Aviation Museum Trying to Bring Fairchild C-82 back to Hagerstown

The Fairchild C-82 carried cargo for the military starting at the end of WWII. On Fairchild Family Day 1948, thousands of Fairchild aviation employees brought family and friends to get an up close look at the C-82, the first in a series of military cargo planes built in Hagerstown. "It actually took cargo and supplies into the city of Berlin during Soviet occupation of Berlin," said Kurtis Meyers, President of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. One of the only C-82 planes that are left fit for flying is now up for sale. "This is the only one still in flying condition, there are three that we know about, the other two in museums," said Meyers. A Wyoming-based auctioning company will soon sell the military memorabilia to the highest bidder. "Thats the big unknown of any auction, who will be there as your competitor. Were trying to bringing in the maximum it would be," said Meyers. Before the birth of the C-82, commercial airliners carried cargo during the war. Fairchild Aviation manufactured more than 200 C-82s in Hagerstown. The building of the aircraft created thousands of jobs and a huge boost for Hagerstowns economy. "It was a time when the entire community came together to build this airplane, there were thousands or more workers," said Meyers. While pictures of the historic aircraft are currently on display at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, officials said bringing back one of the original C-82s will preserve the towns aviation history and heritage. "Thats the big thing of Hagerstown aviation, they built so many great things and so many people were impacted really to get something to the point that people start remembering the heritage is a difficult thing," said Meyers. Museum officials will be heading to Wyoming at then end of the week to bid on the aircraft at the auction on August 23rd. If you would like to donate to help them bring home the C-82, contact the museum at 717-377-3030. You can send a donation into the museum. Officials urge you to donate by August 18th; before they head to the auction. Reported by Sinu Abraham" Greater Mount Savage Athletic Associations 5th Annual Pig Roast and Band Fest,1155559971,1155559971," Congratulations to the winners of the "Greater Mount Savage Athletic Associations 5th Annual Pig Roast and Band Fest."