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This section of the website is dedicated to our March Field diorama and shows the many steps involved in creating this beautiful exhibit.

It is an authentic recreation of March Field circa 1942‑43, and was built by our own Howard Ramshorn, Lowell Stacy and the late Stan Jones.

It took over a year to build, and the attention they paid to even the tiniest detail is one of the things that makes it so amazing to see. 

The photos cover the project from beginning to end, with the full exhibit being put on display in our P‑38 Museum, which is located across the runway from the present-day March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, CA.

Clicking on each photo will bring up an enlarged image. Just click the back arrow on your browser to return here.

 

P‑38 March Field, circa 1942‑43

March Field Diorama 1
In Howie's Backyard
P-38 March Diorama
Beginning Stages
P-38 March Diorama
Moving into Museum
P-38 Diorama March Field
Admin Building with a few
people around about
P-38 Crew Diorama
P-38 Crew hard at work
Steerman
Many WWII Pilots received their first training in a Steerman.
P-38 Diorama
Lineup of hangars
P-38 Diorama
Water tower at the
end of the field
P-38 March DioramaAttention to detail. Mountains in the background actually exist.
P-38 DioramaTwo Lightnings taking
to the air
P-38 Diorama Drama
Uh-oh. Pilot running to safety after a crash. Cue the fire trucks.
P-38 Aerial View of DioramaNice aerial shot Howard Ramshorn
Diorama designer, Howard Ramshorn, explaining exhibit
to visitors
P-38 DioramaView of completed diorama.

March Field played a very important part in the history of the P‑38.

The first P‑38 (the XP‑38) was assembled at the Lockheed plant in Burbank, partially disassembed, and then transported secretly in the dead of night to March.

It was reassembled and rolled out for its first flight on January 27, 1939.

This diorama covers the period when P‑38s were in full swing at March.

red propeller

Romanian Rescue

Yippee (In progress)

P-38 Support (In progress)