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Open: 10am - 4pm, Tuesday - Saturday

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  • COLLECTIONS
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    • 1903-1918 / Early Birds
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Yanks Air Museum
Yanks Air Museum
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Easter at Yanks Air April 11, 2026

EASTER CELEBRATION & Eggs-citing Egg-Hunt!

Featured Saturday, April 11 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Yanks Air Museum 15121 Stearman Drive, Chino

TICKETS FOR 2026 EVENT WILL BE POSTED CLOSER TO THE EVENT DATE Looking for...

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The SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navy’s premier dive The SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navy’s premier dive bomber in the early years of World War II. A modern low-wing monoplane with a multi-cellular wing design, it required no external bracing, giving it strength and aerodynamic efficiency. Because the wing could not fold, the aircraft was built compact enough for carrier operations. Its perforated dive brakes allowed for steep, controlled dives, and its 1,000-pound centerline bomb was mounted on a trapeze that swung the weapon clear of the propeller during release.

The Dauntless became the most successful U.S. Navy bomber of the war, sinking more Japanese shipping than any other Allied aircraft type. At the Battle of the Coral Sea, SBDs sank the carrier Shoho and damaged Shokaku, halting Japan’s advance toward Port Moresby. One month later, at the Battle of Midway, Dauntless crews sank four Japanese carriers in a decisive blow from which the Imperial Japanese Navy never fully recovered.

Our SBD-4 was delivered on September 21, 1942. It served at NAS Roosevelt and NAS Norfolk before joining VS-9 and VB-9 aboard the USS Essex in early 1943. The aircraft participated in operations over Marcus Island, Rabaul, Tarawa, the Gilbert Islands, Kwajalein, Truk, and Saipan before being stricken on March 30, 1944. After the war, it was used by MGM Studios as a wind machine before being acquired and restored in 1984.

📸 @paddybphotography
From interceptors to strike fighters, these jets r From interceptors to strike fighters, these jets represent decades of American airpower. Which one is your favorite?

📸 @paddybphotography
As global tensions escalated in 1940, the United S As global tensions escalated in 1940, the United States began placing large orders for military aircraft in anticipation of war. One promising design was Curtiss’ CW-20, a 36-passenger airliner with a pressurized cabin. From it came the C-46 Commando, redesigned for military service with double cargo doors, a reinforced floor, folding troop seats, and a loading winch. At the time, it was the largest and heaviest twin-engined transport aircraft in the world, capable of carrying up to 50 passengers or massive cargo loads at high altitude.

The C-46 earned its reputation flying one of the most dangerous missions of World War II. After the Japanese cut off the Burma Road in 1943, Allied forces were forced to supply China by air over the Himalayas in a route known as “The Hump.” With nearly twice the cabin volume of the C-47 and superior high-altitude performance, the Commando was uniquely suited to the task, though the mission proved costly in aircraft and crews.

After the war, the rugged C-46 transitioned easily into civilian service, hauling cargo across the Americas and beyond. Its strength, range, and payload made it a favorite among postwar airlines operating in demanding environments.

Our aircraft was delivered on today's date, February 28, 1945, assigned to the 10th Air Force, and ferried to Karachi, India. It was then transferred to the Indian Air Force on April 10, 1946, and later withdrawn from service in 1955. Its postwar civilian service included operations with Miami A&E, Riddle, Zantrop, Rich, ASA International, Aerovias SUD, Americana Inc., Ariel Trans, Southwest Aviation, Florida Caribbean, and Wylie Air Corp. It was then put into storage in New Mexico in 1989 before joining our collection in 2001.

📸 @paddybphotography
Who can recognize all three of these helicopters o Who can recognize all three of these helicopters out in the boneyard?

📷 @paddybphotography
Here's another #ThrowbackThursday to @b29docsfrien Here's another #ThrowbackThursday to @b29docsfriends's visit! Did you get a chance to see this beautiful B-29 in person?

📸 @tism_aero2003
There are plenty of interesting aircraft in this p There are plenty of interesting aircraft in this photo, but let’s focus on the one hanging from the ceiling.

The Curtiss-Wright CW-1 Junior was developed during the Great Depression as an affordable, safe, and easy-to-fly personal aircraft aimed at the growing lightplane market. Designed to compete with aircraft like the Aeronca C-2 and American Eaglet, the Junior was the work of Karl White, Walter Beech, and H. Lloyd Child, and evolved from the earlier wood-fuselage Buzzard.

Its most distinctive feature was its pusher configuration, with the engine mounted behind the cockpit. Simple construction and gentle handling made it an attractive option for private owners during a difficult economic period. The CW-1 first flew in December 1930, and by 1931, more than 125 had been sold at a price of $1,494, roughly the cost of a mid-priced automobile at the time. Adjusted for inflation, that's over $31,000 in 2026. 

The Junior proved popular and offered Curtiss-Wright a brief diversion from its heavy focus on military and large commercial aircraft. By 1932, however, production ended as the company shifted priorities. Karl White moved on to the Naval Aircraft Factory, and Walter Beech left to form what would become Beech Aircraft Company.

Our CW-1 Junior was delivered in 1931. It joined the collection in 2010 and represents Curtiss-Wright’s short-lived but notable entry into the light aircraft market of the early 1930s.

📷 @paddybphotography

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  • Home
  • Collections
    • Collection by Timeline
    • 1903-1918 / Early Birds
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15121 Stearman Drive, Chino, CA 91710

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