 Note: All donations must be approved by the museum's Collections Committee prior to being accepted. Please email the donations mailbox prior to physically shipping anything to the museum. Click here for more information about donating an item to the museum.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is seeking the following items for restoration and future exhibits:
Special Operations Weather: Items unique to this USAF career field, including, insignia, equipment, memorabilia, weapons, instruments and communications.
Tactical Air Control Party: Items unique to this USAF career field, including, insignia, equipment, memorabilia, weapons, instruments and communications.
Combat Control: Items unique to this USAF career field, including, insignia, equipment, memorabilia, weapons, instruments and communications, including items from Special Tactics Officers.
Pararescue: Items unique to this USAF career field, including, insignia, equipment, memorabilia, weapons, instruments and communications, including items from Combat Rescue Officers.
B-17D and B-17F components and repair parts to support the restoration of The Swoose and the Memphis Belle®.
World War II Merchant Marine/USN Kapok Life Jacket (view photograph)
Special Ops Helicopter Units: Uniforms, insignia, souvenirs, memorabilia and photographs relating to U.S. special operations helicopter aircrews during the war in Southeast Asia (Knife, Pony Express, etc.).
A-1 Flight Jacket (1930s issue) in either brown or green (view photograph, courtesy of Lost Worlds, New York, N.Y.)
Type B-8 Winter Flying Helmet (view photograph, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, "Combat Flying Clothing" by Sweeting)
Type AN-H-16 Winter Flying Helmet (view photograph, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, "Combat Flying Clothing" by Sweeting)
U.S. Air Force Academy light blue worksuit (bunny suit) (view photograph)
U.S. Army Air Corps uniforms from the 1920s and 1930s, including insignia materials
World War II, Korea and Southeast Asia USAF body armor
Japanese World War II BUKOSHO decoration (view photograph)
Airborne radar, World War II British, Mark IV (RAF Designation ARI-5003) consisting of the following components: Receiver R-3066 or R-3102, Transmitter T3065, Indicator unit 20 or 48, Modulator type 20, Voltage control panel type 3, Azimuth aerial type 21 and 25, Transmitter aerial type 19, Elevation aerial type 25, Impedance matching unit type 35
Airborne radar, World War II, SCR-540 consisting of the following components: Transmitter BC-747, Modulator BC-748, Receiver BC-749, Indicator BC-750, Power Unit PE-1 19, Antenna A-SO, -51, -52, -53, -54, -55 (Same as British Mk-IV)
Cold War-era images, specifically original photographs and negatives of SAC, TAC, MATS, and ADC related aircraft, ICBMs, personnel, operations, and installations
Cold War-era posters related to the USAF
Photographs and films/videos of SAC and ADC alert facilities (such as "mole holes") and activities
World War I Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps: Any original documents, photographs, and objects related to these units. The museum is also specifically seeking medals, ribbons and lapel pins. (view photograph)
Armed Forces Radio Network "Air-Check" tape recordings from SEA (Vietnam and Thailand) during the 1965-1973 period, especially tapes identifying the station (i.e. Korat, Tahkli, etc.)
MRC-107 and MRC-108 Radio Jeep Equipment: 313V-4-ZZ1 Collins 313V-4/MRC-108 control head for the ARC-51BX transceiver when used in the MRC108 forward air controller jeep configuration in the M-151 vehicle.
Air Force Cross Mission Items: Especially those related to Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner, from Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on April 6, 2008; Master Sgt. Timothy A. Wilkinson from Mogadishu, Somalia, Oct. 3, 1993; and Chief Master Sgt. Duane D. Hackney from Mu Gia Pass, North Vietnam, on Feb. 6, 1967.
Tan Flight Helmets: Preferably with night vision mounts from OEF/OIF (view photograph)
Firearms, combat used with provenance preferred, but record copies also needed.
- M-4 rifle with grenade launcher
- M11 pistol
- M-24 rifle
- M107/M82 .50 sniper rifle
- M240 machine gun
- M249 automatic rifle
- MCS 870 combat shotgun
- MK-19 machine gun
- MP5 submachine gun
- MK-14, Mod 0 battle rifle
- M-9 pistol
- AR-5/MA-1 rifle
- Anti-tank weapons
- Any other firearms carried by Special Forces that are not standard issue
(Note: Firearms are especially sensitive items for the museum to collect. Please contact the donations mailbox for specific instructions prior to shipping.)
Gun sights: Need examples of the multitude of red dot, telescopic and many other gun sights used on rifles.
Firearm Accessories: Record copies of lasers, flashlights, grips, etc.
Night Vision Equipment: Goggles, weapons, cameras, mounts and accessories, especially equipment used prior to 1975.
Wearable Computers
Special Forces Insignia: Official Unit, Unofficial Unit, Foreign
Non-Standard Special Forces Uniforms: All black, all tan, two-part flight suits, foreign, etc. Also other services' multi-cam uniforms worn by attached USAF personnel.
Aircraft: Objects, documents, personal items and media related to the following airframes' missions, personnel and units.
| B-1B |
HC-130 |
UH-1N |
| C-12 |
KC-10 |
C-47T |
| C-17 |
LC-130H |
MI-8 |
| C-20 |
MC-12 |
MI-17 |
| C-21A |
MC-130 |
|
| C-27J |
OC-135 |
Remotely Piloted Aircraft |
| C-32 |
RC-135 |
MQ-9 |
| C-37A |
RC-26 |
RQ-4 |
| C-38A |
T-1A |
RQ-11 |
| C-40 |
VC-25 |
MQ-1 & RQ-1 |
| CV-22 |
WC-130 |
Scan Eagle |
| E-3 |
WC-135 |
WASP-III |
| E-4B |
|
RQ-170 (need aircraft) |
| E-8C |
AFSOC Irregular Aircraft |
|
| E-9A |
An-26 |
|
| EC-130 |
CASA CN-235 |
|
| H-60 |
U-28A |
|
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