National World War II Aviation Museum - Colorado Springs
National Museum of World War II Aviation gets grant
Bill Klaers, co-chairman of the National Museum of World War II Aviation's board, discusses $6 million in grants that the museum will receive from the Slattery Family Foundation to build the museum's permanent building. Video by Waye Heilman.
Tour the World War II Aviation Museum
Kill Klaers, president and CEO of the National Museum of World War II Aviation, takes The Daily on a tour of the museum's collection, housed in three hangars on a 20acre parcel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
National Musem of World War II Aviation
The National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs, CO.
National WWII Aviation Museum Colorado Springs
Vintage planes take to the Colorado Springs skies
You may have noticed a lot of vintage aircraft in the skies of southern Colorado this weekend. Saturday's Pikes Peak Regional Air Show featured more than 40 historic aircraft, many from World War II.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Colorado Springs-based National Museum of World War II Aviation and the Peterson Air and Space Museum.
-----
FOX21 News, dedicated to providing relevant news, information and weather to Southern Colorado.
Go to for the latest.
Wings of Freedom and National WWII Aviation Museum Colorado Springs
Wings of Freedom and National WWII Aviation Museum Colorado Springs, CO.
Memphis Belle Moves At National Museum Of The USAF
Video by Ken LaRock National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The B-17F Memphis Belle™ moves along the tow path to the WWII Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on March 14, 2018. Plans call for the aircraft to be placed on permanent public display in the WWII Gallery here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on May 17, 2018.
For more information including photos and videos of the Memphis Belle, visit
B-17F Memphis Belle™ moves to WWII Gallery as exhibit opening nears By Rob Bardua, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The B-17F Memphis Belle™ – the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 combat missions over occupied Europe – was recently moved from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s Restoration Hangar to the museum’s World War II Gallery as work continues to progress on the new exhibit.
Although the iconic aircraft is now inside the WWII Gallery, it will continue to remain out of public view until it is unveiled in a new exhibit following a ribbon cutting ceremony on the morning of May 17 - exactly 75 years after its crew finished their last mission in the war against Nazi Germany on May 17, 1943.
The new exhibit will tell the complete story of the Memphis Belle and address the many myths associated with the aircraft. Artifacts will be on display from seven of the crewmembers including several war-time uniforms; a flight suit; combat boots; flying goggles; dog-tags; pilot’s wings and other rank insignia. In addition, rare color archival footage—some of which has never been seen by the public before—will be shown in the exhibit.
Surrounding the Memphis Belle exhibit will be a new Strategic Bombardment in Europe exhibit featuring a digitally animated map of the strategic bombing campaign; two Medals of Honor; items worn and used on significant missions; artifacts from bombing campaign leaders; a bomber top turret and ball turret; and engaging photos.
According to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Curator Jeff Duford, the new Memphis Belle exhibit and surrounding Strategic Bombardment exhibit will allow visitors to understand more about the thousands of bomber crews, maintainers, and others supporting the bomber mission, whose service and sacrifice helped win WWII.
“In addition to seeing the magnificent Memphis Belle aircraft on display, visitors will see artifacts used by the Memphis Belle crewmembers, and many of these objects have not been in the same place together with the aircraft since the war in 1943,” said Duford. “The Strategic Bombardment exhibit will showcase the ‘best of the best’ artifacts in our collection that relate to this fascinating and engaging story.”
These priceless artifacts will be displayed in new custom designed cases that were handmade by the museum’s Exhibits Division, which also designed and fabricated each of the individual artifact mounts inside the cases. Together, the cases and the artifact mounts will present the artifacts in the most visually appealing manner, while still ensuring their protection and preservation.
The new Memphis Belle exhibit will open with a three-day celebration (May 17-19, 2018) that will include a WWII-era aircraft static display featuring two B-17G Flying Fortresses; more than 130 WWII reenactors performing war-time skits and showcasing their memorabilia; over 20 vintage military and civilian vehicles on exhibition as well as other artifacts, music from the era, guest speakers, and book signings. In addition, both Memphis Belle films (1944 and 1990 versions) will be shown in the Air Force Museum Theatre.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. #AIRBOYD #AvGeek
World War II aircraft on display at the National Museum of the U.S Air Force
During the 2016 Reunion of the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association held in Dayton, Ohio.
