Battleship Cove is initiating a campaign to support a new exhibit at the museum featuring Vietnam War-era helicopters.
From Battleship Cove
BATTLESHIP COVE LAUNCHES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO CONSTRUCT NEW EXHIBIT ON THE HELICOPTER WAR IN VIETNAM
FALL RIVER, MA: Battleship Cove, home of the world’s largest and most diverse collection of historic naval ships, is proud to announce the christening of a new capital project: “Vietnam: The Helicopter War.” Launched by a generous $85,696 Destination Development Capital Grant award from the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT), the project will fund the construction of a permanent edifice and exhibit to restore, preserve, and interpret the museum’s Iroquois and Cobra helicopters. The simulated hangar, located adjacent to the Visitors Center, will be the first exhibit encountered by some 80,000 visitors per year as they start their tour of Battleship Cove, and it will provide an exciting opportunity to attract additional visitors to the local area.
The museum is pleased to announce this exciting development in concert with its upcoming Vietnam Veterans Weekend August 15-16. Activities will include guided tours of the Vietnam-era destroyer, Kennedy, open stations and exhibits by historical re-enactors, a veterans’ forum, discussion panels on restoring the aircraft, a memorial service and more.
“As home of the official memorial to all Massachusetts service personnel killed in the Vietnam War, we must preserve the history and cultural legacy of those who served in that conflict, and we are so grateful to MOTT for supporting that mission, states RICHARD ANGELINI Vice President of The USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Inc. “As the ancestors to our modern combat helicopters, these historic aircraft are also critically relevant to today’s veterans, symbolizing the deep connection between generations of American warfighters. Combined with our two Drone AntiSubmarine Helicopters on board Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., this aircraft collection helps visitors to understand how helicopter technology transformed the combat landscape in the years between World War II and the War on Terror.”
The legendary symbol and workhorse of the Vietnam War, the Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter was the most produced aircraft since World War II. Utilized in both insertion and extraction operations of US troops along with the gunship configuration, the Huey still is the most recognized helicopter in the world. Her “cousin,” the Cobra attack helicopter, traces its design lineage directly to the Huey and was the first helicopter conceived specifically for direct fire support of ground troops. Battleship Cove’s new, immersive exhibit will showcase both authentic Vietnam-era choppers within the engaging environment of a simulated wartime aircraft hangar. Vintage music, lighting, and aesthetics will immerse visitors into the past as they observe active conservation and restoration efforts that show how such aircraft are maintained against the enemy and Mother Nature.
Battleship Cove is a non-profit maritime history museum that preserves the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ official memorials for its citizens killed in World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, and the 9/11/01 attack on America. The museum welcomes the public to follow its social media channels and visit www.battleshipcove.org for more information on upcoming exhibits and events.
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