posted 06-23-2010 01:16 AM               

Since Last October a team of volunteers have been developing a new exhibit with a focus on space flight. The new exhibit uses material donated by the family of Colonel Richard Wolfsberger. The Colonel passed away in June 2009 and the family noted that he had accumulated a significant amount of memorabilia through his years in the Air Force and at Lockheed-Martin. The colonel worked on the Atlas and Titan programs at Cape Canaveral in the 1960's and 1970's, and at TRW before Lockheed.

Last September, a friend of the family, Ms. Elaine Gourley, presented Wolfsberger's collection to the museum on behalf of his estate. A couple of museum volunteers reviewed the collection which consisted of several models of booster rockets and spacecraft, material from the colonel's postings at the Los Angeles Air Force Station, personal mementos, and material from his tenure at Lockheed working on the MilStar Program.

It was determined from this review that the material might be used as a basis for a new display for the Museum that demonstrates the transitions from air-borne flight into the realm of space and space systems.

A team of volunteers with a familiarity of space programs was recruited and the process of creating the new exhibit began last fall. Headed by Dale Hoffman, the team currently includes Mac Morrison, Barry "Herc" Smith, Mort Soogard, Dr. Jim Busby of the Aerospace Legacy Foundation.

The exhibit has developed into a collection of models and displays that encompasses the best of Los Angeles Aerospace from the beginnings of satellites to the Space Shuttle and beyond. The opening on June 25 will include Air Force general officers from L.A. Air Force Station, Northrop Grumman officials, and such notables as SR-71 Test Pilot Bob Gilliand and Dan Goldin (former NASA Administrator and TRW President). The following day it will be open to the public.