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Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

A recent visit to the National Musuem of the Might Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia is captured in images from Bill Cross. Museums like this provide a great look back work and commemorate the courage and sacrifice of so many. Also many are funded through visitors admission and donations, and of course many hard working volunteers.

Right off I-95 outside Savannah, GA is the Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. While I would not rank the collection up with Duxford in the UK or the Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, OH as "bucket list" visits you should not miss, if you are in the area, it's a very pleasant and interesting couple of hours. As most of you probably already know, the Eighth Air Force was a "strategic" group aimed at attacking Germany's industry, rail net, oil production and other war-making infrastructure. Its 40+ bomb groups were comprised of individual squadrons, and were in turn organized into bomb bomb wings scattered all across the UK. The Eighth began at Savannah's Hunter Air Field, about 15 miles from the museum's facilities. The Eighth continues to this day, but its greatest fame (and the focus of the museum) is on World War 2. The exhibit is centered around a large central hall where several airplanes are on display. The focus is certainly on the B-17G named the City of Savannah that was the 5,000th aircraft to pass through nearby Hunter Field. The plane is mostly restored, though it seemed as if work continues on some components. The exhibits are packed with uniforms, posters, photos, crew paraphernalia and things that help bring the lives and sacrifices of these men (and women in the case of nurses and other workers in the support role). The museum of course has a gift shop with some plastic models but a wealth of books about the Eighth and all things aviation.

Museum Website