United States Transportation Command

Airman 1st Class Brian Stives, 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs (Courtesy of AMC News Service) Release #: 031020-1 Published: Monday, October 20, 2003

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (USTCNS) --- Approximately 200 people were in attendance here, Oct. 13, when the Air Mobility Command Museum reopened its doors to the public for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks caused the base to increase its force protection level, cutting off public access to the facility.

The museum made this possible by installing almost 8,000 feet of chain link fence separating the museum from the base and constructing a new road to establish a new entrance leading from Route 9 to the museum.

The project cost nearly $750,000.

"It's been a little over two years since we've been shut down to the general public,"' said Brig. Gen. (ret.) Michael J. Quarnaccio, AMC Museum president. "Today is a great day for the museum."

"My compliments go out to all the men and women who have made the reopening happen," said Col. John I. Pray Jr., 436th Airlift Wing commander.

"This will allow people to come back out to the museum and see where Dover AFB began," said Michael Leister, AMC Museum director. "We like to call this place 'the window' because it is where the public can come out and see their Air Force."

Maj. Gen. William Welser III, recently nominated as 18th Air Force commander and former wing commander here, made a return trip to Dover AFB for the reopening.

"It's great to be back at Dover and this supportive community," General Welser said. "Back in 1993, we moved the museum from the other side of the base and today, we are opening a new entrance to it from off the base, this is great.

"This is truly your museum," said General Welser. "It belongs to your community and is truly representative of our history. We need to never forget our history."

Retired Senior Master Sgt. John Demory, a volunteer at the museum, has led the effort to restore a KC-97 Stratotanker that was on display for the first time at the reopening.

"There is a lot of history behind these aircraft that people don't even know about," said Sergeant Demory. Without the restoration of the aircraft and the availability of the museum, people wouldn't have the opportunity to examine the past, he said.

Also in attendance was Mayor James L. Hutchison, city of Dover, who offered words of praise to the Dover team.

"General Welser, what a pleasure it is to have you here again," said Mayor Hutchison. "It is also great to have the Dover Team here. No one can be more proud of the work each of you does. Thank you for being here and for what you do."

A state historical marker was also posted at the main entrance to the museum, Hanger 1301. The hanger served as a housing area for top-secret testing operations at the close of World War II.

AMC Museum reopens doors to public

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