Day 3

​Coffee and doughnuts before our “chariot” bus arrived.  We started our tour day at the haunted Distillery Ale House where Ghostbusters was filmed, as if we didn’t have enough “ghostal” experience the night before.  Look how we were greeted! 

​DELICIOUS Bloody Marys were served - YUMMY. 

​While we ate an early lunch of hamburger and chicken “sliders” (because that’s what they eat in the south), French fries, sweet potato fries, salad, the owner told us that ghosts have been known to be on site….  They had “Drink and Spirits” from the Discovery Channel come in and “mic” the three story building.  They asked the spirits questions and actually (supposedly) got answers.  He is supposed to get the results in a few weeks.  After all, this IS the most haunted city in the United States.
 
Next stop was the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, which is located in the “1819 William Scarbrough House” housing 18th and 19th century model vessels.   Scarbrough was the President of the Savannah Steamship Company.  There were models of ships throughout the 3 story building, but the most notable was the “Titanic.”  The model was amazing.  Each individual person, on the ship and on the lifeboats were created, and they are all different - no duplicates! 

​Leave it to KRAZY KAY, to find that the floor registers were hand painted to match the carpet!

​And then there is KRAZY KAY with KRAZY BARBARA

​We learned what the sailors did while at sea.  How creative they were. 

​Before we left, everyone was able to create their own “scrimshaw.”  With their tongues hanging out, focused on their piece, they scratched in their design and colored over the scratching leaving color in the scratches to make their design.

Thank goodness we didn’t have to do a ship in a bottle!

​We ended our day at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum for a tour and dinner. 
 
The 8th air force was activated in 1942 (52 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor) in Downtown Savannah.   It began with only 7 men and no planes, but within 4 years became the largest air force in the world! 
 
In front of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is an F-4C Phantom, originally designed for use on board Navy aircraft carriers. In 1962 the Air Force adopted a ground attack version of the F-4, which was used extensively in Vietnam. This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.  There is also a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17A, introduced in 1951 and used by North Vietnam and in many of the African and Middle-Eastern conflicts of the 1960s-1980s. They were originally built as a subsonic, fighter-bomber designed to intercept straight and level enemy bombers. Once the U.S. introduced supersonic bombers, the MiG-17A was rendered obsolete on the front lines. This Russian built MiG-17A bears the distinctive insignia and camouflage pattern of the North Vietnamese Air Force. This aircraft is owned by the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
 
Behind the Museum is a B-47 Stratojet, a key aircraft used by the United States during the Cold War years that could fly at high altitudes to avoid detection. This aircraft was pivotal as a nuclear deterrent in the Cold War. The B-47 was America’s first swept-wing jet bomber and helped lead to the modern jet airliner. This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

​Along with beautiful gardens. 

We even got a chance to start the engines!

​Inside the museum we learned about the conditions that allowed Adolph Hitler and his Nazi party to win the support of the German public and the use of propaganda by all countries and the essential role it played in swaying public opinion. 

​In August 1940, once Hitler conquered the majority of Europe and Northern Africa, he turned his attention to the United Kingdom.  While Germany was wreaking havoc in Europe and Africa, its ally Japan had its own campaign with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, launching the United States into World War II. After the Germans and the Italians declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941, the U.S. and its allies must come up with a plan to win the war with fronts on opposite sides of the globe. 

​The Hall of Valor exhibit honors a number of outstanding individuals who served with the Eighth Air Force during World War II.  Included are the aces, the Commanders of the Eighth Air Force, and those awarded the Medal of Honor.  These men paved the way to end the war!  The Eighth Air Force also played an active role through the entire Cold War era.
 
The stories of heroism and memorabilia will leave you in awe. 

​The museum set up a tasty dinner for us.  Salad, herbed chicken, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans AND peach cobbler. 

​Can’t do a meal in Georgia without peach cobbler!