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Learn about African American history at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

  • Published
  • By Sarah Swan
  • National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
DAYTON, Ohio --  As Black History Month approaches, visitors to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force can view exhibits and check out online resources to learn more about African Americans who served in the Air Force and its predecessor organizations.

A self-guided audio tour guides visitors through the Early Years and World War II Galleries, pointing out prominent black aviators and significant milestones in Air Force history. The podcast highlighting Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first black military pilot; the famous Tuskegee Airmen; Engineer Aviation Battalions; the integration of the Air Force; and other African American aviation pioneers is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/podcasts/blackwings.asp. Explore U.S. Air Force history by listening to these podcasts on your computer, in your car or while walking around the museum galleries.

In addition, the Museum Lecture Series podcast and the Museum Audio Tour both include segments related to black history, from guest lectures on the integration of the Air Force to an audio tour on the Tuskegee Airmen. These podcasts can be downloaded through iTunes or accessed at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/podcasts/index.asp.

A number of educational resources also are available. The Black Wings Teacher Resource Guide, available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070319-145.pdf, highlights the contributions African Americans have made to Air Force history and includes information on audiovisual loan items and suggested readings. The museum's Education staff also created a lesson plan on the Tuskegee Airmen to teach students in grades 2-4 about the World War II heroes. It can be downloaded from www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110419-030.pdf.

In conjunction with Black History Month, the museum will open an expanded Tuskegee Airmen exhibit in the World War II Gallery. The new exhibit, which opens to the public on Feb. 11, will include never-before-seen photos and documents, as well as artifacts such as Col. Edward Gleed's flight jacket, Maj. Charles Hall's Distinguished Flying Cross, and objects from Lt. Col. Charles DeBow, one of the first five pilots to graduate from Tuskegee.

Finally, the Air Force Museum Theatre will show Red Tails Reborn at noon from Feb. 9-15. This three-time Emmy Award-winning film, produced by Adam White, tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and those keeping that story alive. Special price is $5, a $3 savings off the regular ticket price. A movie trailer is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzge_gJZPDs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&feature=player_embedded&x-yt-cl=84838260 or visit www.afmuseum.com/attractions/theatre/featured-shows for more information. The theatre is operated by the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., a Section 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization that assists the Air Force in the development and expansion of the facilities of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Details about the museum's Black History Month activities and online resources are available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/research/blackhistorymonth.asp.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world's largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.


NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact Sarah Swan at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1283.