The Sinclair Men’s Basketball team took a day off of practice Wednesday to visit the United States Air Force Museum. Wright Patterson Air Force Base is the site of the Presidential and Research & Development Galleries that houses a number of aircraft including President Kennedy’s Air Force One from the day of his assassination. Advanced permission was given for a special viewing time at the Presidential and Research & Development Galleries which is located on the controlled-access portion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Leading up to Wednesday’s WPAFB visit, Professor Laurel Mayer presented an overview of the time period of the Kennedy assassination and the events surrounding the Kennedy Administration. Professor Mayer also touched on the other exhibits at the Presidential Galleries during his hour presentation to the team.

The SAM 26000 (Special Air Mission; tail number 26000) flew President Kennedy to Berlin in 1963, where he declared to West Berliners, "Ich bin ein Berliner," assuring them of continuing United States support in the face of Communist threats and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Kennedy also flew aboard SAM 26000 to Dallas, Texas, where he was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 -- and it was on this airplane that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president. SAM 26000 then carried John F. Kennedy's body and President Johnson back to Washington, D.C. Johnson also used SAM 26000 to visit U.S. troops in Vietnam during the Southeast Asia War.

The afternoon was spent touring the Presidential and Research & Development Galleries as team members moved from exhibit to exhibit. The trip to WPAFB was just one of many educational venues that is a part of the Men’s Basketball Player Enhancement Program (PEP). The program was developed as part of a long range goal to assist our young men and help them grow both on and off the court through guest lectures and off site visits. Some of the program highlights have included: tours of the White House, Arlington Cemetery, Supreme Court, US Capitol, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (Philly) as well as speakers from the Secret Service, Sinclair Professors, local business professionals and former/current NBA & NFL players.


Coach Price
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Assistant Athletic Director
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 512-2861