Bravo Zulu is the extraordinary story of the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, one of the world’s most significant collections of vintage military aircraft, founded by passionate aviation preservationist Jerry Yagen and his wife Elaine. Established from what began as the largest private collection of vintage warbirds in the United States, the Museum has grown into a living time capsule of 20th-century aviation, with a powerful emphasis on the aircraft and untold stories of World War II.
Featuring breathtaking photography of these historic planes in flight, Bravo Zulu brings to life the incredible machines that shaped aviation history, from replica Fokker Dr. I triplanes that recall the daring days of the Red Baron to combat-veteran legends like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire, lovingly and painstakingly restored to their former glory.
This book goes beyond the aircraft themselves, delving into the global searches, expert restorations, and extraordinary tales behind each addition to the Museum. It is also a tribute to a legacy of stewardship. In a remarkable act of generosity, Jerry Yagen has donated the entire aircraft collection to the nonprofit Military Aviation Museum, along with establishing a permanent endowment to ensure their preservation for generations to come. His vision and foresight have secured these flying artifacts of history, not just for today's visitors, but for future aviators, historians, and dreamers.
Bravo Zulu - a naval signal meaning "Well Done" - is more than a celebration of flight; it is a heartfelt salute to those who preserved it, flew it, and saved it from being forgotten.
“To the Yagen family, their passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, and pilots, I say, Bravo Zulu!”—Timothy J. Keating, Admiral, USN Ret.
