AAHM TO HOST GRAND OPENING OF AVIATION NOSE ART GALLERY

Midland, Texas (Feb. 5, 2001) - Of 100,000 artifacts at the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM) located at Confederate Air Force Headquarters in Midland, Texas, 33 are precious original nose art panels that represent the artistic expressions of young men at war. This rare collection, the world's largest, will soon be featured in a new 6,000 square-foot gallery, slated to open Oct. 5, 2001, at the museum in Midland.

From the bomber crews who flew the aircraft, to the artists who painted the nose art, to those in Hollywood and the graphic illustration industry who first inspired the art, the new gallery will employ giant murals, original video productions, educational activity stations and theatrical effects to bring the nose art collection to life.

Designed to allow museum visitors of all ages and backgrounds to become familiar with the culture surrounding the "nose art" era, the gallery will also feature a myriad of other folk art from the AAHM's extensive collection of World War II memorabilia, including flight jackets, oil paintings and armament. An original sketch by John Held Jr., thought to be an early prototype of World War II nose art, will be featured in the exhibit and introductory video.

The gallery will also include a conservation laboratory, changing exhibit gallery and research library.

Because some of the pieces of nose art deteriorated over time due to unstable display and storage conditions, museum officials plan to hire a conservation expert who will restore the pieces, on site, in the conservation lab. Visitors will actually be able to observe the conservator at work.

The new gallery will also provide an optimum environment for long term preservation of the rare nose art pieces by including a 24-hour climate control system, designed to maintain stable conditions in both temperature and humidity.

Donated to the AAHM in the mid-1970's, the nose art collection has been designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as an official project of Save America's Treasures. A White House Millenium Council created in 1999, Save America's Treasures is a national effort focused on "protecting America's threatened cultural treasures."

"It is thrilling to realize that a simple preservation project dubbed 'Save the Girls' 10 years ago is today recognized as an official designee of a national preservation initiative called 'Save America's Treasures,'" Tami O'Bannion, director of the AAHM said. "I think this national honor validates the vision of all who believed in the value of our beloved nose art collection as a unique cultural expression of young men at war. It is truly a rich collection of American Folk Art."

For more information about the Aviation Nose Art Gallery opening please contact Tina Corbett at (432) 563-1000 or kcrites@cafhq.org.

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