I'm an avid camera nut, and have a few times been told that I wasn't allowed to take pictures. Once at a ferry terminal, a couple times when I got too close (by boat) to the USS Stennis and also near the Bangor Trident sub base. Warnings may have been stern, but never abusive or unreasonable.
On the other hand, I once pulled out my camera after walking off a plane at a tiny airstrip in southern Algeria and immediately had a half-dozen automatic rifles pointed at me... I quickly put the camera back in the bag and all was well.
I used to live near Reid-Hillview airport.
I guess I’m lucky not to have had similar problems for stopping to look at the Half-Track they had on display for many years.
I don’t know if it’s still there, I think it was an advertising gimmick for a restaurant on the airport property.
San Jose International had a replica biplane at a theme restaurant too, also on airport property.
I’m sure lots of people took pictures.
If looking at or taking pictures of displays on airport property is a problem, take the displays down!
Of course we lose some history, but hey, it’s NECESSARY in order to advance complete Gov. Org. control.