Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio

[VaTom]

Will be in Ohio in July and plan on visiting the Air Force Museum in Dayton. Most interested in WWII and Korean War sections. Will only have one day. Are there any must see things not in these two areas. Have wanted to visit there for many years and may not get a chance to go back.

My uncle was killed during training in 1943 flying an A36a Apache (early model Mustang Dive Bomb variant). The museum has one of only a couple still in existance. They only made 500.

Any advice to help with visit appreciated. I have been to website and also communicated with museum staff in hopes to get a close up look at the A36a.

 

[Bullet Bob]

No advice, but a great place to see.

 

[sheepdawg]

Got to see the Memphis Belle.

 

[Recusant]

Be prepared to be amazed.

 

[old bear]

Tom,
Rusty, LTJL, and myself were there about a year ago. Everything in the place is worth seeing, to include the last "chopper" Rust's dad was the crew chief of.
Get there EARLY and plan on spending the better part of the day.
Remember, that the museum is a civilian project located on USAF property, so NO firearms on your person or car.

Have a Great Time.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Fabulous place. You can cover a lot of ground in a day there as they have eliminated the off-campus annexes that required a bus ride. Everything is now more accessible being housed in one complex.

It is an incredibly well run, detail oriented museum staffed by knowledgeable volunteers.

PM me before you go and I will tell you about the chopper on display that my dad served on.

You'll be in rags' backyard if you need turf tips.

Have fun. You'll never forget it.

 

[Hawker800]

Post lots of photos.

 

[Sevens]

As mentioned above, no carry gun. And unless you REALLY want to walk back to your car, don't bring even a pocket knife inside. They won't allow it in.

It's an amazing place of enormous size. A walk through an early Air Force One from the Nixon era was definitely interesting.

 

[H Richard]

Be sure and get a couple photo's of the B66 Memorial, and post them. I turned wrenches on the engines of those Cold War bombers for a few years over in England. All planes pointed at USSR loaded with hot stuff in early 60's.

 

[31FordA]

I was there a long time ago on a family vacation. Spent two and a half days going thru the museum. I really like airplanes, and I had very patient parents. It's a great museum, I want to get back there one of these days.

Be sure to see the B-36. It's really big, you can't miss it. They also have the A-1 Skyraider Maj. Fisher used to rescue a downed pilot in Vietnam.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

It is nice and a good, easy day tour. The best laid out air museum that I have ever seen. Plenty of WWII planes including axis aircraft. Don't forget to ask to see the frozen aliens from Roswell!

 

[Abbynormal]

The Museum has different galleries for different eras. To me the WWII area was the most impressive to me. You can go to the WWII exhibit first and spend as much time as you need there before exploring the other areas.

 

[hoc9sw]

Go by the Caproni bomber. Was adopted as a model for the US in WWI.

I have a pic of my G-Aunt in front of the US edition.

 

[rock doc]

It is nice and a good, easy day tour. The best laid out air museum that I have ever seen. Plenty of WWII planes including axis aircraft. Don't forget to ask to see the frozen aliens from Roswell!

The aliens are kept on ice in Hanger 11 in Area A.

I've been to the AF Museum a few times when I managed some environmental remediation projects at WPAFB. Once, when I was looking at the WWII a-bomb display, I noticed a few Asians nearby looking at it also. I can only imagine what they were saying to each other.

There a quite a few outdoor aircraft displays, but as others have said, the indoor exhibits are all well-planned, and easy to get close to. Don't forget to patronize the museum's gift shop.

 

[fordson]

If you get the chance, try to take in the Wright Brothers exhibit in down town Dayton. It's worth it and, after all, it where this aviation stuff all began.

 

[walnutred]

The aliens are kept on ice in Hanger 11 in Area A.

I've been to the AF Museum a few times when I managed some environmental remediation projects at WPAFB. Once, when I was looking at the WWII a-bomb display, I noticed a few Asians nearby looking at it also. I can only imagine what they were saying to each other.

.

Might depend on where in Asia they were from. Someone from Japan might have a different view than someone from one of the many Asian countries which Japan invaded during WW2. For the latter ending the war also ended Japanese occupation of their countries.

 

[DumpStick]

I had forgotten about that museum. I visited with the rest of Boy Scout Troop 682 back several decades ago. I haven't been back since.

I do go to that area occasionally to visit kinfolk. Next time there, I need to take a day and go see it.

 

[500SNW]

Dittto what all the others said above. It is a military base. Unless you are staying with family, it could be tricky finding a safe place to leave your guns. I wouldn't feel safe leaving them at the hotel. You might lock them in the trunk of your own car and maybe take a short distance Uber ride to the base? Just a thought.

 

[jdlii]

One of the most "user friendly" museums in the country. I've been there four times, once by myself, once with my Dad, then a shooting buddy and then my daughter. All were good and everyone enjoyed the experience.

Also on display are side arms (1911's) carried by Major Bong and others. Wear comfortable shoes and get there early before the crowds show up.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Will be in Ohio in July and plan on visiting the Air Force Museum in Dayton. Most interested in WWII and Korean War sections. Will only have one day. Are there any must see things not in these two areas. Have wanted to visit there for many years and may not get a chance to go back.

My uncle was killed during training in 1943 flying an A36a Apache (early model Mustang Dive Bomb variant). The museum has one of only a couple still in existance. They only made 500.

Any advice to help with visit appreciated. I have been to website and also communicated with museum staff in hopes to get a close up look at the A36a.

When I was planning my first trip to the Air Force Museum, many years ago, the best advice I got was to allow about 40 hours -- yes, you read that correctly, five 8-hour days -- to see and experience the whole thing.

It is huge...simply mind-boggling: Over 1.1 million square feet under roof! In addition to the four large hangars and the vertical missile building, there are a number of outdoor exhibits: A large memorial garden, a WW2 Quonset hut, a WW2 8th Air Force base control tower, and a number of aircraft that are on outdoor exhibit.

Since you have only one day, and your main interest is WW2, my best advice is to head directly to that exhibit and take it in, then go outside and see the control tower and Quonset hut. If you have any time left over, go to the gift shop and get yourself a mug or shirt or some other memento.

I've attached photos below of the A-36 they have there, an ME262, Bockscar (the B-29 that bombed Nagasaki) and the control tower.

Good luck...enjoy your visit!