewing vintage and historical airplanes in Texas. One special venue is located in San Marcos, Texas and called the Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum. Located at the San Marcos Regional Airport and operated by the Central Texas Wing, this museum displays a very interesting collection of aircraft including a B-25 Mitchell bomber, replicas of a Japanese Zero and a Japanese Torpedo Bomber, a P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane and several others Also many smaller artifacts from the war years.
The Museum Hangar
The Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum is located inside a hangar built during the days of World War Two. During the war, the San Marcos Army Airfield was a navigator training school. There were an estimated 10,000 navigators trained at this airfield.
When the war ended, the San Marcos Army Airfield was deactivated. Military helicopter training brought the airfield back to life from 1948 to 1949. It was the largest helicopter flight training base in the U.S. After this second deactivation, the San Marcos airfield became San Marcos Air Force Base in 1951. The field was given the new name of Gary Air Force Base, named for the first soldier from Hays County Texas killed in World War Two, in 1953, later named Edward Gary Air Force Base and was deactivated for the last time in 1956.
The hangar where the Commemorative Air Force Museum resides at today’s San Marcos Regional Airport is the last remaining hangar there from the days of World War Two. The wooden hangar was one of three built in 1942 shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Museum’s B-25 Mitchell Bomber
The B-25 Mitchell Bomber “Yellow Rose”, built in 1943 by North American Aviation, is one of the key exhibits at the museum. The bomber is completely restored to its wartime capabilities and is operated by the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The restoration effort took four years to complete. It is one of the flying museum pieces belonging to the organization’s “Ghost Squadron” aircraft collection.
The “Yellow Rose” goes on tour each year to an average of twenty-five cities and towns. This B-25 let’s people get a real close up look at this historic sixty plus year aircraft. You may even have a chance to crawl through this flying museum.
Japanese Zero Replica
Two other aircraft exhibited at the Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum are Japanese World War Two aircraft. One of the planes is a Japanese Zero and the other a Japanese Torpedo Bomber “Kate”. The Japanese Zero and Torpedo Bomber, both replicas, were built for the movie Tora, Tora, Tora.
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Visiting the Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum
Museum hours of operation are Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Saturday 9:00-4:00 There is no admission charge but a recommended $3 donation is appreciated to keep them flying. The Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum operates as a non-profit.
The museum is located at the San Marcos Regional Airport in San Marcos, Texas. San Marcos is located about 30 miles south of Austin along Interstate-35. For more information regarding the Commemorative Air Force Hangar Museum, aircraft, activities and shows planned around Texas by the Central Texas Wing see website…http://cafcentex.com/
(Article and photos copyright 2015 Trips Into History)
The Centex Wing Museum highlights military aviation memorabilia, especially World War II. – See more at: http://txhillcountrytrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/central-texas-wing-commemorative-air-force#sthash.fuT1odl4.dpuf
The Centex Wing Museum highlights military aviation memorabilia, especially World War II. – See more at: http://txhillcountrytrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/central-texas-wing-commemorative-air-force#sthash.fuT1odl4.dpuf
The Centex Wing Museum highlights military aviation memorabilia, especially World War II. – See more at: http://txhillcountrytrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/central-texas-wing-commemorative-air-force#sthash.fuT1odl4.dpuf
The Centex Wing Museum highlights military aviation memorabilia, especially World War II. – See more at: http://txhillcountrytrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/central-texas-wing-commemorative-air-force#sthash.fuT1odl4.dpuf
P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane
P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane
P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane
P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane
B-25 Mitchell bomber and a P-39 Airacobra pursuit plane. – See more at: http://txhillcountrytrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/central-texas-wing-commemorative-air-force#sthash.fuT1odl4.dpuf