Alan L.
Elite Member
Went today. This is an incredible collection of war assets, first hand accounts, and artifacts. Most moving was a 48 minute movie called "Beyond all Boundaries". A huge curved screen, along with other auxiliary screens, vibrating chairs, incredible sound, and other physical props made this an unbelievable tribute to the war effort.
I thought I had a pretty good handle on the history but learned alot. Some facts of note was that the U. S. had the 18th largest military in the world in 1939. Only about 400,000 in uniform compared to 12-15 times that by Japan and Germany. Not to mention Italy. Lots of information about the movement of women from the home to the factories, the rationing of gas, rubber, copper, and even sugar, and the manner in which it was done. And the massive conversion of U.S. manufacturing capacity to military weapons production.
The movie put you right in the pilot's seat of a bomber, going through German anti-aircraft fire, with explosions all around, and your seat registering every one. Battle after battle right up to the bright white atomic explosion you saw and felt in the seat of your pants, and felt the shock wave in the form of wind.
The museum has a heavy emphasis on D-Day, with lots of presentations about the American and British paratroopers, and British, Canadian, and American landings on the various beaches of Normandy. We all know how critical and bloody this battle was, but I had never seen it presented in such an interesting fashion.
All Americans, Canadians, and British should see this movie and visit this musuem.
I thought I had a pretty good handle on the history but learned alot. Some facts of note was that the U. S. had the 18th largest military in the world in 1939. Only about 400,000 in uniform compared to 12-15 times that by Japan and Germany. Not to mention Italy. Lots of information about the movement of women from the home to the factories, the rationing of gas, rubber, copper, and even sugar, and the manner in which it was done. And the massive conversion of U.S. manufacturing capacity to military weapons production.
The movie put you right in the pilot's seat of a bomber, going through German anti-aircraft fire, with explosions all around, and your seat registering every one. Battle after battle right up to the bright white atomic explosion you saw and felt in the seat of your pants, and felt the shock wave in the form of wind.
The museum has a heavy emphasis on D-Day, with lots of presentations about the American and British paratroopers, and British, Canadian, and American landings on the various beaches of Normandy. We all know how critical and bloody this battle was, but I had never seen it presented in such an interesting fashion.
All Americans, Canadians, and British should see this movie and visit this musuem.
