Estrella Warbird Museum

Estrella Warbirds Museum
Location within California
Established1992 (1992)
LocationPaso Robles, California
Coordinates35°39′50″N 120°37′12″W / 35.664°N 120.620°W / 35.664; -120.620
TypeMilitary aviation museum
Founder
  • Gary Corippo[1]
  • Glen Thomson[2]
Websiteewarbirds.org

The Estrella Warbirds Museum is an aviation museum dedicated to the restoration and preservation of military aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia.[3] The museum is located at Paso Robles Municipal Airport in central California and is named after Estrella Army Airfield.[3] In July, 2009, the museum opened an automobile display featuring classic racing cars, The Woodland Auto Display.[4]

History

The museum began in 1993, when it acquired and moved three buildings from a former almond orchard to the airport.[5] Originally founded as the Estrella Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force, it became independent in 2000.[6]

A collection of military vehicles was donated by Herman Pfauter and in 2015 it was placed on display in a new 5,000 sq ft (460 m2) building called the Red Ball Express Motor Pool.[7][8][9]

The museum acquired an OH-23C, O-1A and U-6A from Camp San Luis Obispo in February 2025.[10]

Facilities

The museum is made up of the Hangar One, Al Schade Restoration Hangar, Thompson Hall, Freedom Hall, Brooks Building, Woodland Auto Display, Hind Pavilion, and Pfauter Building.[11][12]

Exhibits

Exhibits at the museum include a radio room and a flight simulator.[13][14]

Collection

Aircraft

Armament and ordnance

As of January 2019, the following armament and ordnance were on exhibit at the museum.[52]

Military vehicles

As of December 2019, the following military vehicles were on exhibit at the museum.[54]

Missiles

As of January 2019, the following missiles were on exhibit at the museum.[68]

Other exhibits

Events

The museum holds an fundraiser event every year called Warbirds, Wings and Wheels.[69] The Paso Robles Taco Fest has been held at the museum annually since 2023.[70]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gary Corippo". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Glen Thomson". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Welcome to the Estrella Warbird Museum". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  4. ^ "The Woodland Family Automobile Collection". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  5. ^ Dirkx, Phil (26 November 1993). "Old Almond Buildings Will House Warbirds". Telegram-Tribune. p. B-2. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  6. ^ "History By The Numbers". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Red Ball Express Motor Pool". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Pfauter Building". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Red Ball Express Motor Pool Museum opens". Military Trader. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  10. ^ Estes, Adam (27 March 2025). "Estrella Warbird Museum Receives Three Aircraft from San Luis Obispo". Vintage Aviation News. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Facilities". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Grounds Layout". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Radio Room". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Eagle Flight Simulator". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Aermacchi MB 326 Impala". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Aeronca L16 Champ". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Beech T-34B/D-45 Mentor". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Beech T-34B/D-45 Mentor". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Bell UH-1D Iroquois". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Cessna T-37B Tweety Bird". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Douglas A-4A Skyhawk". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Douglas C-47B Dakota". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Douglas A-3 Skywarrior (A3D)". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Piaggio FW P 149D". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Fouga CM-170 Magister, s/n 451 ALA, c/n 451, c/r N9222T". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  27. ^ "General Dynamics F-16B Fighting Falcon". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Grumman A-6E Intruder". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Northrop Grumman F-14B Tom Cat". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Grumman F9F-8P Cougar". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Grumman US-2D Stoof". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Vought NA-7C Corsair II, s/n 156739 USN, c/n C-006". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  36. ^ "McDonnel-Douglas 4-4S Phantom II". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  37. ^ "McDonnell F-4S Rolling Cockpit Display". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  38. ^ "North American F-86F Sabre". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  39. ^ "North American T-28B Trojan". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  40. ^ "1944 SNJ-5C AT-6D Cashen Texan". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  41. ^ "North American OV-10A Bronco". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Northrop F-5E Tiger II". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  43. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Svenska Aeroplan AB (SAAB) A32 Lansen, c/n 32284, c/r N4432V". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  44. ^ "SAAB RF-35 Draken". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Sikorsky UH-19D Chickasaw". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  46. ^ "Sikorsky UH-34D Seabat". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  47. ^ "Stinson L-5E Sentinel". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Stinson V-77 Reliant". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  49. ^ "Taylor J-2 Cub". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  50. ^ "1957 UTVA Aero-3-F (Ikrus/UTVA Aero 3-A)". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  51. ^ "Vought F-8K Crusader". Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  52. ^ "Armament & Ordnance". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  53. ^ "M+60 A3 Battle Tank". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  54. ^ "Estrella Warbird Missiles". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  55. ^ "1959 American Motors M422 Mighty Mite". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  56. ^ "1953 Diamond REO M-52". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  57. ^ "1951 Dodge M37". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  58. ^ "1953 Dodge M43 Ambulance". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  59. ^ "1941 Dodge Power Wagon WC-4". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  60. ^ "Excelsior Welbike Mark 1". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  61. ^ "M113A3 APC". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  62. ^ "1912 Ford Model T Ambulance". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  63. ^ "1966 M181-A1 MUTT Jeep/Truck". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  64. ^ "M+60 A3 Battle Tank". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  65. ^ "Alvis Saracen FV603 APC". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  66. ^ "1942 M-2 White Half Track". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  67. ^ "1952 Willis M-38A1 Jeep". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  68. ^ "Missiles". Paso Robles, California: Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  69. ^ "Warbirds Wings & Wheels 14". Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  70. ^ "Paso Robles Taco Fest returns with over 60 food vendors". Paso Robles Daily News. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.