Air Force Museum Foundation Recognizes Gift for New Exhibit
Dayton, Ohio – March 11, 2024 — The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., (AFMF) acknowledges a gift of $209,000 from the Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF). The gift was made possible by the Louise Kendig Jones and Wilfred D. Jones Family Endowment.
The AFMF is the non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness in support of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™.
The funds were used for refurbishment and expansion of the Flying the Hump exhibit. This exhibit highlights the challenges faced by airmen flying supplies from India to China over the Himalayan mountains (known as “the Hump”) during World War II. Improvements to the exhibit include new graphic panels, display cases, and artifacts. In addition, a new video-game-like interactive component was designed and installed, giving visitors a hands-on experience that demonstrates some of the difficulties encountered flying over “the Hump” in a C-46 Commando.
"The AFMF is grateful for this gift in honor of Wilfred Jones’ service, which included piloting C-46s over the Hump during World War II," said Rorie Cartier, CEO of the AFMF. "Wilfred and Louise have made a lasting impact on the Museum and the nearly 800,000 people who visit every year with their gift to create this new Flying the Hump exhibit content."
“Throughout their lives, Louise and Wilfred Jones were leaders in the Greater Dayton community,” said Edward Marrinan, Executive Director of the GCCF. “Their philanthropy, through the GCCF, enabled development of this exhibit honoring not only Wilfred, but the thousands of airmen who risked their lives flying supplies across the highest mountain range in the world.”
About the Air Force Museum Foundation
The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1960 as a Section 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization "to assist the United States Air Force Museum where federal funds are not available." Since it was chartered, it has gifted nearly $100 million in support of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™, including the cost of constructing 94% of the one-million-square-foot Museum campus. The Foundation is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components, and it has no government status. The use of the Roundel image in the Foundation's logo is with the permission of the United States Air Force; endorsement by the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force in fundraising activities of the Foundation is not intended nor implied pursuant to DoDI 5535.12. For more information on the Air Force Museum Foundation, visit www.afmuseum.com.
About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world's largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the Museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year visitors from around the world come to the Museum. In 2023, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force celebrated its 100th Anniversary. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
