SECRETARY'S REPORT 137 



T-6 for aircraft production. While efforts were being made by the 

 Museum to obtain use of premises in the northwest corner of the air- 

 port, it was learned that temporary housing for part of the storage 

 collection could be provided in Building T-7, an adjacent hangarlike 

 structure where Bays 5 and 6 totaling 60,000 square feet could be rented 

 to the Museum. With winter approaching, this move to T-7 was 

 better than undertaking the project of rehabilitating the quarters in 

 the northwest corner of the airport, but because the space in T-7 

 would provide less than half of the area required it was necessary to 

 place the remainder outdoors between Buildings T-6 and T-7. The 

 problem of protection was partly met by choosing those specimens that 

 could best withstand exposure, covering them with protective coat- 

 ings and surrounding the area with a fence, so arranged that the 

 largest boxes provided windbreaks for the aircraft. By moving to 

 T-7 the eviction from T-6 was complied with 5 weeks ahead of the 

 deadline of January 15. 



Hardly had this move been started, however, before the Museum 

 was served with notice to vacate Building T-7 by February 1, in 

 order that those bays could be used for a fighter-interceptor squadron 

 that is part of the air defense of the city of Chicago. This could 

 not be complied with because no place could be located or prepared 

 to receive the Museum material. Meanwhile the disassembling and 

 packing project was expedited and more material was moved outdoors. 



Modifications in Air Force decisions involving the use of these 

 premises relaxed the pressure on the Museum to move and permitted 

 planning on a more efficient, longer-range basis. Because the ultimate 

 destination of this stored material is Washington, D. C, or vicinity, 

 The National Capital Planning Commission was asked to assist. 

 Following previous application for a site for a permanent National 

 Air Museum Building, the Commission had recommended using a 

 part of the Suitland building area. The Commission agreed to assign 

 a 21-acre plot of this area for a storage site. 



Using funds that had been saved for the most part by reduced 

 rental charges at Park Ridge, the area at Suitland was surveyed, a 

 roadway and building areas were cleared, and six prefabricated But- 

 ler buildings were purchased. Remaining funds for 1952 sufficed 

 for the erection of only two buildings. With granting of the 1953 

 appropriation the other four buildings can be erected, and a portion of 

 the material at Park Ridge can be shipped. The efforts made at Park 

 Ridge by the Museum manager and assistants to preserve the material 

 there in spite of these conditions are detailed in another section of this 

 report. 



The enforced concentration upon storage problems has necessarily 

 •reduced the amount of time that could be applied by the Washington 

 office to local requirements. Here the exhibition program continues 



