Warbird Information Exchange

It is not an exaggeration to say that Santa Monica is the city that the Douglas Aircraft Company built. Proximity to a coastline and the never-ending sprawl of Los Angeles helped, but Douglas was the primary employer in Santa Monica for 50 years and the reason homes were built and population expanded.

But today the Douglas legacy in Santa Monica resides only in the memories of those who were there sometime between 1920 and 1975. That is about to change. A DC-3 monument park honoring the Douglas Aircraft Company will open this December at the south end of the Santa Monica Airport, adjacent to a new aviation museum.

The monument park, as imagined in the rendering below, will be built around an elevated DC-3 that came off the Santa Monica assembly line in 1942. Primary construction funds are being provided by a challenge grant from the Douglas White Oaks Ranch Trust, which is administered by the Employees Community Fund of Boeing California, the successor to the old McDonnell Douglas Personnel Community Service operation and Douglas Aircraft Welfare Foundation.

Donald W. Douglas set up the Douglas Aircraft Welfare Foundation, now known as the Douglas White Oaks Ranch Trust, in 1964 with the money received for the sale of the assets of the former Welfare Division, including the company stores and vending machines and 364 acres of undeveloped recreation land in what is now Simi Valley.

“We think it’s crucial to preserve the historical ties between the Douglas Aircraft Company and the citizens of Santa Monica, many of whom are Douglas retirees and their families. They were practically one and the same for so many years. The city, which is committed to keeping its heritage alive for the citizens of today as well, will take on financial and physical responsibility for maintaining the site. It’s a renewed partnership,” said Beverly Hoskinson, ECF executive director of the Employees Community Fund.

The illuminated and elevated DC-3 that will be on display is courtesy of David Price, who operated the old Museum of Flying and is the man behind the new aviation museum set to open next to the memorial park. Among the historic airplanes likely to be on exhibit is the New Orleans, one of the Douglas World Cruisers which first circumnavigated the globe in 1924.

Employees and others who would like to aid in preserving the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company are invited to make contributions also. “While the Douglas Trust and the city are covering primary costs, there will be additional enhancements and expenses. Contributions will be matched dollar for dollar by the Douglas Trust grant.

“We plan to honor all those whose contributions are received by Sept. 30 by including a founders wall with their names,” said Hoskinson. Those who would like to participate can do so by sending a contribution in any amount to Donald W. Douglas Trust, P.O. 8113, Long Beach, CA 90808, telephone 562-593-2612 or 800-606-3639, access code 00. All contributors, in addition to being listed on the founders’ wall, will also receive invitations to the opening ceremony and commemorative pins created from the original Douglas logo die cut.

Speaking of David Price.....it seems like he just dropped off the face of the earth. I know he was having financial difficulties and sold off most of the planes in the now defunct MOF.

David is probably broke and homless (he must be because you just said he has money problems) and he is probably sitting with Alan and Bruce discussing why they have nothing to do with aviation anymore. Better yet thay probably pitched a tent under the wing of the Zero in Mojave. You know the Zero that is owned by the "LA Buisnessman" that keeps his Zero "locked away in Mojave never to be seen by the public".