Pacific Aviation Museum, Hangar 79, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor (interior) by Hawaii Pacific News

Hangar 79, Ford Island
319 Lexington Boulevard,
Honolulu, HI 96818

Among the historical sites that pepper the landscape of Oahu sits the Pacific Aviation Museum. Centrally located in the heart of Pearl Harbor, the museum exists as a testament to the longstanding relationship between American military prowess and flight.

The mission of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacific Region and to preserve Pacific aviation history.

Ford Island is a 441-acre island located in the middle of Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. It was purchased by the United States Army for use as an airfield for the defense of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor in 1918 and was named Luke Field in honor of Lt. Frank Luke, an Army aviator killed in action during World War I. Air Corps flying was the only human activity on the island until the Navy moved its flying operations from the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in 1923. As technology improved and aircraft became more powerful and capable in the 30's, joint flying operations made the small airfield a congested and somewhat dangerous place. The Army finally decided to move its flying operations to the newly constructed and more spacious Hickam Field, leaving Ford Island entirely to the Navy.

The museum is separated into 2 hangers. There is Hanger 32 and 79. The hanger spotlighted in the gigapan is Hanger 79 better known as the “Restoration Hanger”.
In many ways, Hanger 79 reminds visitors of the sacrifices that airmen and sailors alike suffered on December 7th1941. The remnants of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor still echo throughout the building as bullet-riddled windows provide a striking backdrop to the exhibits.

Hanger 79 houses fighter jets like the Gruman F-14D, McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, North American Aviation F-86 Sabre, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, and McDonnell Douglas F-15C. In addition, it shelters the attack helicopter Bell AH-1 and utility helicopter Bell UH Iroquois. There are also interceptor jets residing among the others like the Convair F102A Delta Dagger and North American Aviation F-86 Sabre.

- Courtesy of www.pacificaviationmuseum.org