B-17 My gal sal

[CDF]

I've never been to this museum but it can take years for a facility to mature, evolve and become a first class attraction. You've got to start somewhere...

Agreed, but good ole P51 is at least consistent with his diatribes against the museum, he posted the same dross over on G503

I have yet to meet anyone into WW2 like most of us who isn't personally connected to the museum who's ever had anything good to say about the place.

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=211196&hilit=new+orleans

[p51]

...and CDF (Wes G on the G503, I assume) has yet again showed his odd, troll-like obsession with me, even checking out my posts on other forums...
Of course he neglected to mention I wasn't the only one with that opinion and only he disagreed with me. Case in point from the same link:

No enthusiast I've spoken with who has toured the "national WWII museum" in New Orleans has had anything good to say about it. The museum really isn't designed for us, but is designed for those with a casual interest. All who I know who were there were disappointed by the lack or authentic material on display.

I have not met ONE individual in person who's ever gone to the museum who said it was great. None. Ever.
But like I said, the cultists won't hear that. Anyone who doesn't glow from the name of the place must have a problem, to them. I guess this review I found by googling the name of the museum and disappointment won't sit well with the cultists, either:

“I'm usually positive, but its impossible here. This is NOT a museum, its an "exhibit", barely.”
Reviewed 26 November 2012 This may irk some of you because WW II is such a venerable, sacrosanct subject, that to say anything negative would seem like nothing short of a blasphemy. Yet, please remember, I am not writing a review of that horrific event, (probably the worst in human history), but of this so called "National WWII Museum", which, like many things in that largely misunderstood city, is, quite simply, a failure, or worse, a straight rip off. This goes hand in hand with voodoo shops (there was never any of that mumbo jumbo around until it was imported for the tourist trade - just ask any respectable and educated swamp tour guide, who's local heritage goes back generations) or Cajun cuisine -(the Cajuns never lived in the city - again, go and ask them; in Thibodaux, Houma, the Bayous; wherever, if you disagree).
Let me preface this review by saying I am a history buff, and human conflict - as in war - is what interests me the most. I will add that I went there with my 9 year old, who likes military hardware, and has seen some good WWII museums in Europe. I will only say that he was LIVID with disappointment when we left. So was I.
Lets begin with the building itself: its small, and it looks like there isn't much there, but there is a big one across the street, that looks like a part of the Museum complex. Surprise: there is nothing exhibited in it! It's a restaurant, designed to separate you from your $, and a theater, I think. The exhibits are all in the small building. There is a C-46 - a military version of a DC3 (something you can see in many regional airports); they said they have a Sherman tank, but it wasn't there at the time; (i know people who own them privately, but they don't call their shed a National Museum), there are some trucks and a couple of Higgins boats, (which the locals are proud of because those were built there during the War), and the rest, dear reader, is just a bunch of grainy pictures on the walls (you can find those yourself with 3 clicks of your mouse), plus some small artifacts, letters and some embarrassing stuff that looked like it was pilfered form the pockets of the vanquished. There is material on Normandy, and the Pacific War. Excuse me, but that particular War was in large percentage won - and lost - on battlefields east of Berlin. NOT A PEEP ABOUT THAT, or 40 or more million who perished there . So, perhaps it should be called the "National Exhibit of the Pacific/Normandy Theater?" Even as that, its rather poor, and certainly very incomplete. Now, you can drive yourself a couple of hours east and see a very well preserved WWII battleship in Mobile Bay, and there, on the shore - surprise! is a lot more WWII (plus other conflicts) hardware than you will find on 945 Magazine Street - but without undue fanfare, or a pompous, misleading name on it.
If you choose to visit this "Museum", and leave dispirited like i did, a visit to the "Alabama" Battleship Park might help ease the disappointment. You can stop by at Stennis Space center, see an Atlas V 1st stage at Michoud, or take a really cool swamp tour on the Pearl River along the way and make a day of it.
Now, those of you that are considering a written response to this review and want to give me some stick about it, plz, don't bother, as nothing will change my mind about the place. Also, I am not exactly a tourist: i lived in NOLA for about a year.. Finally, like the title says, I am usually very positive even if I am not exactly thrilled about the subject of my reviews, but WWII and it's history is visceral with me, and I simply hate to see this subject so shortchanged.

