Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Museum

Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Museum is in Dayton, Ohio, the hometown of the Wright Brothers. They have a very cool museum of aircraft from the early days of the Wright Brothers to Space craft and everything inbetween. I have come to learn that in the Sci Fi fan circles, it is believed that after aliens crashed in Rosewell, New Mexico back in the 1940's, that the reckage and alien bodies were brought to Hanger 18 at Wright - Patt. I also heard that when Arizona Senator and Presidential Canidate Barry Goldwater visited Wright - Patt, he asked if he could see the reckage in Hanger 18. He was firmly told that not only can he not see Hanger 18, but that he had better never meantion it again. Nothing I saw could either confirm or deny any of this. The reason that made the site post worthy on this Presidents sites blog is that they have the best collection of Presidential aircraft that I am aware of.

I have been there a few times in my life, since it is less then 2 hours away. But it has been about 2 years since I was last there. The Museum is free, but if you want to see the Presidents planes, then you may want to get there early so that you can guarantee a bus ticket to the hanger that houses all of the Presidents planes.

The 'Sacred Cow'. Both FDR and Truman used this plane. It's the plane that flew FDR to the Yalta conference.

'The Independence' was the plane used by Harry Truman. Named for his home town on Independence, MO

The 'Columbine III' used by Dwight Eisenhower. Named for the Columbine flower, official flower of the state of Colorado, homestate of Eisenhowers wife Mamie.

This smaller plane was also used by Eisenhower

President transporting Helicopter



An interesting one. During the time when Science fiction was gaining popularity, the Air Force wondered if a flying saucer was a practicle flight design. So they made this flying saucer aircraft to test. They couldn't get it to fly more then a couple of feet off of the ground.



This smaller Air Force One was used by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan



This is the main reason that you would want to come to this Presidents plane hanger. This Air Force One was used by every President from Kennedy to Clinton. It is the plane that flew Kennedy to Dallas when he was assassinated. After the assassination it flew Kennedys body back to Washington, and it was on this plane that Lyndon Johnson was sworn into office.



My kids Khloe and Nicky with me in front of Air Force One

Me in the area of the plane in which Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office and became the 36th President of the United States

Pretty tight quarters

This is back in the main museum area once we got back from the Presidents planes hanger. To me, this is another must see. It's the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, ending WW2

A replica of the bomb that the Bockscar dropped on Nagasaki.

Me in front of the Bockscar. It is hard to grasp the significance of this bomber in history

A display that includes Ronald Reagans over coat and Air Force ID





They also have a Holocaust Museum display. Very heart breaking

This wooden cross was the original gravemarker for the grave of Quentin Roosevelt, youngest son of Theodore Roosevelt, who was a fighter pilot killed in WW1.

Elsewhere in Dayton in Woodland Cemetery. The final resting place for both namesakes of the Wright Patterson Air Force Base. This is the gravesite of the Wright Brothers.

In 1918 a young test pilot named Frank Patterson was killed at Wright Air Force Base in a plane crash. In his honor the Base was changed to Wright Patterson Air Force Base. This is his and his families gravesite.

So if your passing through Ohio. Maybe hitting some of the Presidential sites in the Cincinatti area. Keep in mind Wright Patterson, if time permits, you won't be dissappointed.

Election of 2012 Special

Fireworks at a Mitt Romney rally in Defiance, OH

If you followed my Trip posts, you would know that I finished my collection of Presidential Gravesites in June 2012. The day after we got back from that trip we found out that we were expecting our 3rd child. This hobby took a backseat to preparation for our new arrival, due in February 2013.

As election day quickly approached, Ohio seemed to be more and more important. Which means all the main players started coming to my area. I had looked into seeing some of them earlier in the fall, but the time never seemed to work for me. On the night of Tuesday October 23 (exactly 2 weeks before the election) I was laying in bed, and realized that I hadn't checked the canidates schedule in awhile. So I looked on both Romney and Obama's websites, and saw that Mitt Romney would be Defiance on that Thursday night, October 25. So that very night I got my ticket. This would be the first of 3 campain events that I would attend inside of 8 days.

This event was in the football stadium of Defiance High School.



T shirts buttons and hats are pretty common



I spotted Ohio Governor John Kasich on the track

Governor Kasich

Big and Rich provide entertainment

Special guest Meatloaf

From the Band "Alabama" Randy Owen

The crowd was huge

Governor Kasich and Senator Rob Portman on the telaprompter. Portman helps Romney during debate prep. While practicing, he pretends to be Barack Obama.

Presidential Canidate Governor Mitt Romney

The fireworks were an amazing finally to an exciting rally.

On the teleprompter, L to R Randy Owen, Meatloaf, Mitt Romney, John Rich and Big Kenny

Nicky loved playing with the signs I brought home.

  

On Wednesday, the day after I got my ticket to the Romney Rally, I found out that VP canidate Paul Ryan would be in Findlay on the upcoming Sunday October 28. The next day I got my tickets to the event, as well as tickets for my wife and nephew. On that Saturday, the day before the Paul Ryan Rally, it was announced that due to Hurricane Sandy, Mitt Romney had to cancel events in Virginia, and that he would be joining Paul Ryan in Findlay. So after church we grabbed a quick lunch and got in line. We were lucky enough to be one of the first few through the door, and we got very close to the podium.

Waiting in line in Findlay to see Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan

Five for Fighting singer John Ondrasik

My wife Dani and John Rich

Big and Rich perform with Cowboy Troy

Congressman Bob Latta

Canidate for U. S. Senate Josh Mandel

Ohio's Lt. Governor Mary Taylor

Vice Presidential Canidate Paul Ryan

Senator Rob Portman again

Mitt Romney takes the stage

Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and I

After shaking hands with both Romney and Ryan, I got this picture of them continuing down the line

My nephew Christopher on the left, with Romney and Ryan in the background

On Wednesday October 31, I heard the news that President Obama would be campaigning in nearby Lima on Friday afternoon. I figured this would be the best chance I would ever have to see this President in person. So I took it.

Waiting in line to see the President at Lima Senior High School.

Waiting to see the President in Lima Senior High School Gym

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland

Obama takes the stage

The President and I

After attending these rallies I left with a great appreciation for the American way of life. These men are going for the most powerful job in the world. But they need our vote to get it. It is a uniquely American Experience that I strongly suggest that people check out.