Pacific Aviation Museum News: Ford Island Tower

We're very pleased to report that in today's Honolulu Star Advertiser comes news regarding the iconic Ford Island Tower at Pearl Harbor:

There's just so much history in aviation right here on Ford Island," DeHoff said.

Pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart crashed on Ford Island's Luke Field in 1937, and the Pan Am Clipper made landings nearby in the same era.

On Dec. 7, 1941, one of the first radio broadcasts of the Pearl Harbor attack was made from the tower. According to published reports, at 7:58 a.m., Vice Adm. Patrick Bellinger, the commander of Patrol Wing 2, announced, "Air raid, Pearl Harbor. This is no drill!"

"It (the control tower) has been seen by millions of people, whether it's on land looking at it from the Arizona Memorial or looking at it in the movies 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' and 'Pearl Harbor,'" DeHoff said. "It's a landmark, and once we make a building a landmark, I think America wants us to preserve it. Not much different than the Liberty Bell, not much different than the (historic Navy ship) USS Constitution."

Go to this link for the story.

Teachers, students and history buffs are strongly recommended to visit the Pacific Aviation Museum. Go here for further details.