The Research Division maintains an extensive collection of two-dimensional media as part of a government historical research facility. While primarily providing curatorial and historical research and writing in support of the museum's exhibits and aircraft restoration programs, the division provides limited research assistance to many external organizations and private individuals seeking information about Air Force aircraft, operations and personnel. The Division also serves as the museum's corporate memory by maintaining the museum's historical files and writing its annual history.

The Research Division offers only limited public access because our primary mission is to support museum programs. The Research Division considers research visit requests individually, with preference given to academic and public-benefit projects (i.e., scholars and researchers working on advanced degrees or material for publication) and takes into account security and staffing considerations.
 

Information Requests

The Research Division can answer brief questions concerning USAF history and aircraft; however, due to staffing limitations, the staff cannot conduct in-depth research for the public. No phone-in requests are accepted. All requests for information about the museum's history or aircraft must be written and sent via regular mail or email. This allows staff to efficiently handle a large volume of inquiries.
 

Research Visits

Due to staff workload and availability, we can accommodate only a limited number of researchers. All requests for research visits must be submitted in advance through regular mail or email. We cannot support same-day requests, nor can we accept research visit requests via telephone.

Research requests and visits must have specific goals and be narrow in scope. The Research Division cannot support generic information requests or visits intended simply to browse our collections. For example, we cannot support such requests as "I want to know what you have on the C-130 aircraft." Each research visit is approved based on its own research merit and our staff’s ability to support it.

The Research Division is located in a secure area of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and can be subject to closure as a result of heightened security conditions or other factors. Situations may arise that can cause the disruption or cancellation of a planned visit to the Research Division with little or no notice. We cannot accept responsibility for any costs that may result from the cancellation or interruption of a research visit due to security or other unforeseen requirements. Please bear this in mind when planning a research visit.

Written requests for information or in-person research must be typed or printed neatly and should include the following information:

- Researcher’s complete name
- Complete return address and/or email address
- Concise research topic (be specific)
- Purpose of research visit or query
- Telephone number (including area code) and extension (if applicable)

Research information and visit requests may be submitted by regular mail or email at:

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Research Division
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433

NationalMuseum.MUA@us.af.mil

Note: Due to workload, response time to requests for questions concerning Air Force history and aircraft may be lengthy.

For more information about research resources, please see the Questions page (see Research Resources topic).