One of Vancouver’s contributions to World War II — aircraft carriers — will be the topic of April’s First Thursday program at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver
The presentation, 7 p.m. April 4, will mark the 70th anniversary of the first of 50 “baby flattops.” The Alazon Bay (formerly the Casablanca) was launched April 5, 1943, at Vancouver Kaiser Shipyard. Retired U.S. Navy officer and educator Bill Wheeler will discuss the design, building and deployment of the ships.
Wheeler served on four Navy ships, in two naval shipyards and on two fleet staffs, and worked in the Naval Sea Systems Command as an engineer and program manager. He is an emeritus professor of engineering at Clark College.
Clark County Historical Society members, military veterans and active-duty military families with ID get in free; otherwise, regular admission fees apply: $4 adults, $3 seniors/students, $2 children, $10 families.
