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  • The "Memphis Belle" and Nose Art

    The “Memphis Belle”The Memphis Belle was named to honor Morgan’s fiancée Margaret Polk, of Memphis, Tennessee, whom he met before leaving for England.  Their love story was well-publicized, but their engagement ended during the war bond tour.Morgan flew on combat missions with a picture of Margaret

  • The U.S. Air Force in Space

    Since the beginning of the space age after World War II, the U.S. Air Force has provided technical expertise and leadership in developing and using space technology to preserve national security.The USAF has been a leader in missiles, astronautics and orbital technology. It has developed, launched

  • Teal Ruby

    Experimental Early Warning SensorThis satellite, known as spacecraft P80-1, carried an experimental infrared telescope code named “Teal Ruby.” Designed to detect heat, Teal Ruby was meant to give early warning of enemy aircraft crossing the polar region toward the United States during the Cold

  • The Great International Peace Pool

    Note: This item is currently in storage.American servicemen, anticipating a coming Armistice, formed the tongue-in-check “Great International Peace Pool” on Sunday, Nov. 10, 1918. The short-lived lottery sold shares at a price of 50 francs to the lucky soldier who could correctly predict the date

  • Training with the Royal Flying Corps

    Note: This item is currently in storage.Edward Sloan, assigned to the 34th Aero Squadron, arrived in England in September 1917 to complete his technical training with the Royal Flying Corps before making his way to the Front. Sloan was assigned to Halton Camp (now RAF Halton), near Wendover, and

  • The Plan of Reconnaissance Aviation

    Note: This item is currently in storage.This battle plan, drafted by Col. William Mitchell, outlined the role of reconnaissance aviation in the planning and execution for the St. Mihiel Offensive. The plan identified the observation squadrons selected to participate in the offensive and established

  • Teledyne Ryan XAQM-81A Firebolt

    Developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the XAQM-81A Firebolt was a high-altitude, high-speed aerial target based on the earlier liquid-fueled AQM-37A. The Firebolt set two world records for unmanned sustained flight, reaching a speed of Mach 4.3 and an altitude of 103,000 feet.Launched from a

  • To the American Soldier in France

    Note: This item is currently in storage. Intelligence gathering by the enemy was a serious concern for Allied leadership during World War I. Correspondence was particularly bothersome, as seemingly harmless details regarding troop locations and movements could easily be gleaned from well-meaning

  • Tech. Sgt. James H. Ledford

    On Dec. 8, 1952, disaster struck a 6167th Operations Squadron B-26 crew on a low-level classified mission over North Korea -- an antiaircraft shell exploded next to the pilot, Maj. Lawrence Freligh, severely wounding him. Freligh slumped against the control column, sending the aircraft into a dive.

  • The Rhine and its Legends

    Note: This item is currently in storage.This sightseeing brochure was produced by the YMCA for soldiers serving with the American Army of Occupation headquartered at Coblenz, Germany. American troops first reached the Rhine in December 1919 and occupied the area to ensure the cessation of