Two beautiful new benches welcome visitors to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park, and the Museum has North American Aviation to thank for them.

On Wednesday, March 28, a group of more than 35 retirees and former employees from North American Aviation dedicated the benches in front of the Museum. Among the dignitaries at the dedication: Chuck Lowry, who organized the gathering; Ret. Gen. Robert Cardenas and a member of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the Museum; Janet Westling, the daughter of Dale Myers, who also is a member of the Hall of Fame; Col. Angie Suplisson; Jim Graham, the grandson of James "Dutch" Kindelberger, a major figure at North American and also a member of the Hall of Fame; Dave Barnett, a volunteer at the Museum who flew the North American-made F-100 Super Sabre; and Ed Rusinek, the designer and major force behind the benches.

Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the Museum, welcomed the group, saying “The reason we get to do everything we do here at the Museum every day is a result of the efforts of great companies like North American Aviation and the dedicated men and women like you who served our country. You help us tell the critical stories of teams of men and women like you who were at the forefront of science, engineering, technology and math and how they can inspire our future greatest generations.”

North American made some of the most famous planes in history. As a result, the benches include illustrations of many of those planes, including: P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, B-25 Mitchell, FJ-4 Fury, AJ-2 Savage, RA-5C Vigilante, F-100 Super Sabre, B-1B Lancer and OV-10 Bronco.

The North American Aviation divisions displayed on the benches include: The Los Angeles Division; Columbus Division; Space & Information Systems Division; Autonetics Division; Rocketdyne Division; and Atomics International Division.

The North American Aviation divisions displayed on the benches include: the Los Angeles Division; the Columbus Division; Space & Information Systems Division; Autonetics Division; Rocketdyne Division; and the Atomics International Division.

The bench to the right of the main entrance is inscribed with two important messages, including "Proudly Remembered by the Retirees of North American Aviation" and "Providing the Weapons to Match the Courage." The bench to the left of the entrance is inscribed with "1942-1945. In solemn memory of the 41,802 Airmen of the United States Army Air Forces who were killed bringing freedom to the enslaved peoples of occupied Europe" and with "Never Forgotten by the Retirees of North American Aviation."

The Museum is fortunate to have one of the benches, little yet two. Late in the ceremony, Rusinek, who designed the benches, announced late in the ceremony that through the efforts of the dedicated retirees and former employees of North American Aviation, a total of 10 of the benches will be placed at important locations around the United States.  "Thank you for everything you did for North American Aviation and for the men and women who served our country," said Rusinek. "I love you all like you are my own family." 

Colonel Angie Suplisson and General (Ret.) Robert Cardenas