About the Arizona Wing CAF Aircraft Museum

The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501 C 3 museum and receives no government funding. The wing is maintained and operated through fundraising events, gift shop items and donations. The Arizona Wing members are dedicated to preserving aviation history and wartime memorabilia for future generations. The Arizona Wing primary mission is to maintain and operate aircraft from WW II to Vietnam. The Arizona Wing is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Rd. at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa. For more information call 480-924-1940 or www.arizonawingcaf.com or email us at .

Arizona Wing History, The following accomplishments have been achieved by the volunteers of the non-profit Arizona Wing.

Mike Clarke donates B-17G that is destined to become Sentimental Journey...

On January 14, 1978, at a membership banquet for the newly formed Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, Colonel Mike Clarke announced the donation of a B-17G aircraft to the CAF for assignment to the Arizona Wing. A contest was initiated by the local media to name the aircraft, which resulted in more than 800 entries, with the ultimate selection of the name Sentimental Journey. The decision was made to use the most famous pinup picture of World War II for the nose art. Permission was secured from widower Harry James to add Betty Grable in her most tantalizing pose to complete the newly acquired bomber.

B-17G Sentimental Journey entered service with the CAF in 1978. Arizona Wing members immediately undertook the chores of cleaning, polishing and repainting in WW II markings and honing the ship into excellent mechanical condition. They also initiated extensive crew training so that Sentimental Journey was prepared to fly with the CAF fleet. But even the aircraft's excellent condition wasn't good enough. Without four operational turrets, operational bomb bay doors, navigator and radio operator stations, Norden bomb sight and machine guns, Sentimental Journey was not an authentic Flying Fortress. Most people would have been content to continue the project bit by bit over several years but the Arizonan's were eager to complete the restoration of all military systems used on the B-17's during WW II.

In December 1981, the Wing voluntarily grounded the airplane to undertake the restoration. Early projects included restoration and re-painting in combat color, installation of the chin and ball turrets and restoration of the navigator's station back to original condition. Members soon learned that restoring an airplane meant trips to junkyards, bargaining, trading or begging with anyone who had a needed item, or contacting businesses that might be able to fabricate a part that could not be located.

By the end of 1981, they were ready to put all the pieces together. Under skilled hands, Sentimental Journey literally began to come apart. The grounding orders listed these areas of concentration: painting, reskinning, wiring, radio room, bomb bay doors and top, ball and tail turrets. The interior was stripped of all paint and grease. Paint stripper was sprayed throughout the interior and members armed with toothbrushes stepped in to clean the nooks and crannies. The aluminum skin was removed from around the nose, cockpit and back to the top of the bomb bay for new sheet metal. The entire aircraft was rewired and a new instrument panel constructed, complete with lettering and artwork. The radio room was outfitted with a new radio operator's table and radio racks. Throughout the restoration.

Boeing Aerospace in Seattle donated valuable assistance by providing pictures and engineering drawings. During a visit by Sentimental Journey to the Seattle plant in 1979, shop personnel installed a new nose turret, the first major piece of equipment of the restoration. The most difficult task was locating a top turret. One was eventually found through Art and Birdine Lacey, who owned the “Bomber Gas Station” in Milwaukie, Oregon, where a B-17 had been sitting on top of their station for over 37 years. Harsh weather and vandals had done significant damage, but the top turret was still intact. A deal was struck between both parties: the Arizona Wing would provide much needed work for the “The Bomber,” and the Laceys' would donate the top turret to Sentimental Journey.

First, the members had to prepare the parts they would need for the Laceys' plane. A new glass nose and facsimile top turret were fabricated along with a fiberglass tail. In July 1981, a team arrived at Art Lacey's gas station, and in 48 hours had replaced every piece of glass in the plane and all three missing doors. A dummy fiberglass top and tail turret were installed, topping off the work with a pair of simulated .50 caliber machine guns for the chin and tail turrets. The crew reported that there were no words to describe the Laceys' hospitality. By August 1982, the top turret, along with the “Cheyenne” tail turret, were installed on Sentimental Journey. Over the next three years, restoration continued on Sentimental Journey. The work was performed outdoors since the Arizona Wing still did not have a hangar.

In 1985 ground was broken for the wing's first permanent hangar facility. With the new facility, repairs to Sentimental Journey could now be performed inside. The new hangar also started the annual fundraiser “A Night in the 40's Big Band Dance” event and is held each March. A Big Band orchestra performs plus a 1940's WWII Musical Show www.bigbanddance.com. Sentimental Journey is on display at the front of hangar for photo opportunities along with other warbirds. Many of the dance attendees come dressed in the styles of the 40's for the costume and dance contests. The annual dance draws over 1,400 guests.

As the hangar/museum grew, so did the number of aircraft the wing was restoring. By 1986, Sentimental Journey was making an average of 60 appearances annually throughout the United States and Canada. An accident occurred in 1988 when brake failure during a landing at the Burbank Airport in California caused extensively damaged the underside front section of the aircraft and took six months to repair the damage. The repairs were made to Sentimental Journey and returned to flying condition.

In 1994 cracks were discovered at the wing spars. The wings were removed and Sentimental Journey underwent the needed repairs and did not tour that summer. With the following summer, Sentimental Journey was once again touring across the United States.

At the end of its summer airshow schedule, Sentimental Journey returns to Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, to undergo general repairs and restoration work. What many people don't realize is that this is an ongoing project. An average of 80,000 people tour through Sentimental Journey during the summer months. The amount of work to be accomplished during the winter months can be staggering. Everything from engine changes to aircraft repainting has to be performed before the next airshow season starts in early May.

In 2003 the Arizona Wing completed construction on the second building that consists of over 30,000 square feet of Museum and Event Facility space. Restored aircraft and museum exhibits are on display to give you event a unique atmosphere. The Arizona Wing's Event Facility is available for all types of events - "Black Tie," weddings, a casual B-B-Q, or a trade show.

The Arizona Wing Museum has on display many WWII artifacts and memorabilia from the War Years to the Home Front. Many of these artifacts have been donated to the Arizona Wing by veterans and their families wanting to see them displayed to the public. School children that are too young to know much about this time are now able to see and feel this part of our history through school field trips.

The final restoration is being performed on the wing's B-25 Mitchell Bomber. The restoration process began in 1985 and continued through the years seeing the plane disassembled and rebuilt. The nose art bears the name “Maid in the Shade” - a tip of the hat to the fact it's been rebuilt inside the hangar. This B-25 flew combat missions out of Corsica during WWII.

Today the Arizona Wing maintains and fly's B-17 Sentimental Journey along with a SNJ, C-45, L-16. Warbird Rides are available on our B-17, SNJ and C-45. Restoration projects include B-25 Mitchell, MiG-15, Grumman Guardian. The Arizona Wing has on display a F4 Phantom, A 26 Invader, P 47 1/2 scale, SE5a, Schweizer TG-3A Glider and Mig 21 plus numerous visiting aricraft. The Gift Shop in the museum has many unique aviation gifts.

The Arizona Wing is also involved in many community service events. For instance, it is proud to help with Packages from HOME and supporting our troops.

Anyone is welcome to join the Arizona Wing and become a member. All of the members are volunteers who have a great love for maintaining and flying these airplanes for years to come. You do not have to be an airplane mechanic or hold a pilot certificate to become involved with the Arizona Wing. Many other duties need to be filled in our wing, ranging from displays, restoration, hangar maintenance, computer work and public speaking, to name a few. These duties, no matter how large or small, can give you the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to keep a part of history alive for future generations.