AFA Blasts the Air and Space Museum on Enola Gay Reversal

Arlington, VA, January 20, 1995 -- The Air Force Association denounced the National Air and Space Museum's latest breach of faith on the Enola Gay exhibit regarding its intent to revise previously agreed to language that cited a range of casualty estimates for a land invasion of Japan. AFA Executive Director Monroe W. Hatch, Jr. released the following statement:

We have continued our discussions with senior Smithsonian officials in the hope that the Enola Gay exhibit could be salvaged. We had been assured that no unilateral actions would be taken by curators and officials of the National Air and Space Museum, in whom we lost faith long ago. It now appears that, on the side and behind the scenes, the curators are still working their political agenda. This is unacceptable. Museum officials have failed in their stewardship and responsibilities. We do not believe that a fair and balanced presentation of the Enola Gay is possible with the present director-curator team in charge. We conclude, therefore, that it is time to cancel this exhibit. Furthermore, if the National Air and Space Museum is not prepared to display the Enola Gay intact and without political trappings, the aircraft should be given to another museum that will display it properly. Finally, we believe that the Congress of the United States should demand an accounting to the public of how this debacle was allowed to happen.

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You may contact the Air Force Association at 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-1198, or by email: com@afa.org