Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum
{{Infobox museum
| name = Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum
| logo =
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| map_type = Maine
| coordinates = {{coord|43.8975|-69.9280|display=inline,title}}
| former_name =
| established = {{start date|2009|df=y}}
| dissolved =
| location = Brunswick, Maine
| type = Military aviation museum
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| website = {{URL|http://www.bnamuseum.org}}
}}
The Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum is a military aviation museum located at Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, Maine focused on the history of Naval Air Station Brunswick.
History
{{further|Naval Air Station Brunswick#History}}
The museum was established in 2009 and opened in the former base chapel in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Briley |first1=John B. |title=Times Record Community Matters: The Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2022/07/29/times-record-community-matters-the-brunswick-naval-aviation-museum |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=The Times Record |date=29 July 2022}} It purchased the building in December 2015.{{cite news |last1=Lear |first1=Alex |title=Navy Chapel at Brunswick Landing Sold to Museum |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/832406959 |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=Sun Journal |date=3 January 2016 |page=C4}}
Following restoration work, a Lockheed P-3 Orion at the airport was rededicated in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Lear |first1=Alex |title=Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum Honors 1978 Crash Victims with Refurbished Aircraft |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/25/brunswick-naval-aviation-museum-honors-1978-crash-victims-with-refurbished-aircraft |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=Sun Journal |date=25 February 2020}} As a result of encroaching commercial development, the museum began fundraising to move the other airplane on display at the airport, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune, a half-mile closer to the museum in May 2022.{{cite news |last1=Bridges |first1=Christian |title=Brunswick Community Asked to Help Restore Cold War-era Military Plane |url=http://www.wgme.com/news/local/restoring-a-historic-brunswick-plane |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=WGME |date=6 May 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=William |title=Naval Air Icon May Touch Down at Museum as Development Crowds Brunswick Landing |url=http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/naval-air-icon-may-touch-down-at-museum-as-development-crowds-brunswick-landing |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=Mainebiz |date=9 May 2022}} It began restoring the airplane in the summer of 2023.{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Troy R. |title=Brunswick Volunteer Trying to Save Cold War-era Military Plane Amid Development |url=http://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/07/23/news/midcoast/brunswick-volunteer-cold-war-era-military-plane-joam40zk0w |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=Bangor Daily News |date=23 July 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Minich |first1=Steve |title=Restoring the Iconic Planes at the Former Brunswick Naval Air Station |url=http://www.wmtw.com/article/restoring-iconic-planes-former-brunswick-naval-air-station-p2-p3/45101623 |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=WMTW |date=12 September 2023}}
Meanwhile, the first phase of renovations to the museum, the replacement of a brick wall with windows and installation of an entrance walkway, began in May 2023.{{cite news |last1=Claffey |first1=Jason |title=Work Begins on $3 Million Renovation to Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2023/05/18/work-begins-on-3m-renovation-to-brunswick-naval-aviation-museum-2 |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=The Times Record |date=18 May 2023}} The new entrance is intended to be dedicated in September 2023 as part of a reunion of Naval Air Station Brunswick personnel.{{cite news |title=Early Registration for Naval Air Station Brunswick Reunion Ends June 30 |url=http://www.pressherald.com/2023/06/15/early-registration-for-naval-air-station-brunswick-reunion-ends-june-30 |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=The Times Record |date=15 June 2023}}
See also
References
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