I have no problem with people who like the place. It does address a specific type of person. I go to museums to see stuff from their collection. In that sense, it was a huge fail in my eyes. It didn't stop me from buying a lot of stuff in the gift shop, or telling people with a general interest that they'd probably like it and that it's "probably not for collectors," and collectors will generally back that up.
I'm sorry this offends the cultists. I work with some museums locally and in other places and I don't get the least bit offended if people say any of them miss the mark. Beats me why this museum (more than any other I've ever noticed) has such a cult going for it that won't allow anyone saying otherwise...

[CDF]

Well sadly for you it’s a 9 page thread on a specific B-17 in a National museum. OK you didn't like the museum, I get, and no doubt others get it. Using every opportunity to libel the reputation of said museum to me seems a tad vexatious.

Just sayin

[Ken]

If it wasn't posted previously, here is a very nice time lapse video of the aircraft being hung:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0e3_1357341202

[Noha307]

I happened to see this this morning, I haven't read it yet: A Big Exhibition About an Even Bigger War

By the way, someone might want to change the title of this thread to more accurately reflect the discussion.

[gregv]

When Mr. Ready (I hope I'm spelling his name correctly) was gracious enough to give my wife and I a tour of his hangar back in 2005, I saw this collection of spares in a back corner. I don't know if these are original Sal parts, or just spares from other salvaged wrecks.



SN

Off-topic question here, couldn't help but notice that this is a M1911, was it fairly common to find these in circulation during WW2 as opposed to the M1911A1?

Nice exhibit.

greg v.

[p51]

Off-topic question here, couldn't help but notice that this is a M1911, was it fairly common to find these in circulation during WW2 as opposed to the M1911A1?

NO, it wouldn't have been common at all to have seen an issued 1911 instead of a 1911A1 in WW2... Good eye that you noticed that, BTW.

[gregv]

I'm guessing that if it was early on in the war they were pulling anything out of the armories that was even remotely useful and re-issuing it? From what I understand parts are interchangeable between the 1911 and the A1 so perhaps it wouldn't be a huge burden on the supply system to have the earlier models floating around.

Or maybe it was his father's from WWI?

Interesting at any rate, and a beautiful piece.

Sorry for any thread misdirection!

greg v.

[Forgotten Field]

1911's with the flat mainspring housing and lanyard loop were issued during WWII. My personal, issued, .45 that was handed to me from a rack of 80 of the same was a M1911, frame built about 1917, with a Colt Series 80 slide. I didn't know the history of it, and I had no idea of where it came from, but I suspect if I got one issued in the 1990's, then a few people got them issued in the 1940's.

[CDF]

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/ ... /#50432012

NBC’s Tom Brokaw reports from New Orleans’ National World War II Museum, which is preparing to unveil a $325 million expansion, including the new U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center.

[p51]

Sure, a few got issued, no question. It just wasnt' very common at all.

[CDF]

NEW ORLEANS -- The National WWII Museum celebrated the next milestone in its $325 million expansion with a grand opening ceremony for the new US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. An expansive, patriotic and emotional ceremony was matched only by the grandeur and glory of the new pavilion, which opened to the public today.Funds for the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center came from a $20 million Congressional grant through the United States Department of Defense and $15 million gift from The Boeing Company.

"The swift progress that has been made on this project is emblematic of the unity of spirit, dedication and selfless hard work that won the war on the battlefronts and on the Home Front seven decades ago," said Dennis Muilenburg, Executive Vice President of The Boeing Company and President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "It is great to see the vision of the Museum's founders come to life as a place where visitors can gain a fuller appreciation of what so many Americans achieved in World War II and can reflect on what today's generation of war fighters continue to do for us every day."

and

Upon completion, the Museum will directly sustain more than 400 jobs and generate $100 million each year in positive economic impact.

found it here
http://www.amitetoday.com/view/full_sto ... eft_column

few more pics from their FB page, looks like a good turn out, despite the best efforts of the naysayers....

[gary1954]

NEW ORLEANS -- The National WWII Museum

Upon completion, the Museum will directly sustain more than 400 jobs and generate $100 million each year in positive economic impact.

Such high hopes in this economy

[Pogmusic]

Interesting.... I have my fathers WWII issued M-1911 -- Not an A1; but, a plain jane M-1911.

[p51]

Interesting.... I have my fathers WWII issued M-1911 -- Not an A1; but, a plain jane M-1911.

Lance, if you don't havce Canfield's book on WW2 weapons, I'd bet you know someone who does. He does a great job going through the models and how rare a 1911 in WW2 would have been. Sure, they did exist, no question, but not in great numbers as the ordnance people easily wouldn't have had anything to fix one with in the field if the wrong parts needed replacement and all they had were A1 components.