Adopt-a-Plane program helps Airmen preserve history

  • Published
  • By Airman Corey Hook
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The South Dakota Air and Space Museum opened two of its aircraft Aug. 6, to gather an inventory and perform an overall inspection of both planes in preparation for the museum's new Adopt-a-Plane program; the inventory will include original documents, manuals and other artifacts found in the planes.

The Adopt-a-Plane program allows 28th Bomb Wing Airmen to volunteer and see the planes from an up-close perspective.

"The heart of this program is Airmen caring and preserving tangible pieces of the Air Force's legacy," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson, South Dakota Air and Space Museum director. "Some Americans go their entire lives watching films of these airplanes in historical documentaries or seeing pictures of them in history books. It's a rare thing to be able to see, touch and, most significantly, care for relics like these."

The program involves Airmen working together to enhance the aircraft and their displays by cleaning, painting and taking overall better care of them, allowing for improved preservation and display.

"The Adopt-a-Plane program will offer a substantial venue for units to promote camaraderie," said Col. Peter Castor, 28 BW vice commander. "Each of our units does a tremendous job on their primary mission, but this program offers a separate opportunity to bring their team together."

So far, thirteen planes at the museum have been adopted through the Adopt-a-Plane program.

"The program does not have an operating budget as of right now, but government resources are allowed to be used for care of the static displays," Sergeant Wilson said. "Soon SDASM will bring together Adopt-a-Plane points of contact from across the base to come up with a sensible plan for fixing up the planes."

Adopt-a-Plane is not a new concept, but had been neglected for many years.

"The last time the museum had a program similar was sometime in the 1980s," Sergeant Wilson said.
"Unfortunately, due to a combination of factors, it fell apart. We're actively resurrecting something that could potentially be great."

A meeting is scheduled for Aug. 13 to bring Adopt-a-Plane volunteers together and begin the program. For more information about this event or the South Dakota Air and Space Museum in general, call (605) 385-5188.