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Grissom Air Museum

POW*MIA Chair of Honor






The Grissom Air Museum POW*MIA Chair of Honor is pilot seat from a Fairchild C-119 aircraft donated by the Museum.


The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute.

The first C-119 made its initial flight in November 1947, and by the time production ceased in 1955, more than 1,100 C-119s had been built. Its cargo-hauling ability and unusual twin-boom design earned it the nickname "Flying Boxcar".

Maximum speed: 296.02 mph
Maiden flight: Nov 17, 1947
Length: 86 feet 6 inches
Wingspan: 109 feet
Retired: 1974
Introduced: Dec 1949

Refurbishing the Chair

After receiving the pilot seat from the Museum, we took the seat apart to prepare it for power coating by Pro-Kote Indy, reupholstering by Smitty’s Indy Marine, and POW/MIA logo by Embroidery Plus.

Pro-Kote Indy power coated the chair with an olive green color to keep the chair close to its original Military color. The plate front of the Chair was removed before power coating to preserve the plate. The plate was remounted on the chair after the power coating.

While the power coating was being done, Smitty’s Indy Marine worked on reupholstering the seat cushions and arm rests. Embroidery Plus embroidered the POW/MIA logo on the material for the back cushion and when done, Smitty’s put the seat all together.

While Pro-Kote Indy, Embroidery Plus and Smitty’s were busy working on the seat, Dick Harrington went to work building the platform for the Chair to sit on.

Once everything was done, Chapter members finished putting the display together and transported it to the Grissom Air Museum for the dedication on September 7th, 2019.



The POW*MIA Chair of Honor was delivered to the Air Museum
Tom Kelly, the Museum Board President, and Chapter member Ed Newbill receives the Chair.

Dedication Ceremony

The dedication of the Grissom Air Museum POW*MIA Chair of Honor was on September 7, 2019 during the Air and Space Expo. The POW*MIA Chair of Honor was unveiled by Thomas Jennings, the Executive Director of the Grissom AFB Museum, Tom Kelly, the Museum Board President, and Ed Newbill, member of Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter 1.

Special Recognition

Special thanks to Tom Jennings, Tom Kelly and the Grissom AFB Museum for allowing this special Chair of Honor to be placed in this special Museum for all to see. Pro-Kote Indy, Smitty’s Indy Marine, and Embroidery Plus for their efforts in refurbishing this special chair. Dick Harrington for building the platform that the chair sits on, Ed Newbill and all the Chapter Members that helped in putting it all together. Job well done.

OUR NATION POWs and MIAs MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN


Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Indiana Chapter 1, P.O. Box 26458, Indianapolis, IN 46226
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