Air Mobility Command Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Air Mobility Command Museum

Aerial view of the museum
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Former name	Dover AFB Historical Center Dover AFB Museum
Established	13 October 1986 (1986-10-13)
Location	Dover Air Force Base
Type	Aviation museum
Founder	General Walter Kross Mike Leister
Building 1301
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	94001377
Added to NRHP	7 December 1994

The Air Mobility Command Museum is a cool place to visit at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware. It's a special museum all about military airplanes and their history. The museum shows how the United States Air Force has moved people and supplies around the world. It covers the story of important groups like the Air Transport Command and the Air Mobility Command.

Discovering the Museum's History

The idea for this museum started way back in 1978. Some people from the 512th Military Airlift Wing wanted to fix up an old airplane. This project was a way to train mechanics and share their work with the public.

Bringing a B-17 Back to Life

They chose a B-17G airplane called Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby. It took ten years to restore this plane so it could fly again! The original plan was to fly it to another museum. But people at Dover Air Force Base wanted to show their own history.

Starting the Museum

So, in 1986, the Dover AFB Historical Center was created. This happened on October 13. Just three days later, a C-47 airplane was flown to the new museum. This plane had been at Muir Army Airfield in Pennsylvania.

New Names and New Homes

The museum officially became a U.S. Air Force museum in 1995. Its name changed to the Dover AFB Museum. But this name didn't last long! In February 1997, it became the Air Mobility Command Museum. This change happened after the museum moved to its current home, Hangar 1301, in June 1996.

Expanding and Reopening

In 2000, the museum opened a new exhibit about the Korean War. The museum had to close to visitors in 2001. But a new road was built, and it reopened in 2003. In September 2023, the museum added a new exhibit. It teaches about Air Force Mortuary Affairs.

What You Can See: Museum Exhibits

The exhibit air control tower on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware. This tower was used at Dover AFB from 1956 to 2009.

The museum has many cool things to see. You can explore different aircraft and other special items. There's even a flight simulator where you can pretend to fly! Outside the museum, there is a special park. You can also see a retired control tower. This tower was used at Dover AFB from 1956 to 2009.

Amazing Aircraft Collection

A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress airplane.

A McDonnell Douglas C-9A Nightingale airplane.

The Air Mobility Command Museum has many old and important airplanes. These planes come from different time periods. They also represent various Air Force groups. The museum has a full set of all the important Lockheed air lifters. These planes were used by the Air Force and Army since World War II. Some of the aircraft are very special. They might be the first, last, or only one of their kind ever made.

See also

• List of United States Air Force museums