On January 13, 2014, ABC News in Cleveland, Ohio reported a story of the Liberty Aviation Museum that is located in Port Clinton. The museum is actually two museums under one roof. The main gallery houses traditional WWII items. These include items such as flight suits, instrument panels, and even parts of the Memphis Bell.
One of the sections, you will find artifacts from a gentleman who comes from Sandusky who was an All-American who lettered in four different sports in Ohio State. He was the second in command on the Patrol Torpedo Boat 109. The PT boat was cut in half by a Japanese Destroyer. Little known fact: President John F. Kennedy was the skipper on the PT 109.
When you leave the gallery and go to the hangar, you’ll enter the second half of the museum; the Tri Motor Heritage Museum. One of the first exhibits you will see is that of a Ford Tri Motor plane that has been restored. The Ford Motor Company built 191 of these planes, which were far ahead of their time. The plans were known for their strong work horse reputation. The local islands relied on the planes to resupply goods and services and they were also a modern day bus service so the children could get to school.
A fully restored and flyable B-25 Bomber named ‘Georgie’s Gal’ is the museum’s crowning jewel as it were. The medium range bomber looks like it was just taken off the assembly line. Jeff Sondles is the director of operations and says: “They sat in wicker chairs, there is no means to supporting the back legs of the chairs and the front legs basically sat in a cup holder secured by a cotter pin.”
There are many more artifacts from WWII that are spread out in the museum. There are jeeps and original motorcycles, as well as a mobile mess kit from the German Army.
The museum also has an incredibly restored aircraft called the ‘Avenger’. This was the Navy Torpedo Bomber. It is an exact make of Bomber that the 41th US President, George H.W. Bush was shot down in.
After you’ve learned all the history that you can withhold, you can have lunch at the retro diner called the “Tin Goose Diner” which is an original 1950s diner.
If you enjoy viewing WWII-era artifacts, you should really check out the Liberty Aviation Museum. The museum is located off the freeway on Route 2, exit 53 north, head west on East State Road.