About FOTAM
Mission
Friends of Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM) is a 501©3, nonprofit organization that was founded in 2017 by the Port of Tillamook. It was created to preserve and maintain Hangar B from Naval Air Station Tillamook and the Tillamook Air Museum.
Vision
We envision a revitalized Hangar B that showcases the role of Tillamook County in the history of the state of Oregon and United States. This historic facility will be preserved to provide vital educational experiences to learners of all ages, from elementary school students to seniors, both now and for generations to come.
The Threat
Despite its mammoth size, Hangar B is quite fragile. Constructed out of more than 3 million board feet of lumber, fire and moisture are a constant threat. Since it was decommissioned, the Hangars from Naval Air Station Tillamook have experienced two fires. In 1952 a fire in Hangar B was contained thanks to the bravery and action of Tillamook’s first responders. Unfortunately, Hangar A was not so fortunate when in 1992 fire ravaged the building, destroying everything except the concrete door supports, which you can still see towering over the prairie today.
Perhaps an even greater threat to Hangar B today is not fire but water, wind and the effects of gravity over time. The harsh Tillamook climate pours more an average of 88 inches of rain a year onto this fragile giant. With a footprint of 7 acres that equates to about 16.7 million gallons, meaning that in a typical year 70,000 tons of water will come falling on the roof of Hangar B! During heavy rains, more than 1,000 gallons of water can penetrate the roof’s defenses, leading to further deterioration of the structure and endangering the exhibits housed within.
FOTAM is preparing for a campaign to raise the funds required to restore, preserve and protect the Hangar B. The first step in this process is raising the funds to commission an engineering study of Hangar B. An engineering study will provide FOTAM with the necessary information to identify and prioritize projects that will lead to the revitalization of the Titan of Tillamook.
Hangar B Needs More Friends
Preserving Hangar B is a big project, but it can be accomplished with the help of our friends. Hangar B and the Tillamook Air Museum needs friends in the following areas:
- Donors – make a recurring or onetime donation to Friends of Tillamook Air Museum
- Volunteers – be a docent at the museum, participate in our speaker’s bureau or help our fundraising team
- Board of Directors – share your leadership and professional skills with our team working diligently to preserve Hangar B
- Advocates – share information about FOTAM’s mission with your friends and neighbors, voice your support for FOTAM in the community, attend public events sponsored by FOTAM and vote for proposals that support historical preservation efforts in Tillamook County
Anyone and everyone can become a Friend of Tillamook Air Museum and Hangar B. We look forward to you joining our circle of friends.