FLYING TIGER: WWII Plane Added To Museum | News

A piece of World War II history is being installed at the Iowa Gold Star Museum Wednesday.

Complete with lights and sound effects, workers have been busy preparing a display of a Curtiss P-40 B Tomahawk — part of the World War II Flying Tigers.

“This week will be the culmination of an effort to bring to life the story of a World War II aviator from Marion, Iowa,” says Michael Vogt with the Iowa Gold Star Museum.

Four Iowans served in the volunteer aviation group. 

The museum has recreated the aircraft flown by William Reed of Marion. 

The Flying Tigers are credited with the heroic defense of China from Japanese fighters in 1941.

“We elected to select Bill Reed as the aircraft we would replicate, he ended up dying in China being shot down in December of 1944,” says Vogt.

The Tomahawk plane will be hung Wednesday at the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge in Johnston.