Estrella WarBirds Museum

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Monthly Dinner
Wednesday
January 4th, 2012

Mark Hamlin
Cindi Skinner
Sandy Kennedy

No Host Bar Starts: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner Starts at 7:00 p.m.

Mark Hamlin, Deputy to the Garrison Commander, will talk about the current mission of Fort Hunter Liggett, our neighbors to the north of Paso Robles. Mark will be talking about the mission of the current tenant units, plus housing and community size.

Joining Mark will be Cindi Skinner, the Master Planner - Department of Public Works, whom will be discussing the growth, 5 and 10 year plans, designing the base for future use, plus details on an upcoming solar grid project, which should help cut power expenses for the base.

Also speaking will be Ms. Sandy Kennedy, whom works with Morale Welfare Support, not just for the troops, but also for dependents. She will be sharing with us available activities and facilities which are provided at the base.

Dinner is open to the public. It is a catered event ($17/person) and reservations are required, either on-line HERE or call 805 227-0440

Pictures of the January Dinner meeting can be found here.

A new project recently been undertaken by Estrella Warbirds Museum Restoration Crew is a Grumman F-9 Cougar. First glance shows it has obviously seen better days.  But, that is what we are all about.  Preserving pas history for current an d future generations.  Ours is one of 110 F9F-8P's produced with an extensively modified nose  to carrying cameras.  You can learn more by following its web page here.  You can watch the progress up close by stopping by and volunteering some time to assist in the restoration!

Brooks Building Addition Ready for Move In!


The addition to the Brooks Building received the final coat of floor paint and is nearly ready for the displays to be set in place.  A special thanks goes out to everyone who took part in helping build this needed extension!

Looking For Something To Do?
For those of us with time to spare and lack of things to do in our "busy" lives, why not spend a little bit of time each month volunteering by working at the museum as a greeter, a docent, in the gift shop, the automobile display building, or on the grounds in restoration or cleanup. We can always use new hands and you'll be surprised at the number of new friends you will make. Send us a note or come visit us.

Museum Docents Make it all Happen!



Estrella Warbirds Museum recently hosted a dinner in honor of all the docents who spend countless hours at the museum.  Without their help, the museum could not function and we are forever grateful! The above picture shows many of the Freedom Hall and Flight Simulator docents/operators.

Plenty of other pictures of the event are available here>.

Fred Thacker




Long time museum member and distinguished volunteer, Fred Thacker, of San Miguel, passed away suddenly on December 27th, 2011. A celebration of Fred's life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 4th, 2012, at Estrella Warbirds Museum.  More information on Fred and arrangements can be found here.

February
Movie of the Month
The Heroes of Telemark

Wed, Feb. 8th
6:00 pm
Pizza/popcorn
6:30 Movie Time

The Heroes of Telemark focuses on the efforts of Norwegian resistance fighters to destroy a heavy water factory being used by the Germans to develop atomic weapons. It was based on true incidents, and while it strays from the facts from time to time, it essentially captures the spirit of the original events, which historians generally concede played a fundamental role in the eventual outcome of World War II.

Douglas plays self-centered, sybaritic scientist Rolf Pedersen, who would rather wait out the end of the war in the arms of as many women as possible than help fight Germans. He must be shamed into doing so by resistance leader Knut Straud, played with charismatic brio by Harris. But Straud is no boy scout, either. He’s committed to doing whatever it takes to prevent the Germans from getting needed supplies of heavy water, even putting the lives of innocent women and children at risk during the film’s climax. Providing excellent support to the two leads are Ulla Jacobsson as Pedersen’s ex-wife, Michael Redgrave as her father, and Eric Porter and Anton Diffring as suitably menacing Nazis.

Although the film could fairly be described as spectacular, it eschews grandiose battle scenes and cardboard heroics in favor of daring, small-scale raids and fallible, morally conflicted characters. Although the film is embellished with fictitious stories, the location scenery is fantastic! This file at least reminds one of the amazing Norwegians who affected the outcome of WWII.

Preview here.

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Michael Redgrave.

Directed by Anthony Mann (El Cid)

2.5 Stars - Matlin
1965 - 131 minutes  

Hind Pavilion In Progress!


The newest facility for Estrella Warbirds Museum is now underway!  The concrete slab has been set in place for the new grand entry to the museum.  Watch this space as the facility grows!