Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum - Events for December 7th and 8th, 2019

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum – Events for December 7th and 8th, 2019

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is situated in historic, battle-scarred naval air station hangars on Ford Island, which itself sits within Pearl Harbor on O’ahu, Hawaii. The museum’s buildings themselves serve as testament to the fury endured in the first salvo of America’s entry into WWII during the Japanese surprise attack of December 7th, 1941. The museum holds many important exhibits dating from that time, and is continuing to grow; helping to tell the story of aerial conflict from that time to the present, especially as it relates to Hawaii. The museum will obviously be commemorating the December 7th anniversary all day this coming Saturday, which culminates in a major fund raising gala to help continue their mission to educate the public. The following day, however, will feature three events which are also bound to be interesting to those who can attend. The details are described in the museum’s press release below…

We will have three exciting events on Sunday, December 8, 2019.

Spend the day with us as we preserve the past and inspire the future!

Hangar Talk: Sunday, December 8, 2019 | 10:30 a.m. | Museum Theater

J. Michael (Mike) Wenger, noted military historian and author, will join us on Sunday, December 8th, to give a presentation based on the new book, “They’re Killing My Boys!” The History of Hickam Field and the Attacks of 7 December 1941, co-authored by J. Michael Wenger, Robert J. Cressman, and John Di Virgilio.

“They’re Killing My Boys!” is a detailed combat narrative of the December 7th Japanese attacks on Hickam Field—then one of two major U.S. Army airfields on the island of O’ahu. Since the field served as a base for long-range bombers, the Japanese military sought to put Hickam out of action to prevent U.S. forces from searching for and attacking their carrier force.

The presentation will be followed by a book signing with Mike in the main gallery.

1440px B5N2 Reconstruction PHAM — The remains of this Nakajima B5N2 ‘Kate’ at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum represent the world’s most complete surviving example of the torpedo bomber which the Imperial Japanese Navy used to such great effect when attacking the U.S. Navy’s fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. (image via wikipedia)

Library Dedication: Sunday, December 8, 2019 | 12:30 p.m. | Control Tower Building

The Board of Directors of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum invites you to attend the blessing and dedication of The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Library and Archive featuring the Sidney H Bradd Collection and furnishings donated by OFS, Hank Menke and family.

Located on the first floor of Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s historic control tower building, the library features everything from books, maps and other precious collector’s items surrounding World War II history and aviation.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum leaders and the generous donors who made this library possible, will join together for the momentous occasion.

Film Screening: Sunday, December 8, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. | Hangar 79

Following the Library Dedication, please join us in historic Hangar 79 where we will host a documentary film about the search for answers regarding the death of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto titled, The Portillo Expedition: Mystery on Bougainville Island, narrated by Gary Sinise.

The film follows a crew of explorers, led by legendary Chicago restaurateur Richard Portillo, to Bougainville, New Guinea in the South Pacific, as they trek through dense jungle and deep mud to visit the remote site of the plane wreck of famed Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s crashed Betty Bomber. Admiral Yamamoto is best known as the architect of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Japan’s failed battle at Midway in June of 1942.

Tim Gray, Executive Director of the WWII Foundation will present and discuss the long journey and challenges of making the film.