For more go to
Pueblo aircraft museum welcomes 2 enemy fighters
The Pueblo Weisbrod Aicraft Museum on Aug. 8, 2015, welcomed Soviet Bloc MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters, the first enemy aircraft in its collection and the first major acquisition in nearly a decade. They were acquired from the aircraft boneyard in Tucson, Ariz. (Chieftain video by Jayson Peters)
Top 10. Best Museums in Colorado - United States
Top 10. Best Museums in Colorado - United States: Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Art Museum, Museum of the Mountain West, Colorado Model Railroad Museum, The Anasazi Heritage Center, Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum, National Museum of World War II Aviation, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Penrose Heritage Museum
Air Force Museum
The Air Museum in Pueplo, Colorado.
Frank Royal back in the air over Colorado Springs
World War II Pilot, Frank Royal is reunited with his fighter plane at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. Gazette's Jerilee Bennett takes the ride with him to relive history.
BIGGEST and BEST MILITARY MUSEUM EVER!
BIGGEST and BEST MILITARY MUSEUM EVER!
for more information:
TOP 13. Best Galleries and Museums in Colorado Springs
TOP 13. Best Galleries and Museums in Colorado Springs: National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Penrose Heritage Museum, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Peterson Air & Space Museum, Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Ghost Town Museum, Michael Garman Sculpture Gallery, ProRodeo Hall of Fame, ANA Money Museum, May Natural History Museum of the Tropics, World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame, Space Foundation
2013 USAF Academy Fly Over - WWII Edition (B&W + Music)
* This one is for my Mom who loves the oldies music!
I decided to make a WWII edition of my United States Air Force Academy flyover video! The footage is now in black and white and has some good old Glenn Miller playing in the background. I hope you enjoy it!
Museum of WWII Aviation - USS Arizona
FOX21 News, dedicated to providing relevant news, information and weather to Southern Colorado.
Go to for the latest.
Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation - Ed Scott, Keeping Old Traditions Alive
KAM Restoration Expert, Ed Scott, Explains His Interest in Antique
The Kansas Aviation Museum is more than just a showcase for Wichita's rich aviation history; it is history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum is housed in Wichita's original municipal airport terminal. Dedicated on March 31st, 1935, the Wichita Municipal Airport served as a major mid-continent stopover for commercial operations as the last stop before crossing the Rockies to Denver or Los Angeles. At its peak in 1944, the airport was one of the busiest in the nation with take-offs or landings occurring every 90 seconds. Wandering the museum, visitors are immediately transported back to the glory days of aviation, surrounded by grand terrazzo halls and art-deco design. Nearly every aviation and entertainment legend of the era roamed the buildings halls, from Howard Hughes and Fred Astaire to Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.
With the United States entry into World War II, an explosion in aviation manufacturing in Wichita altered the fate of the building. Tens of thousands of aircraft were built in Wichita for the War effort and the airport became a central location for flight-testing and military supervision. On September 16th, 1947, the government established the United States Air Force as a separate element of the United States armed forces; by 1951, the USAF took over the Wichita Municipal Airport for pilot training on B-47s, B-36s, and eventually B-52s. For the next 30 years, the USAF and the Kansas Air National Guard used the location as Building One of the McConnell Air Force Base. In 1984, however, the USAF abandoned the building.
For six years, the historical location sat empty and partially gutted; after being leased by the City of Wichita to the Wichita Aeronautical Historical Association in the late 1980s, volunteers painstakingly began restoration efforts that continue to this day. On April 19th, 1991, the Kansas Aviation Museum officially opened to the public displaying an extraordinary collection of Kansas and national aviation history. The museum houses a world-class collection of rare aircraft, aircraft engines, and archive documents including the entirety of the original FAA identification cards from 1927 until 1994. In addition, volunteers have successfully restored such one-of-a-kind aircraft as a 1934 Stearman Model 73/Navy NS-1 Trainer and 1927 Swallow. Restoration continues through the astonishing efforts of the museums dedicated staff and generous donations from historical and aviation enthusiasts alike.
