Yankee Air Museum
The Yankee Air Museum was a perfect place for a personal experience. Aircraft were a vital reason why Iwo Jima was captured. Although there were no B-29 bombers at the museum, seeing the sheer size of other bombers put the 2,200 that landed at Iwo Jima into perspective. Also, getting up close to each aircraft and seeing what they could hold showed us just how much damage a single aircraft could do. The exhibits on pilots, American and Japanese, caught out eye because Iwo Jima was strategic for both parties. Seeing a side by side comparison of the two really allowed us to get a better understanding of why each side did what they did.
"The first requirement is the ability to distinguish friend from foe. Nowhere is this more important than in the air."
Another exhibit that caught our eye were the recognition manuals each pilot was given. These manuals detailed the different aircraft one may see and how to identify them in combat to avoid destroying a friendly aircraft. None of us knew that pilots were specifically taught how to identify other aircraft.
"The first requirement is the ability to distinguish friend from foe. Nowhere is this more important than in the air."
Another exhibit that caught our eye were the recognition manuals each pilot was given. These manuals detailed the different aircraft one may see and how to identify them in combat to avoid destroying a friendly aircraft. None of us knew that pilots were specifically taught how to identify other aircraft.