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  • "Stumpy" John Silver: Heroic Winged Messenger

    Homing pigeons were used in World War I to deliver messages when other means such as telephones, telegraph, radio or dispatch riders were unavailable. They proved their value carrying messages from front line outposts to pigeon lofts at command centers, which they returned to by instinct and

  • McCook Field Wind Tunnel

    This wind tunnel was designed and built at McCook Field, Ohio, in 1918. Using a 24-blade fan of 60 inches diameter, the tunnel developed a maximum air speed of 453 mph at its 14-inch diameter choke-throat test area.It was used for calibrating airspeed instruments and testing airfoils. The item to be

  • Baron Manfred von Richthofen

    The leading ace of all nations during World War I was Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the famous "Red Knight of Germany." Although he scored most of his 80 victories while flying the Albatross fighter, he is most closely associated with the Fokker Dr. I triplane, the type of plane he flew during the

  • Capt. Phelps Collins

    The first member of the U.S. Air Service to die on a combat mission was Capt. Phelps Collins of Alpena, Mich. He enlisted in the French Aviation Service in May 1917 and transferred to the U.S. Air Service when America entered the war. He was assigned as a pilot to the 103rd Aero Squadron, successor

  • American Air Combat Stories

    Air combat in World War I was as varied as the people who flew and fought in the skies over Europe. The stories of four Americans and their personal effects on display at the museum illustrate their experiences. One of them was the first American serviceman to shoot down an enemy plane, and one was

  • Capt. Frederick Libby

    When the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, Capt. Frederick Libby of Sterling, Colo., was a member of the British Royal Flying Corps. To celebrate American entry into the war, he cut two streamers from a U.S. flag, tied them to the struts of his airplane, and flew them across enemy lines. After

  • Lt. Stephen W. Thompson

    The first man in U.S. military service to shoot down an enemy airplane was Lt. Stephen W. Thompson of Dayton, Ohio. Since his American squadron had not yet started flying missions, Thompson visited a nearby French bombing squadron on Feb. 5, 1918, to observe preparations for a combat flight. A

  • Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker

    Capt. Edward Rickenbacker of Columbus, Ohio, was a famous race car driver before the United States' entry into World War I. As the United States prepared to send troops to Europe, Rickenbacker was offered a position as General Pershing's chauffeur. He accepted and enlisted in the U.S.

  • Capt. William C. Lambert

    Capt. William C. Lambert of Ironton, Ohio, was the second-ranking American ace of World War I. He was officially credited with 21 1/2 air-to-air victories, only 4 1/2 victories fewer than the 26 of top American ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Lambert joined the Royal Flying Corps in Canada in 1916 and

  • Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley

    Note: This is currently off public display.Erwin R. Bleckley of Wichita, Kan., was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Kansas National Guard Field Artillery in July 1917. He was sent to France in March 1918, and when the Air Service needed artillery officers to serve as aerial observers,