Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, formerly known as The Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park, is a museum on the shore of Lake Erie
in Buffalo, New York
. It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser , the Fletcher-class destroyer , and the submarine . All three are open to the public for tours.
The Naval Park recently sent a letter to all members asking for immediate donations to assist in keeping the park open. The letter claims that due to budgetary reasons, its funding has been eliminated and that it needs money to stay open.
used by the US Marine Corps in the late fifties and early sixties, an Army M41 Walker Bulldog
tank used in the Korean War
, a Marine M-84 Armored personnel carrier, a Huey
flown in Vietnam
, an Air Force
F-101 Voodoo
flown by the Air National Guard's 136th FIS, Niagara Falls ARS, a Trumpy-class Fast Patrol Craft
, used in Vietnam, a Navy FJ Fury
(FJ-4) jet (equivalent to the Air Force's F-86 Sabre
), and a P-39 Airacobra manufactured at Bell Aircraft
in Buffalo which saw service in World War II
. The sail and rudder of the submarine are also on display here.
The park is located near the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. It is home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser , the Fletcher-class destroyer , and the submarine . All three are open to the public for tours.
History
The construction of the Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park (later named the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park) was begun in 1977. The park was opened to the public on July 4, 1979. The Cleveland-class cruiser , the Fletcher-class destroyer were part of the original display. In 1988 the submarine was added. In 1989 the Croaker underwent a refit.The Naval Park recently sent a letter to all members asking for immediate donations to assist in keeping the park open. The letter claims that due to budgetary reasons, its funding has been eliminated and that it needs money to stay open.
Displays
Along with the ships, there are a variety of smaller vehicles, vessels, and aircraft are also on display at the park. These include a tiny X-Ron 1 Rotorcycle one-man helicopterHelicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
used by the US Marine Corps in the late fifties and early sixties, an Army M41 Walker Bulldog
M41 Walker Bulldog
The M41 Walker Bulldog was a U.S. light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. It was named for General Walton Walker who died in a jeep accident in Korea...
tank used in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, a Marine M-84 Armored personnel carrier, a Huey
Huey
-People:* Huey * Huey Lewis, rock musician, noted for his band Huey Lewis & the News* Huey Long , US democratic party politician, known as "The Kingfish"* Huey Long , American musician* Huey P...
flown in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, an Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
F-101 Voodoo
F-101 Voodoo
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
flown by the Air National Guard's 136th FIS, Niagara Falls ARS, a Trumpy-class Fast Patrol Craft
Fast Patrol Craft
Patrol Craft Fast , also known as Swift Boats, were all-aluminum, long, shallow-draft vessels operated by the U.S. Navy, initially to patrol the coastal areas and later for work in the interior waterways as part of the Brown Water Navy to interdict Vietcong movement of arms and munitions,...
, used in Vietnam, a Navy FJ Fury
FJ Fury
The North American FJ-2/-3 Fury were a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based on the United States Air Force's F-86 Sabre, these aircraft featured folding wings, and a longer nose landing strut designed to both increase angle of attack upon...
(FJ-4) jet (equivalent to the Air Force's F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
), and a P-39 Airacobra manufactured at Bell Aircraft
Bell Aircraft
The Bell Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer of the United States, a builder of several types of fighter aircraft for World War II but most famous for the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft, and for the development and production of many important civilian and military helicopters...
in Buffalo which saw service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The sail and rudder of the submarine are also on display here.
The park is located near the First Niagara Center in downtown Buffalo. Hours vary by season, but the park is closed from December to March.