BOISE -- The Idaho Military History Museum added a new aircraft to its collection Sunday.
The museum now has a WWII-era trainer aircraft, a PT-23.
Historically, the dual, open cockpit trainers were used to train airmen as they prepared to fight in Europe and Asia.
"Gowen Field started out as a World War Two training base for bombers, both B-17s and 24s," said Ken Swanson, director of the Idaho Military Museum. "So all the pilots that went through here, they started out on something like this. So, it's an important part of Gowen Field history."
The plane was originally restored by Raymond Nadeau in 1955. It went through several owners before being donated by Micron CEO Steve Appleton to the Idaho Aviation Hall of Fame, who passed it on to the Idaho Military History Museum.
The plane is flightworthy, as it proved on its voyage from a hangar in Caldwell to its new home in Boise. It also has all of its original parts.
"That's why it's so nice, because it is an original piece," Swanson said. "We're lucky enough to have it."
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