Bringing history to life
Fagen Fighters World War II Museum in Granite Falls features airplanes and memorabilia
Trending
GRANITE FALLS -- A group of southwest Minnesota residents spent D-Day 2023 seeing a world class collection of World War II airplanes and memorabilia.
They toured the Fagen Fighters World War II Museum, located south of Granite Falls at the Lenzen Roe Fagen Memorial Airport. The museum includes three hangar buildings, a wartime briefing bunker and a control tower.
All planes are displayed with signs that give complete descriptions of their history. The planes are surrounded by colorful murals and cases filled with objects from the World War II era.
One plane, acquired last year, is a Japanese Zero that was rescued from the South Pacific. It was restored in Russia before being brought to the United States in 1997.
All of the planes have a combination original parts and new components. The new features are needed to restore the planes to flying condition, a primary goal of vintage airplane collectors.
"They almost always have to be restored," said museum guide Becky Benson, a greeter for the Marshall group. "We do some restoration work here. In other cases we hire restorers to bring them back to the best possible condition."
The memorabilia cases feature a wide range of topics, including sets of objects from Germany and Japan. Among the other examples are Native American code talkers, radio as a public information resource, and the formation of the United States Air Force as worldwide tensions mounted in the 1930s.
A special feature in the Bomber Hangar is a holocaust boxcar depicting a scene in which Nazi guards force Jews into a rail car.
The Fighter Hangar includes a display of the landing at Normandy on D-Day. Mannequins on the sand and in a landing craft are flanked by soldiers coming ashore in the bakground mural.
Museum founder Ron Fagen's father, Ray, landed at Utah Beach 79 years ago on D-Day. The landing display includes sand that was taken from Utah Beach.
"Ray's war experience was the reason the museum was started," Benson said. "Ron wanted it because of his family connection to the war. He wanted something that would bring the history to life, that would keep it alive for future generations."
Fagen started the museum in 2012 with two hangars. He acquires collection items whenever he sees a good opportunity to add something new.
"A lot of it is through word of mouth," said Fagen in an interview. "We also watch the sales and auctions. A lot of what I've found comes directly from overseas."
His most recent acquisition, which arrived several weeks ago, is a bulk fuel truck that was previously used as part of a British movie set. He plans to open a fourth hangar building in August. He said there will be a special surpirse inside the hangar, which will be unveiled as part of the dedication ceremony.
His strategy for the museum over the past decade has been to aim for both quantity and quality. The displays collectively offer a window into the life of World War II airmen, soldiers and civilians.
"I've never thought about how big it should get," Fagen said. "I've kept adding because I want a tribute to the Greatest Generation, one that will impress the people who visit us."