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
 

Fact Sheet Alphabetical List

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  • Escort from Italy

    After the Allies had consolidated their battle lines across southern Italy, both heavy and medium bombers, along with light bombers and fighters, continued to attack tactical targets. In addition, the heavy bombers were able to continue strikes against strategic targets in the Balkans, northern

  • Italy Invaded

    While the AAF was bombing Germany from England, the Allies invaded Italy. The AAF and RAF hammered airfields, bridges, railroad yards and sea ports through Sept. 2 to weaken the enemy. In the process, Axis air forces in southern Italy were significantly reduced. The first landing was made on the toe

  • Medium Bombers

    AAF B-26 medium bombers in England became operational in the spring of 1943. Not having the long range of the B-17 and B-24, B-26s were used almost exclusively for missions to Holland, Belgium and northwestern France where they bombed airfields, transportation and lines of communication. Originally,

  • “My Gal Sal”

    On June 27, 1942, the pilot of a B-17E named "My Gal Sal" was forced to make a belly-landing on the Greenland icecap during a flight from the United States to England. He made an excellent landing with the only damage to the plane being bent propeller blades.Once the downed plane had been located,

  • Saga of B-17 PN9E

    The most remarkable Arctic rescue of World War II involved B-17 PN9E, which was reported missing somewhere in southeastern Greenland on Nov. 9, 1942. An air search was launched and on Nov. 24, the plane finally was discovered by Col. Bernt Balchen 40 miles inland from the Greenland coast. Thus began

  • Col. Bernt Balchen

    "The last of the Vikings."- Lowell Thomas, 1973Col. Bernt Balchen was America's greatest Arctic expert in modern times. Born in Norway in 1899, he served as a cavalryman in the Finnish Army against the Russians in World War I before becoming a pilot in the Norwegian Naval Air Force in 1921 where he

  • Lt. Max Lewis Uniform

    Note:  This exhibit has temporarily been removed from display.Items worn by B-25 crewman 1st Lt. Max Lewis, a member of the 445th Bomb Squadron, 321st Bomb Group, 12th Air Force. Items include a sweater, nametag, pilot wings, navigator wings, distinguished unit citation for the 321st Bomb Group,

  • Lt. Anthony Savoca Uniform

    Note:  This exhibit has temporarily been removed from display.Items used by Lt. William A. Savoca, a B-26 Marauder bombardier-navigator with the 320th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force, including A-11 flying gloves, tan service hat, A-11 flying helmet and AN-6550-34 flight suit.Click here to return to the

  • Steadfast to the End: 1st Lt. Raymond L. Knight

    Note:  This exhibit has temporarily been removed from display. In April 1945 1st Lt. Raymond Knight was a P-47 fighter-bomber pilot with the 350th Fighter Group based out of Piso, Italy. Knight had already completed more than 80 combat missions, received the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air

  • USAAF Tactical Ground Attack in Southern Europe

    The 12th Air Force was the U.S. Army Air Forces' tactical arm in southern Europe from 1943 to the end of the war in 1945. The 12th Air Force played a key role in the success of the four major amphibious landings in southern Europe and in breaking the enemy's entrenched defensive lines in