Aircraft Museums and Collections of Minnesota

Editor's Note: This new Minnesota Flyer series memorializes the state's current or past aviation museums and collections. For some of the long-gone museums and collections, it should be a nostalgia trip. Contributing writers have identified as many as 20 museums and collections and will present each in a separate article.

Founded by Bob Pond (1924-2007), a Minnesota industrialist who used aircraft in his business, Planes of Fame – East rose in the early 1990s to become one of the premier collections of airworthy World War II aircraft. During WWII, Pond, a Naval aviator, flew multi-engine aircraft like the PBY Catalina, the PB4Y (Navy B-24), and the Martin JM-1 (Navy B-26). His WWII collection started in the 1970's with the acquisition of a Curtiss TP-40N (44-7084) and an ex-RCAF North American P-51D (44-74908/RCAF 9273) that had been saved and restored by Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Doyle.

The museum had strong connections to Ed Maloney's operation and Steve Hinton's Fighter Rebuilders, both in Chino, California. The collection had a complete set of Grumman Cats, a Republic Thunderbolt, a Goodyear FG-1D Corsair (a veteran of the 1969 "Soccer War"), a General Motors Avenger and a sizable stable of trainers. A B-25J, B-17G and a pair of A-26 Invaders, all retired fire bombers, filled out the bomber fleet.

Some aircraft came and went. For a time, the sole Douglas C-41A (40-70), based during WWII at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., and used by Hap Arnold and other Army and government VIP's, was parked on the grass north of the Army hangar.

A Douglas Skyraider, with its powerful R-3350 18-cylinder radial, a late WWII design that was produced after the war, gave volunteers plenty of work cleaning up oil after engine runs. Both left the collection as part of trades. Four Mustangs lived at Planes of Fame, as well as two privately owned P-51's belonging to Jack Sandberg and Roger Christgau.

A composite Spitfire F.R. 14E (NH-904) with a combat history was centerpiece at Oshkosh in 1990 as part of the Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary display sponsored by Jaguar. The museum's TP-40N, P-47D, B-25J and FG-1D also appeared at Oshkosh to salute the Flying Tigers, 56th Fighter Group, Doolittle Raiders and the Black Sheep Squadron.

Aircraft appearances at local and regional airshows, including CAF Ghost Squadron displays at Holman and Fleming fields, showcased the Pond collection and gave volunteers firsthand experience in airshow operations. They also had the opportunity to meet many aviation notables and interact with the public.

The museum had a well-stocked museum store that became a major source of revenue. With a large volunteer base, Planes of Fame - East was able to maintain a six-day a week schedule and offer a ride program in its Boeing Stearmans.

The museum had full-time mechanics and volunteers were involved with annual inspections and restorations.

The rebuild of a Boeing-Stearman PT-17 (N9955H) and a former Navy and Forestry Service T-34B (N86623E) under the directions of licensed A&P's provided hands-on learning about aircraft systems, structure and maintenance.

Training also included aircraft starting procedures, movement on an active ramp and firefighting.

At every step, safety was emphasized. Yearly retraining was required for volunteers to participate in shows, engine run ups, and the annual Planes of Fame Memorial Day Weekend three day show which brought in special aircraft and members of groups like the Flying Tigers, Doolittle Raiders and Cactus Air Force.

With the move of Pond's collection to Palm Springs in the late 1990s, the aircraft were dispersed. Some were sold, some went to Chino, but most went to Palm Springs to the new museum facility. Although Pond passed away in 2007, 14 of the aircraft are still registered in his name with Pond Warbirds, LLC.

As for the P of F volunteers, a group remained at Flying Cloud and formed Wings of the North, which continues to this day. They've held airshows and other events, have a Vultee "Vibrator" under restoration and have accumulated a wonderful collection of aviation artifacts.

Other volunteers headed to South St. Paul with the Minnesota Wing of the CAF, and still others have been active over the years with the Polar Aviation Museum and Golden Wings Flying Museum at Anoka. Sadly, Polar and Golden Wings have closed their doors and the collections sold off.

Although now just a memory, Bob Pond's Planes of Fame – East left a strong legacy of trained volunteers who remain active in local aviation organizations. As a result of training in plane handling, warbird operations, preservation, restoration and networking with other museums and aviation organizations, many of the old timers from Flying Cloud have been the backbone of successor museums and airshows.