Before there was a Palm Springs Air Museum, there was a Planes of Fame East at Eden Prairie, MN. The connection is Mr. Bob Pond. He had been buying and restoring World War II Pacific fighter aircraft since shortly after his own service in the Navy in WWII. With these ‘flying cats’ he opened an air museum next to the Flying Cloud airport in Eden Prairie, a suburb of Minneapolis. This was a challenging environment to try to operate a flying museum year-round, so finally in the early 1980s Bob began to move his collection of 14 aircraft and scores of classics cars to Palm Springs. It wasn’t long before aircraft enthusiasts, history buffs and the large group of veterans in the valley began to talk about putting an air museum in Palm Springs. In late 1993 the idea for a Palm Springs Air Museum sprang from the imaginations of four men: Charlie Mayer, Bill Byrne, Pete Madison and Dr. Mort Gubin. Charlie and Bill were conversing one day when a P-51 flew low overhead. Charlie said, "Why not an air museum with WWII Warbirds right here in Palm Springs?" Charlie was on the PS Airport Commission and told friend and fellow airport commissioner Pete Madison, a former P-38 pilot. Madison contacted his friend, Bob Pond, who was trained as a Naval Aviator and had been actively collecting and rebuilding Warbirds and classic cars in Minnesota. He knew Mr. Pond had been actively collecting and rebuilding Warbirds and classic cars for a number of years and was recognized as a person who could get things done. Pond was subsequently invited to hear a presentation at an Airport Commission meeting and afterward he declared he was interested in becoming involved. Thanks to his support and his contacts in the field of aviation, a basis was established from which they could move forward.

The Palm Springs City Council next came on board. Bill Byrne served on the Board of the Desert Water Agency. Between them they knew many key people who would help along the way. The fledgling organization incorporated, and the law firm of Best, Best & Krieger, and Lou Silva, CPA, gave their services pro bono. The Organizational Certificate of Incorporation of Palm Springs Air Museum, Inc. was dated January 5, 1994, and signed by Harold N. "Pete" Madison, Charles H. Mayer and Bill Byrne. The nine original Board of Directors were: Harold N. "Pete" Madison, Charles H. Mayer, Bill Byrne, Morton Gubin, M.D., John Lake, D.D.S., Philip Hixon, Rozene Supple, John Duncan and Harold Williamson. Messrs. Zack Pitts and Stan Rosine gifted the use of office space at 109 S. Indian Avenue. Things were beginning to take shape. A great deal of critical preliminary work was done by Secretary Bill Byrne and volunteer Harold Williamson who became President in December 1994.

In September, 1994 a ten-acre parcel of land was acquired on the Palm Springs Airport property under a forty-year lease arrangement with options. Government agencies such as the FAA and DOT had to be contacted and one by one the barriers were removed. During 1995, architectural plans were drawn for a 50,000 sq. ft. facility that would provide hangar space as well as offices, a library/education center and entertainment areas. In the meantime, fund raising became of paramount importance. After retaining the services of professional fund raisers with little or no results, it was decided to do it in-house. Presentations were made at several of the more prominent country clubs to inform the membership of activity towards development of the Air Museum. This was followed up with personal contact by Museum Board members to request financial support. Not one penny of public tax dollars was spent to promote and develop this project.

Construction started in February of 1996, and the Museum opened to the public with two hangars and 14 vintage aircraft on Nov. 11, 1996. Shortly after opening, plans were made to add a third hangar to the museum to house a B-17 bomber. In 1999, the hangar was completed and opened to the public. It would be another 18 years before another hangar would be added to the museum. The Major General Kenneth P. Miles hangar opened in 2017 to provide housing to the numerous Korea / Vietnam aircraft in the museum’s collection. Five years after the opening of the Korea / Vietnam hangar, the F-117 Pavilion officially opened in April of 2022. Housing the F-117A Nighthawk, the James R. Houston Pavilion is a state-of-the-art hangar.

The following names recognize those who were involved in the original planning and organization of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Some were active in community organizations that contributed to the early needs of land acquisition, permit requirements, design, etc. while others were volunteers who had an interest in aviation and wanted to participate in this important endeavor. Many are also veterans who brought a unique expertise and perspective to all of their work and many continue to add a true sense of reality and authenticity to our Museum as volunteer docents. Sadly, most have passed away since that first meeting in 1993, but the Museum remains as a testament to their dedication and a memorial to their service to the museum and to their country:

(** Original Chairman of the Board, * Denotes original Board of Directors) Charlotte Frediani, Dale Hardenburg, John Hill, Philip Hixon, Gene Holly, Phil Howland, Bob Kantor, Al Kortkamp, Frank Maiolo, LaVonne Martine, Ken Marts, Charlie Mayer*, Bud Moff ett, Roger Morris, Robert Andrade, Lee Barger, Bob Bell, Jesse Brain, Bill Byrne*, Frank Castner, Ken Church, Frank Coff ey, Faber Cripps, John Duncan*, Karl Eichner, Virginia Eichner, Chauncey Forward, Herb Franson, Bob Patterson, Bob Pond**, Josie Pond, Hal Ross, Art Silverman, Larry Simon, Evans Slater, Bill Stewart, Douglas Vasper, Juli Vasper, John Waggaman, Roy Wiese, Harold Williamson*, Marne Wilson, Fritz Young.

Since 1996, the Palm Springs Air Museum has honored veterans who risked their lives to fight for freedom and democracy by educating visitors on the history and importance of aviation and air power. There are now over 70 vintage static and flying aircraft and five hangars: the Pacific (Navy), the European (Army), B-17, General Ken Miles Korea / Vietnam / Cold War, and the F-117A. The museum also has a gift shop, library, theater and café.

The Palm Springs Air Museum has officially announced plans to remodel the front of the facility. The project will cost $2.5 million and take two years to complete. It will re-structure how guests enter/exit the facility, as well as add a 200 seat classroom / presentation space.