Fly Boys

Those who study WWI artifacts believe Parks's assemblage of pilots is unique in the world. "The fact that each of these models is an individual person is extraordinary," says Neal O'Connor, president of the Foundation for World War I Aviation, which is based in Princeton, New Jersey. "Not to mention that it's probably the largest privately held uniform collection in the world."

"He has as complete a collection of uniforms as I've ever seen," agrees Larry Soll, curator for the History of Aviation Collection at the University of Texas at Dallas. "And the fact that so many things he's gathered are about particular individuals is unique--these are not just anonymous artifacts. I know of no other collection like that in the world."

Years ago, as his basement filled, Parks envisioned his collection ending up at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. But a succession of different commanders there made negotiations difficult, so Parks approached Wings Over the Rockies, at the old Lowry Air Force Base.

"We were a backup," concedes Ronald Smith, the museum's president. "But we feel very fortunate to have gotten it. All the uniforms are original, worn by representations of the people who actually used them and fought. It's a world-class exhibit."

At first the museum dedicated a single room to Parks's assembled memories. Now, after grasping the full size and breadth of the collection, it has set aside two other rooms, plus storage space upstairs that is crammed with unorganized papers, photos and artifacts that will someday be open to researchers.

The exhibit of James Parks's World War I pilots is scheduled to open this June.