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  • Col. John Plating

    "Air Transport and the Politics of War"Feb. 21, 2013 - 7:30 p.m.Col. John Plating is an associate professor of history at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He earned his Ph.D. in military history at The Ohio State University, and is the author of The Hump: America's Strategy for

  • Mr. Herbert A. Mason Jr.

    "Contributions USAF Special Operations Forces Have Made to the Development of Air and Space Power, 1942 to 2012"Jan. 31, 2013 - 7:30 p.m.Until the 21st century, Special Operations was not a core mission for the USAF. Despite their wartime accomplishments and between-the-war usefulness, Special

  • Northrop “Gee-Whizz” Decelerator Sled

    During World War II, the U.S. military became concerned with pilot injuries experienced during aircraft accidents.  To better understand the problem, the U.S. Air Force ran tests launching this sled down a 2,000 ft. long track at up to 200 mph. The sled was then quickly stopped, producing a

  • Demobilization & Reorganization

    At the time of the Japanese surrender ending World War II, the AAF was the most powerful air force in the world with a strength of some 64,000 planes, of which two-thirds were combat aircraft. Secure in the monopoly of the atomic bomb, the U.S. demobilized quickly, withdrawing troops from around the

  • "Fiery Ginger IV" Vertical Fin

    On display in Fiery Ginger IV's vertical fin. Some of the red, yellow and blue stripes remain on the top of the tail, even after decades in tropical weather. Each stripe represented one of the colors of the 348th Fighter Group's three squadrons. Though not visible today, the unpainted metal areas

  • Col. Neel E. Kearby Medal of Honor

    Col. Neel E. Kearby, a particularly aggressive fighter pilot and motivating leader, often initiated successful flights against superior numbers. On Oct. 11, 1943, Kearby led three of his pilots against nearly 50 Japanese aircraft near Wewak. Tearing through the enemy formation, Kearby shot down six

  • Informal Shirts

    To the left is a shirt adopted by the men of Flight B, 3rd Air Rescue Service (ARS) Squadron during the Korean War for wear on informal occasions. The donor commanded this unit when it was activated in June 1950. The shirt was donated by Col. Christopher Bressan, USAF (Ret.) from San Antonio, Texas.

  • POW Canteen

    Note: This item is currently in storage.This canteen was carried throughout the Bataan Campaign and on the infamous Death March. It was taken from the donor by one of the Japanese sergeants at the command of Japanese officers.Donated by Master Sgt. (Ret.) Robert J. Vogler.Click here to return to the

  • Operation Heat Rise

    The museum's B-58A set three speed records on March 5, 1962, and in the process won both the Mackay and Bendix Trophies for that year. The following is the story of Operation Heat Rise as told to the museum by the flight's Defensive Systems Operator, Capt. John T. Walton. Museum: Capt. Walton, let's