See Flying WW-I & WW-2 Planes!
Huge Memorabilia Collection!
The Vintage Aero Flying Museum houses one of the most historically significant and internationally recognized collections of World War I memorabilia in the world. We also have a significant collection of Golden Age of Aviation (1918 - 1939) and World War II aviation memorabilia and aircraft. This material includes memorabilia from Japan, Germany and other axis countries.
Highlighting the quality of our collection, we also have the only known "True Copy" of the Instrument of Surrender, presented to General Wainwright. It is important for our educational programs to show material from all of the nations that participated in both World Wars. The Smithsonian Institution sites our museum as a reference and regularly sends researchers out to learn more from our collection.
In addition, our museum's WWI British SE5a was the only non-computer generated aircraft that actually flew in the movie, "The Aviator" for the Hell's Angels scenes. Our museum's rare collection of World War I artifacts, documents and memorabilia were referenced for the historical content for the movie, "Flyboys." Our collection was also utilized as a source of historical research for George Lucas's "Young Indiana Jones" series.
We are called the Lafayette Foundation in honor of the men who served in the Lafayette Escadrille and the Lafayette Flying Corps. At the final reunion of the Lafayette Flying Corps, organized by Dr. James J. Parks in 1983, the charter to preserve the memory, service and history of the Escadrille was passed onto Dr. Parks and his son Andy Parks. Today, Andy and his sister, Andrea, lead the effort to both preserve and expand the museum.