 Maurice J. Baird-Smith R.A.F. Aviator, WWII Battle of Brittan Reserve of Air Force Officers No. 37 Squadron Prisoner of War Exhibit Curated by Christiana "Christy" Marcroft University of Florida Student NASFL Museum volunteer Visit Baird-Smith Exhibit bio page and slideshow
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 Lieutenant Alexander Ramsey "Sandy" Nininger
Hero of Bataan, Philippine Scouts U.S. Army, 57th Infantry Exhibit Curated by Matthew J. Bloom FSU graduate - NASFL Museum Intern Lt. Nininger was the first Army soldier to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II, for his extraordinary actions in combat during the Japanese invasion of the Phillipines. After charging through the Japanese lines, Nininger eventually succumbed to his wounds, and his body was found in a foxhole, surrounded by the bodies of 3 Japanese soldiers (including an officer). Recommended by General MacArthur, Nininger was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Lt. Nininger was a Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident. Visit Nininger's Exhibit bio page and slideshow Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum Veterans History Project presents Robert D. "Woody" Woodbury Captain USMC, WWII and Korea American comedian, actor, television personality and talk show host. He is perhaps best known for his best-selling comedy albums of risqué stories, most of which were released in the early 1960s. Woodbury was among the first standup comedians to receive a gold record. Woodbury was a US Marine Corps fighter pilot in World War II and Korea.  VIEW PROFILE AND A SLIDE SHOW  VIEW PROFILE AND A SLIDE SHOW 1st Lt. Arthur F. Mulock, USA World War II & Korea (POW - MIA)
United States Army - 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Lt. Mulock parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, then at Nijmegen, Holland, and at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during World War II. Then in 1949, at the outbreak of the Korean War, he was commissioned and was assigned to the Far East. He was last seen on July 20, 1945, at 7:00pm.  George with his wife Betty Sue Baxter Fairchild George Beyer Fairchild USN WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Chief Petty Officer (ADRC) George Beyer Fairchild was a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S Navy in 1945, and served his country during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He received several medals for his service to his country. George Fairchild served on the Seaplane Tender USS Pine Island (AV-12), during the Antarctic Expedition "Operation Highjump." In November 1946 the U.S. Navy launched the largest Antarctic expedition ever organized. Code-named Operation Highjump (OpHjp), officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program (1946-1947). Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd led 4700 men, aboard thirteen ships with twenty-three aircraft. As Byrd said, "The object lesson of all this is obvious. The shortest distance between the new and old worlds is across the Arctic Ocean and the north polar regions. It is freely predicted that here will be one of the great battle areas of future wars". Operation Highjump commenced 26 August 1946 and ended in late February 1947. The primary mission was to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV. George Fairchild's ship the USS Pine Island was commanded by Capt. Henry H. Caldwell USN, and was part of EAST GROUP (Task Group 68.3). Departing Norfolk on 4 December, the ship crossed the Antarctic Circle on 25 December 1946. Carrying one Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter, one Curtiss SOC Seagull amphibian, and tending three Martin PBM-5 Mariner flying boats. The ship contributed to the aerial exploration of Antarctica, and also saved several downed aviators from the hostile climate: on December 30, 1946, aviation radiomen Wendell K. Hendersin, Fredrick W. Williams, and Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez were killed when their PBM Mariner George 1 crashed during a blizzard. The surviving six crew-members, including Aviation Radioman James H. Robbins and co-pilot William Kearns, were rescued 13 days later. A plaque was later erected at the McMurdo Station research base honoring the three killed crewmen. In addition, a bay in Antarctica, Pine Island Bay, was named in honor of the USS Pine Island, and a glacier on Thurston Island was also named after the ship. George retired from the Navy in 1966, with the rank of Chief Petty Officer (ADRC) and moved to Headland, Alabama with his wife Betty Sue. They had 3 daughters, 2 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandsons. George attended The University of Maryland, The University of Guam, Pensacola Junior College and Wallace Community College in Dothan. He later graduated from Troy State University with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Education to teach reading. George worked for the State of Alabama as a GED Instructor. He was also a graduate of the Alabama Aviation & Technical College in Ozark, and retired in 2012, from Ft. Rucker as an A&P helicopter inspector. Well into his eighties, George completed a 25 mile bicycle ride at the Tri States-100 on August 25, 2007. He was also involved with various causes in his community. George passed away August 25, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Sue Baxter Fairchild. The Fairchild family were kind in donating Mr. Fairchild's WWII Uniform: Class A, U.S Navy jacket with insignia and two WWII dress trousers. Photos from Operation Highjump Expedition © Copyright South-Pole.com Read about the true story of the remaining six crew members of GEORGE 1, and how they survived one of the world's most remote plane crashes. At South-Pole.com: The Story of George 1 by James Haskin Robbins More from Ohio State University University Libraries Blog Frozen Fridays: ‘H’ is for Highjump! the story of Fred Williams, one of the first American casualties in Antarctica: A Tragedy on the Ice BACK TO VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT NAVAL AIR STATION FORT LAUDERDALE MUSEUM VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT The Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum collects and preserves personal stories and other documents from America’s World War II Veterans, with the purpose of building a lasting legacy of preserving history for generations to come. This History Project collects unpublished written memoirs of personal wartime experiences. We welcome diaries, collections of letters, and photographs that tell the veteran’s story. Maps, drawings, and other documents are also welcome. We don't have to keep your originals. You can scan your documents and e-mail us. This history project was started in 2010, with the introduction of NASFL Museum founder Allan McElhiney, who was a sailor in WWII. If you are interested in sharing your Veteran's story, or your family's history, please download the MEMOIR KIT below, or visit our Veterans History Project page to see memoir examples. 
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Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum National Register of Historic Places. A Florida Heritage Site. Only remaining structure from WWII left on the naval base property. Home of Flight 19 one of the great aviation mysteries. A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The Only Military Museum in Broward County. Support the Museum at Amazon
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