Post #160496 by TikiGardener on Fri, May 20, 2005 8:16 PM

The Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park San Diego is a great collection of vintage aviation. I remember the old one before arsonists burnt it down.

And the Midway in San Diego Bay is slowly gorwing their collection of aircraft. If I lived in San Diego, I'd volunteer to help with the resoration going onboard.

I remember years ago (early 70's) that the USS Bunker Hill used to be docked at the old battleship berths at the very northern edge of NAS North Island. We could drive onto more restricted areas of the base because of some decal on Grand-dads car. I was very tempted as a 10 year old to get out of the car and ask for a tour. Dad frowned on that idea.

For awhile there were a few people trying to get her turned into a floating museum. Seems not enough people were interested. They towed her listing heavily out of San Diego Harbour, and off to the breakers. My dad always said thats where they turned the ships into razor blades.

I'm glad they got the Midway. But the Bunker Hill was almost an icon of late World War Two. Taking multiple Kamikazes and surviving.

It would have been just a little bit more fitting to have thrown dads wreath off of her bow.

I have to save up 400 bucks and take that flight.

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17, later CVA-17, CVS-17 and AVT-9), 1943-1973

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-b/cv17.htm

[ Edited by: TikiGardener on 2005-05-21 22:32 ]