Fagen Fighters WWII Museum - The Trainer Hanger

 Earlier this summer a friend told us about a fabulous WWII museum in Granite Falls MN. We added it to our summer list of places and included a day of some geocaching. This is one time the geocaching took a second seat. This museum is outstanding and so worthy of a visit by anyone with an interest in WWII.

There are four buildings with plans for a fifth one, just to give you an idea of the size. Because of the number of photos and information, I am dividing it into three parts. 

4.5 miles south of Granite Falls on State Highway 23

mannequins in appropriate dress

every plane flies

every vehicle runs

every piece has a display board of info

A plane had been moved outside and was running before we entered the museum. While Hubby was reading and asking questions, I went to watch the doors open

and the plane getting hooked to a mover tractor. 

The tractor pushed the plane back into its display spot with the help of a human assistant.

When it was back in place, the big door closed.

A USO mural and display. Ron Fagen and his wife are in the painted booth on the far right.

A little background info as to how the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum came to be.

The museum was started by Ron Fagen as a tribute to his father Ray, a pilot and a WWII veteran. The Fagen family owns and leads Fagen Inc. and Fagen Engineering, which is among the largest builders of ethanol plants in the country. Ron Fagen began flying, collecting and restoring vintage World War II aircraft decades ago. During the recession he decided to build a tornado-proof hangar and develop the museum as a way to keep employees working. Ron’s wife Diane and two sons are avid aviation enthusiasts and pilots as well. ~ Kingsbury Journal

Ray Fagen passed away in 2010. His son Ron and wife Diane began building the museum in his father's honor. The four hangers house 17 operational, restored planes in pristine condition, which fly at the air show in June. The museum (one building) opened in 2012 and has grown ever since, and continues to expand.

“During the recession, we had some slack time. Rather than lay anybody off, I asked my engineers to design a windproof and tornado-proof building – something to preserve these treasured aircraft, and by the way, make it LOOK like a World War II hangar.” ~ from an interview with Ron Fagen and worthy of a read.