Vintage Aviation Museum

09/02/2026

An update on the roof repairs for hangar B. Please be sure to follow our progress.

𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙂𝘼𝙍 𝘽 𝙍𝙊𝙊𝙁 𝙍𝙀𝙋𝘼𝙄𝙍 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀 ✈️

Hey everyone! We wanted to share an update on the roof repairs for Hangar B here at the Tillamook Air Museum.

We are happy to report that things are moving forward!

As many of you know, the Port of Tillamook Bay has contracted with a company to remove the damaged roof flap and complete the necessary asbestos abatement around the opening that was created by the major storm in December of last year.

Following a delay in the contractor's schedule, that work is now scheduled to begin Monday, September 14th and is expected to take approximately two to four weeks to complete.

In the meantime, the Vintage Aviation Museum and Tillamook Air Museum are actively working to get contractors, materials, and plans lined up so that once the roof flap has been removed and the abatement work is complete, we can move as quickly as possible into repairing and closing the hole in the roof.

Our goal is simple: get Hangar B secured and the roof repaired before the winter weather really sets in.

There is still a lot of work ahead, but so far, so good. We are making progress, and we remain fully committed to protecting, preserving, and restoring this incredible historic WW II blimp hangar.

Thank you to everyone who continues to follow along, support the Museum, and share our excitement about the future of Hangar B and the Tillamook Air Museum!

Please stay tuned. We’ll continue sharing updates as the work progresses!

Vintage Aviation Museum & Tillamook Air Museum

08/29/2026

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon parts on the move. These have recently been moved to central CA for short term storage and they eventually will be moved to Tillamook. A huge thanks to B-17 Archeology for moving this load! One load down, several to go! Stay tuned for more updates on the migration of our Harpoons!

08/24/2026

An Exciting New Chapter for the Vintage Aviation Museum

✈️ In case you missed it, we have some BIG news! ✈️

The Vintage Aviation Museum is acquiring the Tillamook Air Museum and the historic Hangar B World War II blimp hangar in Tillamook, Oregon!

The Tillamook Air Museum will remain the Tillamook Air Museum. It will be owned and operated by the Vintage Aviation Museum. Over time, we will be moving most of our aircraft collection and artifacts to Tillamook, while keeping some of our collection in Utah. We will continue to be based in Utah—we are simply expanding!

One of the first major projects will be repairing the hole in the roof of the historic Hangar B. We expect that work to begin in the coming months, and we will be providing regular weekly updates on the progress, along with updates on the many other projects necessary to get this incredible historic facility reopened.

We are also working toward announcing a reopening date in the near future, so please stay tuned!

🚨 One very important thing to know: Hangar B will be dedicated entirely to aviation use. There will be no more lumber storage or RV storage in the historic blimp hangar. Instead, the entire facility will be utilized for aviation, with expanded aircraft, exhibits, events, activities, and visitor experiences.

Our goal is to preserve this incredible piece of aviation history while creating an even greater experience for visitors from Oregon, across the country, and around the world.

Please like and follow the Tillamook Air Museum page as well for additional updates specific to the Tillamook facility.

We are incredibly excited about this growth and the future it holds for the Vintage Aviation Museum and the Tillamook Air Museum. There is a LOT of exciting work ahead, and we are grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.

Thank you for believing in what we are building and helping us preserve aviation history for generations to come! 🇺🇸✈️

Stay tuned—this is just the beginning!

Send a message to learn more

08/20/2026

We are beyond excited about this!! We are expanding our reach, but we will still be based in Utah and the next chapter in our growth will be an exciting one! Thank you to the Port Of Tillamook Bay for allowing us to be the new caretakers of this amazing piece of aviation history!!

𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢

𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙄𝙈𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙏𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀

TILLAMOOK, Oregon- August 20, 2026 — The Port of Tillamook Bay Commissioners have approved a term sheet for the land lease and future sale of Tillamook’s historic World War II-era Hangar B to Vintage Aviation Museum, a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

With Vintage Aviation Museum set to assume operation of the Museum from the Port of Tillamook Bay and become its future owner and operator, an exciting new chapter is beginning for the Museum. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚: 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢.

Our identity is deeply connected to Tillamook, Naval Air Station Tillamook, historic Hangar B, and the people and stories that have shaped this remarkable place for more than eight decades. Preserving and sharing that history will remain at the heart of everything we do.

Work is already beginning behind the scenes as we are preparing to welcome visitors back to the museum. We look forward to sharing a reopening date as plans move forward.

