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National Museum of the Marine Corps renovation


Jarhead8007
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Jarhead8007

All,

 

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, VA will be reopening on 1 April after a three month maintenance closure. But we've been doing much more than maintenance. We've added a new aircraft to the central gallery and replaced our Korean War-era HRS-1 with a Vietnam-era UH-34. Enjoy the following pictures.

 

First, the UH-34: It's set in a tableau depicting Operation STARLITE in 1965.

 

post-106351-0-22541000-1459472815.jpg

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Jarhead8007

Here's one of the active duty Marines who served as a model for one of the cast figures. They figures are made by creating a full body life-cast of a real person. That way they capture the "personality" of the subject.

post-106351-0-57924000-1459472913.jpg

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Jarhead8007

We also have added a WWII SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber to our collection of aircraft hanging from the ceiling in the central gallery. This particular aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan in 1944 and spent nearly 50 years on the bottom of the lake. Eventually, it was raised and the Museum acquired it. Our in-house restorations team spent years fully restoring it. They had to take it completely apart, straighten everything out, and reassemble it - rivet by rivet. Here it is being lifted off the ground prior to installation:

 

post-106351-0-42278000-1459473078.jpg

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Very nice. I look forward to getting up there again to see the new aircraft display. I have always been amazed at how lifelike they are able to make the figures for the displays.

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OoooooRah! Marines! This museum needs to be on the bucket list of every Marine and family. It won't disapoint. Semper Fi.......Bobgee

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This is one of the best museums I've ever been to, way better than the Smithsonian. I hope the Army museum being planned for Fort Belvoir is just as good!

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  • 2 months later...

And- THANKS to a member of the USmilitariaforum, the Korean War display now has a 60mm graphical firing chart back in the hands of the mortar squad.

 

27311191484_18c58a0852_o.jpgGraphical Firing Chart by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

27923216735_9fed20813d_o.jpgGraphical Firing Chart by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

Someone stole the original on display, a member of this forum provided this one to replace it. I was originally told it was not needed- that a replica was put in its place. Someone took the replica...it was gone when the museum re-opened. So I brought them the one provided by riflegreen297, a member of this forum. The Korean War Veteran that volunteers at the Museum was very happy to have this one, did not take long to put in place. He told me they had been looking for one for a long time, come back in a week and this one would be on display.

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Some shots taken after the Museum's re-opening.

 

26888833946_77d7736161_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

26318474693_8d356a1739_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

26854878721_d377e93e8a_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

27260951332_58bd04df2f_o.jpgMarine Museum, 1934 5cm F2 Sonnar by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

But- This is onto the next stop...and the only time I regretted not taking a color camera.

 

27325084726_72c755b629_o.jpgMarine Museum, Summitar by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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The Dauntless, go to the Second Floor for the best view.

 

25614844324_5c68f656c7_o.jpgMarine Museum Apr2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

And when you visit- be sure to take the walk around the back of the Museum.

 

26318474643_721bec8159_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

26318474573_8ec9a7fb48_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

26318474423_81f9629e8d_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

26888834206_5ca33d81cf_o.jpgMarine Museum, May 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

 

Memorials that cover our entire history.

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All,

 

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, VA will be reopening on 1 April after a three month maintenance closure. But we've been doing much more than maintenance. We've added a new aircraft to the central gallery and replaced our Korean War-era HRS-1 with a Vietnam-era UH-34. Enjoy the following pictures.

 

First, the UH-34: It's set in a tableau depicting Operation STARLITE in 1965.

 

 

OUTSTANDING PHOTO!!!!

 

The Front of this UH-34 has the Marking YN-19

 

YN is the "Tail" Code for Marine Helicopter 361. In the UH-34 days it was a medium lift capability i.e. HMM-361. Today (since late 1960s) it is a Heavy Helicopter Squadron that flies the CH-53, and goes by the designation HMH-361. Early on the A & D models and today the E or Echo model.

 

This particular helicopter pictured was brought to life from the bone yard and until about a year or two ago was flying again. The cost to keep it up in the air was to much, so it was donated to the Museum.

 

In September of 2017 361 will have a reunion in DC. It will be inclusive of all 361 units (HMR, HMR (L), HMM, and HMH. One of the highlights of the reunion will be the trip to the museum and visit to this particular Helo. It will be a special reunion, because ti will also be the 50th reunion of the day that the Squadron received the most Purple Hearts......More on that in the future.

 

This was the Squadron I spent most of my Fleet time with from 1998-2003

Semper Fly, John

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One more shot- the Chosin Reservoir display, which also has the 60mm Mortar. This is a multi-media display, lights, sound effects, and dialog. The entire room is cooled. One of the best Museum displays in the country.

 

27824215182_cc92a11849_o.jpgMarine Museum, June 2016 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

 

As part of the renovation- the lighting has been replaced in most of the Museum. The new lighting is much improved, the displays are even more lifelike.

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Jarhead8007

John,

 

The organization that donated the UH-34 actually flew YN-19 "Gracious Lady Bev" to Quantico and landed it in the Museum's parking lot to turn it over to the Marine Corps.

 

All,

 

Appreciate the kind words about the Museum and its displays. And if you have not yet come to visit the Museum, you don't know what you're missing!

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  • 6 months later...

Probably the best museum I've have ever been too! And I have been to many, including those in Europe!

 

I have been there multiple times and look forward to going again! I also hope they have a chance to add more to honor our OIF & OEF Vets!

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Jeffs,

 

We're gonna do our best! Here's are a few artist's renderings of future galleries that are set to open in 2018:

 

post-106351-0-06664900-1485481225_thumb.jpg

post-106351-0-40593700-1485481246_thumb.jpg

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Last time I visited was in 2014. This will definitely be on my summer bucket list! The future Iraq exhibit looks amazing!

 

Jacob

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