Press-Telegram from Long Beach, California • 66

First lndpndenf-Prt-Tlgram Southland Magaxir Air Museum By Roberf Signor tfurt portorftr may view rlic of early adventure in tha airmu of antiquated aircraft baa bean aatabliabad in Claremont firt of da kind the Wes LEAST one of every military aircraft ours and A the should be preserved for posterity That chance remark by the late Gen Hap Arnold head of the air forces in World War II supplied the necessary impetus to start what is probably the first air museum Edward Maloney air enthusiast and curator-owner of the museum took Gen Arnold's words to heart and began to assemble an outstanding collection of airplanes Today his aircraft range from the replica of the Chanute Glider to a flying wing exemplifies Fight to Fly" Opened in January 1957 the museum is located on Hwy 66 in Claremont and is operated as a non-profit organization The proceeds from the nominal admission charge go toward the purchase of more exhibits and improvements to the museum itself HOUSED IN THE museum along with the actual full-sized airplanes and historical aeronautical engines is the worWs largest Force in Three hundred detailed scale models of every type from sports and racing planes to big jet bombers make up this miniature collection Most of the models were built by Maloney In the past 15 years A long-time air enthusiast Maloney used very few kits for his models but built most of them from scratch Among the many planes on display Is the actual craft flown by the French World War I ace Capt Charles Nungesser Capt Nungesser was credited with shooting down some 40 German planes and the German I army put a reward on his head offering $25000 to the pilot who could shoot him down A lot of pilots tried but the reward was never collected Standing in a corner of the museum building is a Boeing P12E pursuit plane of the early 1930s This plane has the distinction of being the granddaddy of the modern F100 jet Another Boeing airplane the iSnamcdth "Pea by the man who flew she was a great favorite of military pilots and of our Air Force leaders took their training "Pea This rare plane was found in Soutn by Maloney after a three-year search OTHER EXHIBITS include a Curtis P40 a Japanese KI84 and a Japanese Zero of World War II fame is also a Japanese World War II t0P the This was a navy rocket fighter by a rocket engine The museum claims the Only Baka Bomb or suicide plane on the Coast The Baka Bomb was actually flown into target by a human pilot In appearances it resembles a large bomb with wings and a cockpit apa contains only enough controls and instruments for to guide it toward the target Fancy gadgets an of controlstwere not necessary on a one-way trip In its search for historical airplanes the museum not overlooked the field of aircraft engine development in its exhibits Historical engines range from the Curtis OX5 that powered the early Jennys to tne Jet aircraft engine built by the Germans Anot er type engine on display was used in World War airplanes It is called a rotary engine and isso e-signed that the entire engine revolves with the THE SPEED of these early-day planes would seem the pace of a snail compared with today aircraft but somchmv they turned out some pret flying Though these planes are only museum-borne now they look as if just one turn of the prope -ler would send them up again for a joyride For arm-chair pilots and any others who are in trigued by machines" the Maloney Air Museum affords an Interesting contrast between the bail1 8 This Crab Japanese Buka bomb Or suicide plane Is among the museum's interesting items had only essential controls to guide if and was flown into target by its pilot I I mm Photos by tho Author her many the America There weapon powered have West the pilot a lot has early first old peller like fancy Tns on ahavM atto.