VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Military Aviation Museum on Saturday announced a $100 million donation, a gift believed to be among the largest charitable gifts from an individual in Virginia history.
The gift by founder Gerald “Jerry” Yagen includes some 70 vintage military aircraft that have been collected and displayed over the years. These priceless pieces of history were painstakingly restored to flying condition and displayed and shared regularly for the community.
The gift also includes the land upon which the museum was built, the historic buildings that were relocated there from sites around the world, and $30 million to establish the museum’s endowment. This money is designated to keep the aircraft flying – a core part of the vision Yagen had for his collection.
The gift was announced Saturday during the museum’s annual Warbirds Over the Beach air show.
“In the beginning, I saw this as my personal challenge to preserve history and these beautiful warbirds,” Jerry Yagen said. “I just didn’t want to see them disappear to time. I never believed so many would volunteer so much to help Elaine and I do this. I realize it is no longer an individual challenge.”
Yagen encouraged members of the community to support the museum to “help ensure we ‘Keep Em Flying’ long into the future,” citing a slogan the U.S. Army Air Corps used to recruit pilots during World War II. “I hope that all of our great-great-grandchildren will be able to visit this museum and enjoy the sights and sounds of warbirds in the sky.”
The aircraft in the Yagen collection span the first 50 years of aviation history, from just after the Wright Brothers made the first flight in 1903 to the Korean War period in the early 1950s. They include such historically significant examples as a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair and a rare, restored World War II German Messerschmitt Bf 109, all of which now are used by the Museum to share aviation and military history with the public. The collection’s transition to the museum’s ownership ensures these invaluable pieces of history will be preserved and accessible for future generations interested in exploring our rich military heritage.
“Jerry Yagen’s passion as a collector is an inspiration,” said Keegan Chetwynd, the museum’s director and CEO, who is shepherding the museum’s transition from a private collection to an independently managed nonprofit. “His efforts have saved many important artifacts from the scrap heap. These now form a collection of unequalled significance in the world, with stories from the war years being brought to life with each new aircraft restoration.”
Ken Yagen recalled how as children, he and his sister, Susan, watched their father’s hobby grow into a small collection. “Each new addition was very special to Jerry, as he would research the history of the aircraft, the pilots that flew it and the role it played in the war,” he said.
The original hangars in Suffolk soon were full. “That led to an idea, seeded by my mother, Elaine, to create a place where everyone could see, appreciate and learn about these magnificent airplanes,” he said. “The Military Aviation Museum was born.”
Yagen thanked friends, family and Museum staff, docents and board for helping to take his father’s vision and create a legacy.
While this generous donation is a monumental step forward, it marks just the beginning of an era of growth for the Museum. Ongoing support will be needed to continue the Museum’s work to recover and restore historic airplanes, as well as for the expansion and development of its education programs.
For more information, visit militaryaviationmuseum.org.