Millville Army Air Field Museum
Located at 1 Leddon St, Millville, NJ 08332. On the grounds of the Millville Airport, the Millville Army Air Field Museum honors the lives of American veterans who served at the base. The airfield, which was designated by the United States War Department as America’s first defense airport, served more than 10,000 men and women during World War II. These men and women trained to become advanced fighter pilots on Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts, and other military aircraft. Approximately 1,500 pilots completed advanced gunnery and fighter training on these aircraft.
The Millville Museum’s displays feature artifacts from the World War II era, as well as military vehicles and photography exhibits. The museum’s Wall of Remembrance Mural was dedicated in 1997 and was recently restored in 2007. It was created by Samuel M. Donovan of Woodstown, NJ. In addition, the museum’s Hangar Number 8 is made of unusual wood construction.
Millville Airport became a key gunnery training school for fighter pilots during World War II. In addition, it served as a training base for the 361st Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force. This group trained at Millville in July and August 1943. The group then deployed to England. A total of 14 pilots lost their lives during training flights. These pilots represented four different military branches.
The museum also hosts events to honor American veterans, such as World War II Veterans Day. On November 6, a program will be held at the Millville Executive Airport to pay tribute to the nation’s veterans. This year, the program will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Millville Army Air Field. All American veterans are invited to attend.
The museum also offers educational programs that teach the community about aviation history and military history. In addition, the museum offers tours. The museum is open on Tuesdays through Sundays. They are also open by appointment on Mondays. The museum is located in the original WWII Base Headquarters Building. The museum is also home to the Aerospace Resource Center and the P-47 Thunderbolt Advocates organization. Learn More.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was the first single-engine fighter aircraft to be produced in large numbers, and it was the heaviest of any single-engine fighter aircraft. It was also the fastest of any single-engine fighter aircraft. During the war, Millville Army Air Field hosted 64 P-47 Thunderbolts. It also served as a sub-base under Dover Army Air Field Base. The A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” fighter aircraft is often seen over Millville during training sorties.
The Millville Army Air Field Museum is a federal non-profit organization that was incorporated by the State of New Jersey in 1988. It is a small museum, but it does a good job of recognizing and honoring the history of the base. The museum is located on the site of the airfield and is open Tuesdays through Sundays. The staff at the museum are very friendly and helpful.
The Millville Museum also hosts programs that teach the community about aviation history. The museum has expanded its displays to include items from the Korean War and Vietnam War. It also has a library of 4,000 volumes of aviation videotapes. The Museum has also partnered with the national Library of Congress initiative, the Veterans Interview Project. This project allows high school students to conduct video interviews with military veterans. These interviews are a great way to preserve the perspectives of military veterans for future generations. Next article.