Copyright 2010, Aero-News Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
FMI:
Vintage Aero Flying Museum: Dayton 2009
Buy the DVD @
Three WW-I replica Fokker fighter planes fly from Colorado to Ohio for the Air Force Museum's fly-in event in the fall of 2009. Extensive air-to-air HD video.
446th Bomb Group ceremony at National Museum of the United States Air Force 5-25-2013, pt. 1
Members of Boy Scout Troop 307, St. John's Lutheran Church, Vandalia OH, conducted a memorial ceremony of 446th Bomb Group on Saturday, May 25, 2013. The ceremony was conducted at the Bomb Group memorial marker at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, near Dayton OH.
At the ceremony, one of the scouts read the history of the 446th Bomber Group from the group's website, the text read and from the website is below:
Commanding Officers:
Lt. Col. Arthur Y. Snell, 21 April - 27 September 1943
Col. Jacob J. Brogger, 27 September 1943 - 22 September 1944
Col. Troy W. Crawford, 22 September 1944 - 4 April 1945
Lt. Col. William A. Schmidt, 4 April 1945 -28 August 1945
Motto: Voler Venger Vaincre - Fly Avenge Vanquish-Conquer
The 446th Bomb Group was activated 1 April 1943 at Davis-Monthan AAB, Arizona where initial assembly began. The unit moved to Alamagordo, NM on the 6th June 1943, but immediately moved again to Lowry AAB, Colorado, where the training was completed. The ground unit left on the 18th of October 1943 for Camp Shanks, NY and embarked on the Queen Mary on the 25th of October 1943. They sailed on the 27th of October 1943 and arrived in Clyde on the 2nd of November 1943. The aircraft left Lowry AAB on the 20th of October 1943 for Lincoln AAB, Neb. The aircraft flew via the southern route from Florida, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Dakar, and Marrakash to England. One aircraft was lost on the Puerto Rico leg, and one aircraft was shot down when it strayed off course into France. The group was stationed in Bungay, England, near the North Sea coast, about 90 miles NE of London.
Planes of the 446th led the 8th AF and the 2nd BD on the first heavy bomber mission of D-Day. Ronnie is believed to be the first 8th AF B-24 to fly 100 missions. The 706th Bomb Squadron flew 62 consecutive missions and the 707th Bomb Squadron had 68 missions without a loss.
The 446th operated chiefly against strategic objectives on the Continent from December 1943 until April 1945. Targets included U-boat installations at Kiel, the port at Bremen, a chemical plant at Ludwigshafen, ballbearing works at Berlin, aero-engine plants at Rostock, aircraft factories at Munich, marshalling yards at Coblenz, motor works at Ulm, and oil refineries at Hamburg and Magdeburg.
Besides strategic missions, the group often carried out support and interdictory operations. Supported the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by attacking strong points, bridges, airfields, transportation, and other targets in France. Aided ground forces at Caen and St Lo during July by hitting bridges, gun batteries, and enemy troops. Dropped supplies to Allied troops near Nijmegen during the airborne attack on Holland in September. Bombed marshalling yards, bridges, and road junctions during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 through January 1945. Dropped supplies to airborne and ground troops near Wesel during the Allied assault across the Rhine in March 1945. Flew last combat mission on April 25 attacking a bridge near Salzburg.
Mission Statistics:
First Mission: 16 Dec 1943
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Missions: 273
Total Sorties: 7,259
Total Bomb Tonnage: 16,819 Tons
Aircraft Lost: 58
KIA: 450+
MIA: 51
Enemy Aircraft Destroyed: 34, 11 probable
Subsequent History: Redeployed to the US June/July 1945. First of the aircraft departed the United Kingdom mid-June 1945. One aircraft was lost over the Azores on the return flight to the US. The ground echelon sailed from Greenock on the Queen Mary on the sixth of July 1945, arriving in New York on the 11th of July 1945. Personnel went to Camp Kilmer and had 30 days R and R. Some assembled at Sioux Falls AAFB, SD where the Group was inactivated on the 28th of August 1945.