PBY5A and Beach Boy

Beach Boy with friend on beach near Mutiny Bay













PBY5A.

WW2 Flight Suit at the PBY Memorial Historical Display

This is an electrically heated WW2 era flight suit. There are  attaching points for electrically heated gloves, boots and, on the chest, for an oxygen mask heater. These suits were developed for patrol and bomber crews who routinely operated at high altitudes above 30,000 feet, where air temperatures could get so cold that flesh could freeze instantly to any metal it touched.

This spiffy little museum really is the best kept secret on Whidbey Island. Housed on the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor, there are beautifully displayed Navy uniforms and artifacts, a gorgeous old Wurlitzer jukebox playing tunes from the big band era on 45's, a PBY flight simulator that you can try out, and of course, the magnificent PBY plane itself -- sitting on the hill outside. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer docents are ready, willing and able to tell you about it all.




You may be asking yourself at this point, "What the heck is a PBY?"  Here's a teaser from their website:

Throughout the history of aviation, only a few aircraft have excelled to become legend . . .

Learn all about the PBY and the PBY Memorial Foundation Historical Display here.

In keeping with the Naval aviation theme, we stopped off at Flyers' Restaurant and Brewery for one last sketch.

The XO's Desk and Uniforms

The XO's uniforms and desk at the Aviation History Museum, NAS Whidbey. The PBY Memorial Foundation docents were so knowledgeable and helpful and I especially enjoyed viewing their DVD of the beginnings of the base in Oak Harbor. Then later, we captured some of the locals bellied up to their "desk" at Flyers.

The PBY on the hill

 

This is the PBY plane that greeted us at the top of the (cold, windy!) hill at NAS Oak Harbor at the Memorial.  It, and all the other memorabilia in the building, is quite stirring.  We were given a WARM, friendly royal welcome by the Docent volunteers and it was an altogether enjoyable experience. 

Whidbey's Best Kept Secret - on the Seaplane Base

Oh my gosh!  What a great afternoon we Whidbey Island Sketchers had at the PBY Memorial Foundation Historical Museum on the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor.  This is an amazing museum and I think few on the island know about it.  Trust me - it's worth a trip... NOW!  Thanks to the great team of curators who filled us with knowledge about the PBY as well as the info in exhibits.  Really - you must go see this place!!




Command Display at PBY Memorial Museum



Left - Vietnam Room (Jet Jock); Right - 1930s Navy Uniform

WW II flight helmet

After sketching - appropriately we went to Flyers for a glass of wine.