WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Jerry Paul Roberts has been appointed executive director of the New England Air Museum effective Dec. 15, 2014. Roberts succeeds Michael P. Speciale, who retired Dec. 1 after 29 years of service.
Roberts has been a writer, an historian and a museum professional for more than 30 years. He began his museum career at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum in New York City and served as Aerospace Curator, Senior Curator and ultimately, Vice President in charge of exhibits and education.
He then served as Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum and most recently as Executive Director of the Connecticut River Museum.
The New England Air Museum is the largest aviation museum in New England and is a private, non-profit educational institution that was organized in 1959. Three hangars and an outdoor display contain more than 80 aircraft with permanent exhibits that include the oldest surviving aircraft in the U.S. – the 1870 Silas M. Brooks Balloon Basket, as well as an S-39 Amphibian plane – the first aircraft built in Connecticut by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. Featured year-round are many historical aircraft and exhibits including a focus on World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen, and a display about Amelia Earhart alongside a Lockheed Model 10 Electra – the same type of plane flown by the female aviator.
The museum is located on the North end of the Bradley International Airport airfield in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Great aviation museum! I particularly like their open cockpit days allowing the public to seat in the aircraft on display. I’m curious to know why there are 3 Ns in the word CONNNECTICUT on the tail of the F-100. One of my CAP cadets noticed it on the last trip to the museum and I didn’t get a chance to ask volunteers in the museum.