Planes that once soared overseas and into active combat suddenly looked like overturned toys in a child’s playroom the Monday following Father’s Day at Fort Worth Aviation Museum.
Chairman Jim Hodgson has memories of minor wind damage in the past 10 years the volunteer-run museum has operated. But shredded panels, cracked windshields, and shrapnel that swept across the gated area behind the building was something never before seen. Seven aircraft were compromised in some way, now costing the quaint museum several thousands of dollars in reparations.
So far, just over $15,000 have been raised through the museum’s GoFundMe campaign. There’s still a long way to go, however, with an estimated $45,000 price tag to salvage what's left from the storm.
The museum’s Bell Oh-58 Kiowa helicopter, which had seen two wars, was a total loss as a result of the severe weather.
“We’ve considered it the most photographed airplane in Texas,” Hodgson says. The helicopter was often taken to schools and community events, in which an estimated 250,000 spectators have marveled at it. “It’s damaged beyond capability of repair.”
Treasurer Tom Kemp was among those who saw the aftermath of the Father’s Day storm. Dozens of retired planes fill the grassy exhibit area surrounding the museum building, many of which children can hop inside.
“It looked like a war zone,” Kemp says, standing feet away from twisted metal torn off planes still.
Although staff at the museum call the facility the best kept secret in Fort Worth, they’re hoping to expand and are continually searching for volunteers. Contact the museum at [email protected], or via phone at 855-733-8627, if you’d like to help.
