Travis Air Museum… Memoirs of war

Terry Juran sitting in front of a B-25 Bomber.

There are uniforms with medals pinned to the jackets once worn by pilots who flew C124 airplanes in the skies above Berlin, and nearby, rests the aircraft they made famous. The airlift that tells of heroism at the end of World War II is documented, along with many others, in the Travis Air Museum.

The museum opened its doors to the public in 1985 and houses an historic collection of bomber and fighter aircraft including the C124, B52, B29, F84, F86 and F101.

“It’s the best museum in California,” says the proud director and curator, Master Sergeant Terry Juran.

Juran is a 26 year veteran in the active US Air Force reserves but his job as director of the museum is a civilian one. He gives credit for the position to his time with the Air Force and the opportunity it offered him to complete college and earn a masters degree.

“I think it was that master’s in history that gave me the edge,” he said. “I took over from the retiring director in 2008.”

Juran feels that the entire love affair with flying began when he was in the second grade and someone gave him a plastic model airplane. He grew up in Salem, Oregon in family of four boys. His father was a lead maintenance man for the school district and taught his sons to do hard physical work such as cement and brick laying.

“In high school I realized I had an interest in art,” he said. “So I enrolled in community college and took a graphic arts program.”

He found work as a senior industrial artist with TRW in San Jose and joined the Air Force reserves.

“All my jobs led to this museum,” he said. “I use my graphic arts training in this museum.”

In 1997 when the economy took a downturn and his company began laying off workers, Juran transitioned from reserves to active duty with the Air Force. He served 10 years active and traveled to 32 states and 27countries. His job was to travel with aircraft and maintain it. He was promoted to team chief and oversees 35 planes and their maintenance staff. He continues that work in a reserve status.

“I have gotten to see the world,” he said. “This summer I may go to Germany with my team to take over while the regular crew goes
on R&R.”

Juran’s work with the Air Force reserves and his position with the museum are intertwined. It’s the job of the museum to tell the story of Travis since it became a major staging point during World War II. The public helps do that by donating personal items that once belonged to someone they love.

“We want anything that shows how it was,” said Juran. “Photos and letters tell the story of every day life during war.”

From candid snapshots of General Jimmy Doolittle to those letters home from soldiers on the front lines, the story unfolds.
“We get some insight that reveals days of boredom and hours of terror,” said Juran. “Young people today need to understand the sacrifice and struggle they went through.”

There is so much to tell and so many artifacts that the 44,000 sq. ft. building is crowded with maps, photos, uniforms, a Berlin Airlift exhibit, the Jimmy Doolittle raid over Toyko, a cold war Hound dog missile, aircraft engines, early jet engines and piston engines, all cleaned and restored. Juran says he is aided by a extraordinary group of young airmen and volunteers who are all working to keep the museum going.

A new building off the base is in the future plans. The venture will be paid for by private donations and renamed the Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum. While the plan presents challenges, Juran is optimistic. Many backing the new museum are civic leaders in Vacaville. The board of directors include people active in preserving the history of WWII aircraft. Among those are Duncan Miller and Iris Taggart, who have both been featured in Senior Magazne.

“Our board has a lot of talented people,” he said of the directors. “The museum is a bridge to our community.”

About the author Nan Mahon

Nan Mahon lives in Elk Grove and is both the Cover Story and Senior Spotlight writer for Senior Magazine. She is also the author of Junkyard Blues, a thrilling motorcycle ride through Texas, California and Mexico behind a Vietnam vet running from the drug Cartel.
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