Pratt & Whitney has donated $1 million to the National World War II Museum to help tell the story of America’s experience in the war that changed the world. In addition to the monetary pledge, the company is donating a Twin Wasp R-1830-90D, an engine that powered several different World War II aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company.

Pratt & Whitney president David Hess sees the donation as important to sharing the history of this pivotal time in world events. “We applaud the great work being done by the Museum to honor and commemorate the courage, determination and sacrifice of the “Greatest Generation” that won the war.”

The donation will be used in part to obtain and exhibit a Corsair, a World War II-era fighter aircraft made famous by “Pappy” Boyington’s Black Sheep Squadron. The Twin Wasp engine will provide museum visitors with a close-up look at the technology that powered thousands of aircraft during the war. Pratt & Whitney produced over 360,000 aircraft engines during the World War II era.

Mr. Hess will be joining the Board of Trustees for the museum. The National World War II Museum opened in 2000 and is the only museum in the United States that addresses all of the amphibious invasions of World War II, honoring the more than 16 million Americans who took part in this global conflict.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

Pratt & Whitney press release