Vintage Aviation Museum plans to relocate most of its aircraft collection to Tillamook, bringing additional historic aircraft to Hangar B and expanding the Museum’s aviation collection. Looking ahead, the vision is to utilize the entire historic blimp hangar for aviation-related exhibits, aircraft displays, preservation, education, and visitor experiences.

The future of historic Hangar B will remain a priority. Following the Museum’s reopening, efforts will continue toward the repair, restoration, and long-term preservation of this extraordinary piece of Oregon and American aviation history so that it can be preserved and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.

At the Tillamook Air Museum, we have always believed in thinking big, taking chances, and finding new ways to bring aviation history to life. Operating as part of a nonprofit organization will provide greater flexibility to pursue new opportunities, partnerships, funding sources, and projects as the Museum moves forward. Visitors can expect us to keep pursuing ambitious projects exploring new ideas and creating opportunities that keep the Museum moving forward.

Just as importantly, we will continue strengthening our connection with the community we call home. Education and outreach will remain an important part of our mission, including working with local schools and developing partnerships throughout our community.

We want to recognize and thank the Port of Tillamook Bay, which has owned and operated the Tillamook Air Museum for more than a decade. We have enjoyed a strong and supportive relationship with the Port, and the Museum would not be what it is today without their trust, support, and belief in our mission. We are deeply grateful for everything they have done to help us grow and look forward to continuing that relationship into the future.

Our relationship with the Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM) will remain an important part of our future. FOTAM’s volunteers have provided tremendous support to the museum and its mission, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication and hard work. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with FOTAM as we move forward together.

For those who would like to be part of this next chapter, contributions to Vintage Aviation Museum can help support exhibit preparation, restoration, and other work associated with preparing the Tillamook Air Museum to once again welcome the public.

𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/7577fb8f-4c8d-4f84-94d9-7dbdd9408746

We look forward to what comes next and, most importantly, to welcoming you back to the Tillamook Air Museum.

Additional information, including updates on our progress and a reopening date, will be shared as plans move forward.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢

The Vintage Aviation Museum is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic aircraft, aviation artifacts, and the stories of the people who shaped aviation history. Through preservation, education, exhibits, and visitor experiences, the museum works to ensure that America’s aviation heritage remains accessible to future generations.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢

Housed in historic World War II-era Hangar B, the Tillamook Air Museum is a dynamic and ever-changing aviation museum dedicated to bringing history to life. Featuring a diverse collection of historic aircraft, immersive displays, hands-on interactive exhibits, and unique visitor experiences, the museum shares the remarkable story of Naval Air Station Tillamook while exploring aviation and military history from across the nation and around the world. The Tillamook Air Museum believes history should be experienced, not simply observed, and continues to find new and exciting ways to make the past accessible, educational, and fun for visitors of all ages.

𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨

Sean O’Brien
President, Vintage Aviation Museum
503-569-4387
[email protected]

Christian Gurling
Museum Curator, Tillamook Air Museum
503-842-5793
[email protected]

Michele Bradley
General Manager, Port of Tillamook Bay
503-354-8043
[email protected]

07/21/2026

The historic Hangar B at Tillamook from back in the day when it was built.

📸 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠

This remarkable photograph, taken circa 1943, captures the south end of Historic Hangar B during active construction at Naval Air Station Tillamook during WW ll.

Take a close look at the foreground. Partially assembled Douglas fir trusses awaiting er****on fill the construction yard, illustrating the enormous scale of the building effort. More than half of Hangar B’s massive timber trusses had already been erected at this point, offering a remarkable glimpse into the construction of one of the largest clear-span wooden structures ever built.

Once completed, these massive timber trusses supported a roof that, if laid flat, would cover nearly 12 acres. Altogether, the amount of Douglas fir used to construct Historic Hangar B would be enough to build nearly 280 three-bedroom homes.

More than 80 years later, these historic photographs continue to tell the story of the engineers, craftsmen, and workers whose vision and skill created one of America’s most extraordinary wartime structures.

❤️ Help Keep History Alive

Although the Tillamook Air Museum remains closed, there are still several meaningful ways you can help preserve and share this remarkable history.

✈️ Support Museum Operations

Your donation helps support our ongoing efforts to preserve, research, document, and share the history of the Tillamook Air Museum and Historic Hangar B.

🔗 https://www.tillamookair.com/operations

🛍️ Visit Our Online Museum Store

Every purchase from our online gift shop directly supports museum operations while allowing you to own a unique piece of Tillamook Air Museum history. We also offer free local pickup for those in the area.

🔗 https://www.tillamookair.com/shop

🏛️ Support the Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM)

The Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum are working to support the long-term preservation of Historic Hangar B. If you’d like to contribute to their efforts, you can donate here:

🔗 https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-hangar-b

Every donation, every purchase, every share, and every comment helps preserve the legacy of the Tillamook Air Museum and Historic Hangar B for future generations.

