Visit the 475th!
The organization is associated with the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. This aviation museum founded in 1957, houses static and flying aircraft, including a flying P-38 Lightning, a rarity in the historic aircraft world. This venue includes the P-38 Lightning “23 Skiddoo” and memorabilia associated with the 475th. The museum is located at:
The Planes of Fame Air Museum
14998 Cal Aero Dr
Chino, CA 91710-9056
(909) 597-3722
Hours of operation: 10 am – 4pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and occasional special events. Phone: 909-597-3722. Website: www.planesoffame.org.
At a secure, climate controlled facility near the Planes of Fame, memorabilia not used for display is housed and is undergoing identification by 475th veterans and family members.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Historic Ford Island
319 Lexington Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
(808) 441-1000
This WWII-focused museum presents historical aircraft, exhibits & even a simulated flight experience. Since first opening its doors to the public in December of 2006, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has grown steadily, adding aircraft and exhibits, now occupying two WWII hangars. And in 2010, it was ranked among the top 10 aviation-related attractions in the country by TripAdvisor®.
475th Historical Foundation Museum
The 475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation museum is located at the Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport in Chino, California. The stories and memorabilia of this highly decorated group, which flew the P-38 in combat, are permanently housed in this display hangar constructed entirely by the members of the 475th. The 475th Fighter Group hangar was donated to Planes of Fame Air Museum in October, 2009, and is the home of the Museum’s Lockheed P-38 Lightning. If you haven’t been to Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA recently, make sure you stop by soon!
475th Fighter Group History
The 475th’s first scheduled mission, an escort of transports to Tsili Tsili on 12 August, was canceled because of bad weather. On the following day, however, the weather cleared sufficiently to allow the unit to escort transports to Bena Bene. The mission was without incident. On 15 August, while the unit was flying patrol, its pilots spotted Japanese planes over Lasanga Island but could not make contact. On the following day, the 431st Squadron, while escorting transports to Tsili Tsili, encountered approximately 25 Japanese bombers and fighters. In the ensuing engagement the squadrons pilots accounted for twelve of the enemy aircraft, while only losing two of their own.