Southern Museum of Flight Dedicates Exclusive CIA Exhibit

BIRMINGHAM AL- "Shadow Gallery--The Art of Intelligence" opened with a gala event at the Southern Museum of Flight Friday night. An excited crowd of over one hundred watched as former Air America captain Tony Coalson, Raven Forward Air Controller, James L. "Lee" McKinley and renowned artist Jeff Bass cut a ribbon dedicating this unique gallery.

Dr. Jim Griffin, Southern Museum of Flight Director said, "Five years ago, we discovered that the top U.S. Intelligence agency, the CIA, was building a world class art gallery based on declassified intelligence missions for display inside their headquarters at Langley.  We were asked to assist one of the artists working with the agency on this project, and we provided photos of our Blackbird.  Through that contact and others, we became interested in the other aircraft works the CIA was adding to the exhibit and began contacting artists involved." 

"After five long years of work, we now have prints provided by the original artists, featuring 16 of the 18 paintings hanging in the agency collection," concluded Griffin.  Coalson and McKinley provided the audience with an informative account of their experiences while flying missions and Bass discussed how he captured classified missions on canvas. 

The paintings depict highly classified CIA air operations throughout the turbulent Cold War years. Operations in Cuba, Southeast Asia and worldwide air reconnaissance are graphically shown.  Each is accompanied by a detailed storyboard containing mission information to assist the viewer in understanding the real story behind the painting. One of the most compelling pictures shows an attack by A-26 medium bombers flown by Alabama Air National Guard crews on a Cuban vehicle column during the ill-fated Bay of Pigs operation.

Also included is a painting showing American Virginia Hall transmitting intelligence to the British Special Operations Directorate from a farmhouse in France during World War II. Artist Jeff Bass took special care to capture this event as accurately as possible using photos of the actual farmhouse and equipment. A beautifully rendered painting of the CIA contracted Hughes Glomar Explorer's effort to raise a sunken Russian Golf II class nuclear submarine is also on display. 

A fascinating artifact on display is the actual U.S. Consulate sign rescued by a Marine embassy guard as Saigon fell in 1975.  You can still see where the word "Embassy" was covered over by"Consulate". Several former Air America, Raven and U.S. Air Force pilots who flew these highly classified missions graciously shared their stories throughout the evening. This is the only showing of artwork from the CIA art program available for public viewing in the country.  The rest of the program is at CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA, and used to honor former operatives and inspire current personnel.

Visit "The Shadow Gallery" at the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham and gain a better understanding of the history of covert air operations. -Special to the Alabama Aviator by Al Allenback