National Museum of the United States Air Force™

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

Guided tours of the 4th building, normally scheduled at 3:00 p.m. daily, are canceled through May 28.

Effective immediately, the William E. Boeing Presidential Gallery will have limited guest access due to scheduled event preparations. The only accessible exhibits during this time include: Douglas VC-54 Sacred Cow, Flying the President Exhibit, USAF Established Artifact. We anticipate full gallery access will resume by June 5, 2025.

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 10, 2018. B-17's flew in every combat zone during World War II, but its most significant service was over Europe. Along with the B-24 Liberator, the B-17 formed the backbone of the USAAF strategic bombing force, and it helped win the war by crippling Germany’s war industry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)

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Memphis Belle movie actors with original crew

A 1990 fictionalized Hollywood movie produced by Wyler’s daughter Catherine added to their fame. Here Memphis Belle crewmen are pictured with the actors who portrayed them, in front of a B-17 painted to resemble the Memphis Belle. (Courtesy of the Memphis Belle Memorial Association)

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Memphis Belle being loaded with practice bombs

Memphis Belle being loaded with practice bombs at MacDill AAF.

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Memphis Belle crew celebrating

Memphis Belle crew and ground crew celebrating the completion of the tour.

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Memphis Belle crew with Gen. Hap Arnold

Memphis Belle crew at their first stop on the war bond tour, Washington, DC, on June 16, 1943. Commanding General of the USAAF Henry “Hap” Arnold (standing, second from the right) and Undersecretary of War Robert Patterson (standing, third from left) are pictured with them.

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Memphis Belle at Patterson Field

Memphis Belle at Patterson Field (now Wright-Patterson AFB) in July 1943.

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King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting the Memphis Belle

On May 26, 1943, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Memphis Belle crew at Bassingbourn after they finished their tour.

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Memphis Belle crew during war bond tour

Memphis Belle crew for the war bond tour. Nine of the ten crewmembers are in the early tour photo above—19-year-old SSgt Casimer “Tony” Nastal (bottom right) was added for the war bond tour. Nastal flew 25 missions, but only one on the Memphis Belle.

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Margaret Polk with Robert Morgan in front of the Memphis Belle

Margaret Polk with Robert Morgan in front of the Memphis Belle. (Image courtesy of the Preservation and Special Collections Department, University Libraries, University of Memphis)

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Capt. Robert Morgan, Memphis Belle pilot, thanking his ground crew. (l to r) Cpl Oliver Champion, SSgt Max Armstrong, Sgt Ware Lipscomb, Sgt Leonard Sowers, Sgt Charles Blauser, Sgt Robert Walters, and crew chief MSgt Joseph Giambrone

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Memphis Belle crew on the war bond tour.

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Memphis Belle at one of the war bond tour stops.

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Maj Wyler (fourth from right) with some of the Memphis Belle crew. Wyler flew two of his five combat missions on the Memphis Belle, including the crew’s 25th mission. This photograph was taken after that mission—crew chief MSgt Joseph Giambrone is painting on the 25th bomb.

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

Capt. Robert Morgan (left) shaking hands with Gen. Jacob Devers (right), commander of US forces in Europe, before the crew returned to the US.

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Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle™

(03/14/2018) -- The B-17F Memphis Belle being moved into the WWII Gallery by restoration crews. Plans call for the aircraft to be placed on permanent public display in the WWII Gallery here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on May 17, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kevin Lush)

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Screening at Entrance
All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons.
Prohibited Items
Prohibited Items:
- Firearms*
- Knives
- Box cutters
- Food and Soda Drinks
- Alcohol
- Coolers

* Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC §930 (c)

Permitted Items:
- Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.)
- Purses
- Camera bags
- Diaper bags
- Strollers
- Service animals

Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles.
Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum.
Visitor Photography Notice
Notice: Visitors may be filmed, photographed or recorded by the U.S. Air Force for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on public websites and social media.
Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum.