Nestled off a country road in the quiet farmlands of rural Ohio, sits a colonial-style home like any other on the street. Sheltered within a large garage behind the residence lies a treasure trove of military history that includes some artifacts without parallel anywhere in the world. 

The fuselage of an F-86 Sabre is the first hint of what the building offers, a silent vanguard watching over the bounty within. The aircraft is a future restoration project for Tech. Sgt. Ryan Spencer, an aircraft structural maintenance craftsman assigned to the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. It represents a fraction of the military history within the building it guards. 

Inspired by his father, an Air Force member with a deep knowledge of aircraft, Spencer developed an interest in model building at age four. In 1991, he decided to push the throttle on his passion by undertaking a special project. 

With the 50th anniversary of the 1942 Doolittle Raid approaching, Spencer envisioned a 12-foot-long, 1/72nd scale model of the USS Hornet, complete with replicas of the B-25s it launched for the Raiders’ harrowing air attack on mainland Japan, a high-risk engagement that significantly impacted U.S. war efforts. 

“I was getting ready to leave for the Navy,” said Spencer. “I communicated with the Doolittle Raiders, and at the time it was more Brig. Gen. Richard A.  Knobloch, who was spearheading everything with the group and their reunions.”

Knobloch was a co-pilot in the Doolittle Raid, parachuting into enemy-occupied China after his bomber was crippled during the operation. He escaped and remained active in the war effort until July 1943 when he came back to the U.S. for a new assignment. Spencer developed a close working relationship and friendship with him. 

In close consultation with Knobloch and other members of the legendary crew, Spencer spent one year meticulously building each part and assembling the model USS Hornet. He unveiled the completed work at the 50th anniversary reunion at the Columbia, South Carolina State Museum, where the model is still on display. 

The Hornet project kickstarted Spencer’s dedication to preserving military, and particularly, military aviation history. His friendship with many of the surviving Doolittle Raiders gave him access to an expansive and richly endowed network of living military history that helped him along his way. 

Several artifacts from the raid, given to him by the Raiders, sit among the most treasured pieces in his collection. 

“For the Doolittle Raiders, each navigator bombardier was issued two maps,” said Spencer. “This is one of the two maps that Lt. Col. (Horace) Crouch was issued. On the Hornet, all 80 men signed this. It’s the only one of anything that was signed by all 80 guys.”

Crouch held onto that map for decades before finding in Spencer a steward he considered worthy of maintaining it for the education and inspiration of future generations. The only such map in existence, it sits on Spencer’s display table as a backdrop for another unique artifact. 

The Raiders’ B-25s were equipped with the Norden bombsight, a highly secretive and very expensive piece of equipment that, at the time, was believed to be the most accurate ever created. While planning their mission, three concerns came up regarding the bomb sight. One, they didn’t want it falling into enemy hands if a bomber was shot down. Two, the bombers needed to be as light as possible to take off from the aircraft carrier. Three, they were not convinced of the sight’s accuracy at the low altitude the mission required. 

In response, Col. Charles Ross Greening, a pilot on the mission, designed what became known as the “Mark Twain” bombsight. It was much lighter than the Norden with little concern for secrecy and cost a mere 20 cents in materials compared to the $10,ooo value of the Norden. At various aviation museums, visitors can see replicas of Greening’s innovative and effective handiwork. But the only known authentic sight that was actually used in the raid was maintained by Crouch until he gave it to Spencer.

Many of the objects in Spencer’s collection were given to him, he bartered for some and others he bought. He has worked on projects for several museums including the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, which has shown strong interest in some of his items. At some point, when the time feels right, Spencer says some of the artifacts will go to the museum. For now, he maintains them with due respect and care as invaluable pieces of U.S. military history.

Although Spencer’s collection is held at his home, he relishes the opportunity to show interested coworkers and friends. Col. Mike Maloney, former 910th Airlift Wing commander and fellow military aviation history buff, jumped at the opportunity to lay his eyes on genuine Air Force and Navy treasures. 

“I was most impressed by the care and reverence for the men and women that the artifacts represent and the fantastic feeling that such treasures are in good hands,” Maloney said. “It’s not a collection, it’s a preservation. He is so skilled, technically, artistically, and he knows so much about the history behind everything in his collection. His knowledge of the Doolittle Raiders, Blue Angels and airpower history is amazing.”

The greater portion of space in Spencer’s garage validates Maloney’s perspective that it is a preservation. As Spencer’s collection has grown, so has his ambition. 
Working in an aircraft maintenance sheet metal shop as an Air Force Reservist, Spencer is a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic. He’s also an aerospace engineer. He uses that skillset to ensure the 910th Airlift Wing’s fleet of C-130H and J aircraft are safe and ready to fly, but he’s also employing it for his largest project to date: the restoration of a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk with ambition to return it to airworthiness. 

The fuselage of the aircraft, from cockpit to tail, fills a good portion of his garage, with a special slot in the ceiling cut out to accommodate the tail. He’s secured an engine which he has in storage for eventual use and is working a deal with someone who has a wing box he hopes to acquire. 

“This airplane has thousands of hours on four different aircraft carriers in Vietnam,” Spencer said. “It has some major history to it.”

The list of Spencer’s preservations goes on, including salvaged Blue Angels aircraft, battle worn flight helmets, patches, aircraft parts, flight jackets worn by U.S. war legends and much, much more. 

“It’s our history, someone needs to preserve it and this is my way to be with something that I enjoy,” said Spencer. “I’m a temporary custodian of some history here, and it’s important because it’s not my history, it’s our history. And I tell everybody that. It’s very humbling. It’s our history. It needs to be preserved. And when we have the opportunity to do that, someone has to step forward.”

Spencer has answered the call to step forward as an Air Force Reservist, but for the better part of his life now, as a dedicated preservationist of U.S. military history. 

Some day, as a child looks wide-eyed toward the azure sky where an A-4 Skyhawk thunders through a loop, twisting to reveal the U.S. Air Force National Stars and Bars emblazoned on the wings, it just might change the course of their life, and perhaps even the nation. 

If that Skyhawk flies once more to remind an older generation and inspire a younger, it will be because Tech. Sgt. Ryan Spencer stepped forward to treasure the past in the hope of securing the future, and because legends of the past entrusted him to do so.

*Editor's note: The story has been edited and photos have been archived pending review of factual information.