Inside Memorial Park’s third highlight, the indoor Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, 32 historic military planes come in all shapes, sizes, designs and colors. While the pavilion’s aircraft collection is top-notch, there are also military vehicles and heavy equipment used for missions on land or by sea. A flight simulator and assorted wartime artifacts from all branches of the Armed Services - Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard – are on hand. Examples of pavilion vehicles include a U.S. Army MP Jeep and a PBR River Patrol Gunboat from the Vietnam era. Marine One, a recent addition to the collection, is a restored vintage helicopter used to transport five former Commanders-in- Chief, from Richard Nixon’s presidency to George H. W. Bush’s term of office. It is mind-boggling to imagine that the pavilion’s A-12 Black Bird plane was once flown by CIA pilots for secret spy missions. Six decades ago, it streaked through the sky at an altitude of 93,700 feet, boasting speeds up to 2,300 miles per hour. In keeping with the park’s central theme of celebrating the whole host of military veterans, distinct memorials for specific vet groups may be seen throughout the grassy grounds. Look for a virtual parade of colorful fluttering flags arranged to honor those who served in the Korean conflict. There are individual memorials for Vietnam vets and for the “Fallen Guardians” who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. The Great War exhibit commemorates the 100th anniversary of WWI.
Visitors can explore the deck of the USS Drum Submarine or venture down into the vessel’s interior.
Campaign and many other missions of historic significance are presented in the battleship’s museum-like interior. Memorial Park’s second best attraction, the Submarine USS Drum , was commissioned in November 1941.The Drum is a National Historic Landmark designee and is also the oldest U.S. submarine exhibited publicly. It exceeds 311 feet in length, measures 27 feet in width, and tips the scales at 1,526 tons. The sub formerly carried a crew of 8 Naval officers, 75 sailors and one dog named Stateside to depths of 300 feet. During WWII, the Drum scored 12 Battle Stars and sank 15 enemy ships in the line of duty. You can access the USS Drum by following directional signs posted inside the Aircraft Pavilion. Visitors can walk across the top deck of the sub or venture into the vessel’s interior. You have to climb through two small hatches — one descending into the sub and the other ascending out of the sub — to walk the full length of the vessel. Submarine hallways tend to be long and narrow. Views inside the Drum indicate that no available space was wasted in WW II-era submarine designs. Doorways between sections of the sub feature low overhangs and high-rising thresholds. It is advisable to slow down your walking pace and watch your steps carefully to navigate safely.
Inside the pavilion, military planes come in all shapes, sizes, designs and colors.
USS ALABAMA MEMORIAL PARK
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE FALL 2023 | 30
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