National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force was created to preserve and share the remarkable stories of the men and women who served in the Mighty Eighth Air Force, from World War II to present day. It is the only museum dedicated to the Eighth Air Force. In addition to sharing these awe-inspiring stories, the 90,000 square foot museum also features priceless objects such as five aircraft and hundreds of model airplanes. The most popular aircraft at the museum is a B-17 bomber known as "The City of Savannah." This bomber was the 5,000th aircraft to depart from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah during World War II.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force, famously called "the greatest air armada of all time," was founded just one month after Pearl Harbor on January 28,1942 at the Chatham Armory in Savannah. The first commander of the Eighth Air Force was Colonel Asa N. Duncan, who then went on to serve as Chief of Staff to the new commander, Major General Carl Spaatz, until Duncan was killed in action in November 1942. In June of 1942, the Eighth Air Force's headquarters were established at Bushy Park in Middlesex, England. The Mighty Eighth Air Force consisted of around 350,000 officers throughout World War II, and a total of 26,000 lost their lives while thousands of others were reported missing. Since World War II, close to 650,000 men and women have served in the Mighty Eighth Air Force. The headquarters are now located at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. In 1975, Lieutenant Colonel John Woolnough founded the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, which is still in operation today.

The research center at the museum is home to more than 10,000 books, historical documents, and diaries from veterans who served in the Eighth Air Force. Outside, visitors may visit the Memorial Garden, filled with beautiful memorials that have been purchased by veterans or their families. The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is not solely dedicated to those who served in the Eighth Air Force, there are also exhibits dedicated to Prisoners of War, Women on the Homefront, the Tuskegee Airmen, and even Girl Scouts in World War II. The museum also looks at the impact of the Eighth Air Force post-World War II, including their role in Korea, Vietnam, and modern wars. With one of the key missions of the museum being to share the stories of the Mighty Eighth Air Force with future generations, they welcome more than 20,000 school age children from Georgia and the Southeast annually.

"Exhibits." National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Accessed September 26, 2016. http://www.mightyeighth.org/exhibits.

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Trusted Tours & Attractions . Accessed May 17th 2021. https://www.trustedtours.com/store/national-museum-of-the-mighty-eighth-air-force.aspx.

Allen, Larissa. 14 Things to Know About the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Visit Savannah. Accessed May 17th 2021. https://www.visitsavannah.com/list/14-things-to-know-about-the-national-museum-the-mighty-eighth-air-force.

History, 8th Air Force Historical Society. January 1st 2019. Accessed May 17th 2021. https://www.8thafhs.org/.

BRIGADIER GENERAL ASA NORTH DUNCAN, U.S. Air Force. Accessed May 17th 2021. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1704559/brigadier-general-asa-north-duncan/.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE, Explore Georgia. Accessed May 18th 2021. https://www.exploregeorgia.org/pooler/arts-culture/museums/national-museum-of-the-mighty-eighth-air-force.