AUGUST 20, 1993
The Air Force Association Executive Director discusses the
planned exhibit with the Director of the Air & Space Museum.
The Director of the Air & Space Museum sends the Air Force
Association a copy of the first planning document for our review
and suggestions.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1993
The Air Force Association Executive Director expresses
concerns
over lack of balance to the Director of the Air & Space Museum.
NOVEMBER 23, 1993
Air Force Association and Air & Space Museum officials
meet to
discuss the lack of balance in the exhibit. Museum officials counter
that the exhibit is balanced.
JANUARY 31, 1994
The Director of the Air & Space Museum forwards a copy of
the
first script to Air Force Association.
FEBRUARY 8, 1994
The Editor of AIR FORCE Magazine interviews the
Director of
the Air & Space Museum for an article on the exhibit.
MARCH 15, 1994
The Air Force Association releases the first special report on
Script 1.
MARCH 16, 1994
Air Force Association Press Release --
"Politically Correct Curating at the Air & Space
Museum."
MARCH 22, 1994
The Director of the Air & Space Museum submits a letter to
the
editor of AIR FORCE Magazine, which was accepted.
APRIL 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine feature article on the Enola Gay exhibit.
"War Stories at Air & Space," by John T.
Correll, editor
in chief.
APRIL 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine historical companion piece, "The Decision
That Launched the Enola Gay," by John T. Correll, editor in chief.
APRIL 15, 1994
Air Force Association directors meet with
Congressional committee.
APRIL 16, 1994
The Director of the Air & Space Museum in an internal memo
agrees with critics that the exhibit does lack balance.
MAY 4, 1994
The American Legion adopts a resolution condemning the
exhibit.
MAY 25, 1994
The Tiger Team, an internal independent group assembled by
the Air and Space Museum releases its critique of
Script 1.
MAY 31, 1994
The Air & Space Museum releases Script 2.
JUNE 9, 1994
General Tibbetts, the pilot of the Enola Gay, calls the exhibit "a
package of insults."
JUNE 21, 1994
Dr. Neufeld of the Air & Space Museum in a letter proclaims
Script 2 final unless there are minor suggestions.
JUNE 23, 1994
Air Force Association finally receives a copy of Script 2.
JUNE 28, 1994
Air Force Association analysis on Script
2.
JULY 12, 1994
Office of Air Force History questions the lack of balance and
context in Script 2.
AUGUST 10, 1994
Air Force Association Press Release -- "Air & Space Museum
Continues Revisionist Line on World War II."
AUGUST 10, 1994
Congressmen Blute and Johnson with two dozen members of
Congress send a letter to the Secretary of Smithsonian condemning
the exhibit and urging solutions be found.
AUGUST 17, 1994
Senior Air Force officials, Air Force Association leadership, the
Director of the Air & Space Museum and senior military historians
meet at the Pentagon to discuss the problems with Script 2.
AUGUST 22, 1994
Air Force Association releases an update paper on
the developments concerning Script 2.
AUGUST 23, 1994
Letter from the Director of the Air & Space Museum to
the Executive Director of the Air Force Association requesting
line-by-line change recommendations to Script 2.
AUGUST 24, 1994
Air Force Association Executive Director responds by letter to
the
Director of the Air & Space Museum accusation that the
Association has not clearly specified the problems with the script.
AFA declines to make line-by-line changes.
AUGUST 31, 1994
Air & Space Museum releases Script 3.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine feature article on the Enola Gay exhibit.
"'The Last Act' at Air & Space," by John T.
Correll,
editor in chief
SEPTEMBER 1, 1994
Smithsonian and Air & Space Museum officials travel to the
American Legion National Convention to request Legion
participation in a line-by-line review process of Script 3.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1994
Air Force Association analysis of Script 3.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1994
Air Force Association Press Release -- "AFA Says Enola Gay
Revisions Must Go Further."
SEPTEMBER 12, 1994
Delegates to the Air Force Association 1994 Convention
unanimously adopts a resolution calling Script 3 "the beginning of
a continuing process of revision."
SEPTEMBER 27, 1994
Air Force Association Executive Director letter to the Director
of
Air & Space explaining time is running out and it is time to fix the
flawed exhibit.
OCTOBER 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine follow-up article on the Enola Gay
exhibit.
"Museum Promises to Change Enola Gay
Exhibition," by John T.
Correll, editor in chief
OCTOBER 3, 1994
Air & Space Museum releases Script 4.
OCTOBER 17, 1994
Air Force Association completes analysis of Script 4 and
forwards
with letter of explanation to the Under Secretary of the
Smithsonian.
OCTOBER 19, 1994
Air Force Association, The Retired Officers Association and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars meet with Smithsonian and Air & Space
leadership to discuss ways to make Script 4 less political and
more historical.
OCTOBER 20, 1994
Air Force Association Press Release -- "Enola Gay Exhibit
Improved, but Significant Work Remains."
OCTOBER 26, 1994
Air & Space Museum releases Script 5.
OCTOBER 28, 1994
Air Force Association analysis of Script
5.
NOVEMBER 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine article on the Enola Gay exhibit.
"The Three Doctors and the Enola Gay," by John T.
Correll, editor
in chief.
NOVEMBER 3, 1994
Letter from the Air Force Association Executive Director to the
Under Secretary of the Smithsonian with analysis of Script 5.
NOVEMBER 17, 1994
Concerned historians write to the Director of the Air & Space
Museum voicing their concerns that veterans groups are promoting
propaganda versus history.
NOVEMBER 23, 1994
Air Force Association meets with the Under Secretary of the
Smithsonian to discuss ways to make the exhibit less political and
more historical.
DECEMBER 1, 1994
AIR FORCE Magazine editorial on the proposed Enola Gay
exhibit, "Airplanes in the Mist," by John T. Correll,
Editor in chief.
DECEMBER 13,1994
Congressmen convey deep concern to Smithsonian and request to
see a sixth script in February.
DECEMBER 15 1994
Air Force Association, The Retired Officers Association and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars meet with Smithsonian and Air & Space
leadership to discuss ways to make the exhibit less political and
more historical.
JANUARY 9, 1995
Air & Space Museum changes label on number of estimated
invasion casualties.
JANUARY 18, 1995
American Legion calls for cancellation of exhibit.
JANUARY 19, 1995
Eighty-one Congressmen ask for the resignation of the Director of
the Air & Space Museum.
JANUARY 20, 1995
Air Force Association Press Release -- "AFA Blasts the Air &
Space Museum on Enola Gay Reversal."
JANUARY 20, 1995
Air Force Association calls for cancellation of the exhibit.
JANUARY 30, 1995
Smithsonian scraps the Enola Gay exhibit.
This ends AFA's chronology of events.