In support of an official event 

The Museum will be closed Sunday, May 25
In addition, the Fourth Hangar will be closed Saturday, May 24

Access to the Presidential Gallery will be limited from May 15 to June 5
 

National Museum of the United States Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force
Presidential aircraft at National Museum of the United States Air Force

About the Museum

Welcome to the official website of the National Museum of the United States Air Force -- the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world -- located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. This site is provided as a public service by the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Public Affairs Division.

Use the top navigation bar to find information about planning your visit as well as events and activities taking place at the museum.

Meet the Director

Learn about museum divisions. 

Museum Mission

The National Museum of the United States Air Force collects, researches, conserves, interprets and presents the Air Force’s history, heritage, and traditions, as well as today’s mission to fly, fight, win … air power anytime, anywhere to a global audience through engaging exhibits, educational outreach, special programs, and the stewardship of the national historical collection. With our educational outreach, we motivate, educate, and inspire youth interest in the United States Air Force (USAF) and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The statutory duties delegated by the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) are accomplished on behalf of the American People.

We are the keepers of their stories™

Playlist:
Video by NMUSAF PA
Museum Audio Tour 45: Cold War Gallery: Air Sea Rescue
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Dec. 31, 1969 | 1:06
After World War II, the U.S. Air Force’s Air Rescue Service needed different specialized aircraft types for all environmental conditions and locations. Look above to see such aircraft as the OA-12 or LC-126. Air Force amphibian OA-12s served in Alaska with the 10th Air Rescue Squadron. The LC-126 could be equipped with interchangeable floats and skis to permit operation from land, snow or water. The HU-16B on display is one of the last U.S. Air Force Albatrosses and it established a world altitude record for twin-engine amphibians when it reached nearly 33,000 feet in 1973. The CH-21B, originally called the “flying banana” was adapted to perform rescue missions under combat conditions. All of these rescue aircraft served vital missions for the Air Force during the Cold War. You may also be interested to learn that the OA-12 on display starred in several films, including "Murphy's War" of the early 1970s, before arriving at the museum.
More

Tags

heritagetourmuseumRescueCold Waraircrafthistoryaviationairplanes
More

Up Next

Museum Lecture Series 12: Combat search and rescue in Desert Storm
01:45:51
Museum Lecture Series 12: Combat search and rescue in Desert Storm
Museum Audio Tour 23: Modern Flight Gallery: Korean War Air Rescue
2:09
Museum Audio Tour 23: Modern Flight Gallery: Korean War Air Rescue
Now Playing
Museum Audio Tour 45: Cold War Gallery: Air Sea Rescue
Museum Audio Tour 45: Cold War Gallery: Air Sea Rescue
More Videos

Contact Us

National Museum of the
United States Air Force
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433
(937) 255-3286

Plan Your Visit

Air Force Mission

The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win ... airpower anytime, anywhere.

To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision:

With a Total Force of more than 689,000 personnel, Airmen work to support all aspects of airpower, which includes five core missions: air superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and command and control. Airpower also requires people and resources dedicated to unit readiness, base infrastructure and talent management.