07/18/2026

Great start to a P-40 factory 😁. This jig along with all the tooling needed to build P'40 fuselages was recently acquired. We teamed up with the Desert Rat guys for this acquisition. We are looking forward to the day when we can start cranking out P-40 fuselages.

07/11/2026

History is on the move!

This week, the Vintage Aviation Museum has a team heading to Mesa, Arizona, for an exciting mission—carefully disassembling one of our that recently donated Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon aircraft so it can begin its journey to its new home.

Only a handful of these remarkable WWII aircraft still exist, and we're honored to help preserve one for future generations to experience.

Follow along as we share photos and behind-the-scenes updates from the trip. We'd love to know—have you ever seen a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in person? Let us know in the comments, and please share this post so more people can follow this incredible project.

If you'd like to help make this historic move possible, your support is always appreciated and helps keep projects like this moving forward.

Together, we're keeping aviation history alive—one aircraft at a time. ✈️🇺🇸

07/01/2026

Excellent news about Hangar B!

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑩𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝑩!

The Port of Tillamook Bay is preparing to begin work to safely remove the storm-damaged section of roofing on historic Hangar B. Work is anticipated to begin in early August, pending final coordination with outside partners, and is expected to take approximately 30 days to complete.

This project represents the first on-site phase of work following the December 2025 windstorm, which peeled back approximately 200 feet of the roof. The work will focus on the safe removal and disposal of this damaged section of roofing, reducing the immediate safety concern while supporting future phases of work on Hangar B.

Safety remains the Port's highest priority, and this project reflects the Port's continued commitment to responsibly caring for Tillamook County's most recognizable historic landmarks. While this is only the first phase of work, it represents meaningful progress in improving safety and addressing the damage to the hangar.

We appreciate the community's patience and continued support as this work progresses. Additional updates will be shared as they become available. Stay tuned!

06/19/2026

This is certainly encouraging!

05/22/2026

What does everyone think?

𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙄𝙈𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙏𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀

𝙈𝙖𝙮 21, 2026 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘽𝙖𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙑𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙧 𝘽

TILLAMOOK, Ore. — With a heavy heart, the Port of Tillamook Bay board, following extensive discussion, financial analysis, and consultation with industry experts since December, the Port Board voted 4-1 to not proceed with repairs to the storm-damaged roof section of Hangar B following the December storm event.
The decision came after months of evaluation regarding the long-term financial sustainability of the historic structure and the significant local financial obligations tied to any potential repair effort. While FEMA assistance may become available, the Port would still be responsible for a required 25% local match — estimated to be $1.3 million — which would require the Port to secure additional financing through a loan for this portion of the roof repair only and does not include the whole building.
Board members also discussed the ongoing risks associated with the facility, including concerns about future storm damage and the uncertainty surrounding long-term maintenance obligations for the aging structure. For now, and into the immediate future, the Tillamook Air Museum will remain closed. Any significant repairs (more than just the current safety issue) would take months or years to complete throughout the building.
The Port board emphasized that immediate safety concerns are being addressed. The hanging portion of the damaged roof structure, identified as the primary public safety issue, will be removed in the near future. In addition, the Port will continue pursuing opportunities and partnerships related to asbestos abatement assistance and future site stabilization efforts.
Throughout the evaluation process, the Board collaborated closely with consultants experienced in similar historic military hangar facilities, including recent work involving Navy hangars in California. The Port expressed appreciation to Turner & Townsend, as well as others, for assisting with cost analysis, condition assessments, and financial projections.
Commissioners acknowledged that the decision was extremely difficult given the community’s deep connection to the iconic World War II-era structure. However, financial realities ultimately guided the Board’s action. Commissioner Baertlein stated that the decision couldn’t be made with their hearts, but had to be financial. Repair of the full structure is not sustainable in the future. The board’s role is to oversee financial decisions for the port, and the board wasn’t willing to put the rest of the port in financial distress with debt.
“Everyone loves Hangar B and recognizes its historical significance,” Commissioner Bill Baertlein stated. “But even if the building were rebuilt, the long-term financial outlook remains unsustainable. Estimated annual maintenance costs alone are three times greater than the revenue the building had been generating.”
The Port also extended sincere appreciation to the Friends of Tillamook Air Museum for their persistence, advocacy, and assistance in gathering information and data throughout the process.
“This was not an easy decision for anyone involved,” commissioners noted. “We are grateful to the many community members, partners, and supporters who care deeply about Hangar B and its future.”

Contact Michele Bradley, General Manager with any questions or concerns at [email protected]