They say that “Time flies by when you’re having fun” and many of us at the PBY Museum must be having fun since the years have slipped by so quickly. Our first (Annual) Volunteer Picnic was held at Bowman Bay near the Deception Pass Bridge on September 22^nd. Officers and Trustees coordinated burgers, hot dogs, fire pit grill, […]

Summer 2018 has been busy and moved by quickly. All the summer events were successfully completed. The monthly speakers luncheon series continues to grow. Volunteer research turned up an historic icon in the bush – literally. The mid-year fundraising appeal wrapped up. After nearly one and a half years of due diligence, a decision has been made on […]

Laurin Bernard “Bud” Zylstra took his final flight on June 17, 2018. Bud was active with the Museum almost since its inception in 2002. He was born in Oak Harbor on January 22, 1923.

Zylstra joined the Army in 1943 and served with the 8^th & 9^th Army Air Corps Engineers stationed in Europe. He landed at Utah Beach […]

U.S. Navy Sonar Technician James Stutheit is our volunteer in the spotlight this quarter. He brings special skills to the project of restoring the PBY 5A Catalina as his experience is unique. “I was a restorations expert in San Diego before I joined the Navy. I did a lot of the older cars; Duesenberg, Delahey, Pontiacs, Cadillacs. If it […]

Many thanks to our PBY Memorial Foundation members who have renewed their membership during the first half of 2018. Thank you, also, to those who have included donations with their membership renewals!

Our newest PBY-Naval Air Museum members are:

Charles Moore, Oak Harbor, WA
Ken Cannizzaro, Oak Harbor, WA
Linda Rhodes, Freeland, WA
Marilyn and Michael Kelly, Oak Harbor, WA Welcome back […]

The new “Whidbey Island Naval Air Station” pictorial history book is now available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop for $21.99 + tax ($23.90).

Last time, you remember, we talked about the future location of the brand new museum. Many meetings have taken place since then and dollars have wisely been spent acquiring professional guidance in matters relating to land usage, building codes of Island County and information regarding State of Washington rules and regulations.

The current property owners have been kept up-to-date on […]

Assistant Museum Maintenance Supervisor Wayne Hastriter scrubs masking tape residue after the port wing star had been previously painted, adding finishing touches to the wing restoration evolution.

Photo by Joshua Auradou

Captain Geoffrey C. Moore, Commanding Officer Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), with the station Master at Arms, lays the wreath in the 76th annual commemoration of the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway was a decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II which occurred between 4 and 7 June 1942, […]

Surrounded by family, Rachel Atwood, a native of Oak Harbor, receives congratulations as the 2018 Eileen Brown Scholarship selectee from Wil Shellenberger, President of the PBY Naval Air Museum. With the $1,000 prize, Atwood is headed for Washington State University to major in Journalism. She is a graduate of both Oak Harbor High School and Skagit […]

Summer 2018 –

In 2018, last year’s solid progress is being carried forward. Venues presenting naval aviation history are being expanded. Education and outreach programs are being expanded and improved. Relationships with additional museums and PBY restoration projects are growing. Progress is being made on a new museum. And, finally, we are building on the last year’s fundraising successes.

We continue […]