Summer of 21 - # 49 - U.S. Army Transportation Museum

 August 20th, 2021

We needed groceries and decided to go to a local military base. Joint Base Langley/Eustis is a joint Air Force/Army base. Before we got groceries though, we visited the U.S.Army Transportation Museum on base.

The museum took us through the different eras.

There are exhibits on the following wars and conflicts: World War I, World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada & Panama, Gulf War and the War on Terrorism.

Here is a copy of the legends of the Oozlefinch, taken from this page in Wikipedia.

"There are many legends about the origins of the Oozlefinch. Most agree that the legend began in 1905 at Ft. Monroe, Virginia, then home of the Coast Artillery Corps. Captain H. M. Merriam, no doubt under the effects of alcohol, first reported seeing a large-eyed, flight-challenged bird outside the officers'club. Soon more people reported seeing this bird, and sketches were made. Eventually, the legend of the bird would become so great that a statue was erected at the club in its honor.

The Oozlefinch was used on the insignia of the Railway Artillery Reserve during World War I; In some descriptions, this bird is a pelican.^[2] The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade later included the oozlefinch, describing the insignia as: "On a wreath of the colors (Or and Gules) an oozlefinch (from the shoulder sleeve insignia worn by the Railway Artillery Reserve in France) Vert, armed, capped and collared on the legs."^[1]"

Fort Monroe is not far from here and we have plans on visiting there, so watch for a blog later on that.

Ship's Signal Gun-"A standard form of communication in World War II was the use of Morse code. A series of dots and dashes that all mariners knew by heart which could be sent via radio waves or by light signals. This signal gun contained light that was controlled by pulling the trigger.  The signalman would simply aim the gun at the intended receiver and send the message.  Using the gun prevented enemy observers from intercepting the light message."

We will have to visit here when we go back to the UK for a visit.

HZ-1 Aerocycle

The Rocket Belt

There I am, complete with mask!!

The WW2 & Desert Storm exhibits always hit hardest for me when we are going round. 

WW2 because my parents were teenagers during the blitzes on the UK and London. My grandparents had built a pond in the hole that used to be their air raid shelter.  I know I have told this story before but Ray & I used to fish for newts in there but always had to put them back for another time, before we went home.

Desert Storm because Bryan was in Turkey when it started and due to come home.  He tells the story of being told when the plane took off if it went one direction they were going home and if the other going to war.  Fortunately they came home that time, but did return later near the end.

I sent him care packages while he was away and still have the letters he wrote to me.

At the end of the exhibits there were two uniforms in a case that had been donated. It was the strangest thing.

The name on the first one was Ryan.

and the second one was Stewart.  It amused me that two people had donated uniforms.  They had been put in the same case. One with the last name Ryan and the other with the last name Stewart. What are the odds of that!!! I know it doesn't take much to amuse me.

There are outside exhibits, The Rail Yard, Truck Pavilion, The Marine Park & The Aviation Pavilion.

The Rail Yard

Truck & Tank Pavilion

By this time we were exhausted and still had to go food shopping, so we decided Bryan will try and come back another day to see the Marine Park & the Aviation Pavilion.