Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation

Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is a non-federal entity. Come see what brings out the best in America’s sons and daughters.
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It is not a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status. Walk through the streets of war-torn Normandy and see a glider delivering a jeep into battle, hear troopers exiting a helicopter in Vietnam, watch the rooftops as soldiers and an MH‐6 “Little Bird” rescue Kurt Muse in Panama, witness troops defending freedom in Iraq and fighting the war on ter

ror in Afghanistan. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum recounts the actions of heroic soldiers from the early days of the Parachute Test Platoon to the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. The museum preserves the extraordinary feats performed by the United States Army’s Airborne and the Special Operations Forces, all who jump from the sky, into battle. Our museum is a source of pride to all those who served, or now serve, in the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations units.

What if your donation could help turn $50,000 into $100,000?We're halfway to our Legacy Fund goal. If we reach $50,000 b...
06/12/2026

What if your donation could help turn $50,000 into $100,000?

We're halfway to our Legacy Fund goal. If we reach $50,000 by July 31, a matching grant from the Pritzker Military Museum Foundation will double our impact, turning $50,000 into $100,000 to help preserve the stories, artifacts, and legacy of Airborne and Special Operations soldiers.

If you're a first-time donor, or haven't given in the last three years, your support can help us unlock the match and ensure these stories continue to educate and inspire future generations.

Help us finish strong.

Donate today: asomf.org/donate/

Did you know that during World War II, the United States and Great Britain produced silk escape maps for aircrews, para...
06/10/2026



Did you know that during World War II, the United States and Great Britain produced silk escape maps for aircrews, paratroopers, special operations personnel, and resistance fighters operating behind enemy lines?

Printed on pure silk, these maps were lightweight, waterproof, quiet, and incredibly durable. Unlike paper maps, they could be folded into a tiny space, hidden inside a uniform, boot heel, or cigarette pack, and remain usable even after getting wet.

This silk panel on display at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum was used by resistance member Joe DeFrancesco to help decode messages while operating in France during the war.

Designed to aid evasion and escape, silk maps proved that sometimes one of the most important tools a soldier could carry wasn't a weapon, it was a map.

James Flanagan parachuted into Normandy hours before the D-Day invasion started. Flanagan and his fellow 101st Airborne ...
06/09/2026

James Flanagan parachuted into Normandy hours before the D-Day invasion started.

Flanagan and his fellow 101st Airborne Soldiers came down in the middle of the night, charged with removing any German resistance along the vulnerable causeways that led inland from the beach. They would be the prelude to the largest amphibious invasion in history.

After landing near Ravenoville, France, the first vehicle that Flanagan saw later in the morning while cleaning up near a captured farm complex was coming from the beach and carrying two men, one an International News Service photographer. It was 0900, about three hours into ‘the longest day’ in history. The Soldiers took a brief timeout so that the photographer could record the event.

Flanagan, in the center, smiled while clutching the N**i flag that had been ‘liberated’ from the enemy command post headquarters in the farm complex they now occupied. When this picture was wired back to the States, it became one of the most widely distributed newspaper photos taken from the events of D-Day.

"Almighty God… Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor."— President Franklin D. Roosevel...
06/06/2026

"Almighty God… Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor."

— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, D-Day Prayer,
June 6, 1944

As President Roosevelt spoke these words to the nation, thousands of American paratroopers were already descending through the darkness over N**i-occupied France.

Among them were Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Scattered across the Normandy countryside by enemy fire, clouds, and confusion, the paratroopers fought to regroup behind enemy lines and accomplish their mission as the invasion of Normandy unfolded around them. Some landed directly into combat. Some drowned in flooded marshes. Many never made it out of the night.

Yet the airborne kept pushing forward.

One of those Soldiers was Private Bob Rooney. During the jump into Normandy, Rooney was wounded by enemy fire. The bullet tore through the coat he wore on D-Day. Years later, he embroidered the hole with red thread, a powerful reminder of the moment that changed his life forever.

Today, visitors to the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum can see Rooney's coat on exhibit, along with D-Day artifacts, photographs, and displays that preserve the stories of the airborne Soldiers who helped secure a foothold in Europe and change the course of World War II.

Additionally, to commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day, join us today from 10 AM to 2 PM as D-Day reenactors bring history to life in the Museum lobby.

Admission and parking are free.

Remember the men who jumped into darkness before the dawn.

06/06/2026

Before the jump into Normandy, they shaved their heads into Mohawks and painted their faces for war.

Known as the Filthy 13, these paratroopers of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment became one of the most legendary groups of D-Day. Their unconventional appearance wasn’t for show, it was a symbol of the dangerous mission ahead.

On June 6, 1944, they parachuted into occupied France, tasked with disrupting German forces and securing key objectives behind enemy lines.

Their story has become part of airborne legend.

Stay tuned as we continue our look at the soldiers of D-Day and the airborne missions that helped change the course of history.

In this colorized photo taken on the evening of 5 June 1944, Soldiers from Fox Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regimen...
06/05/2026

In this colorized photo taken on the evening of 5 June 1944, Soldiers from Fox Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division are pictured waiting for their C-47 to take off to Normandy.

Robert “Bob” Noody is pictured second from right with the bazooka. Looking back, Noody said he must have weighed at least 250 pounds, encumbered with his M-1 rifle, a bazooka, three rockets, land mines, and other assorted "necessities."

Fifty feet of rope hung from his chest, which he later used to lower his leg bag to the ground, easing his fall and ensuring he was ready to fight. He landed behind the mayor’s house at Sainte-Mère-Église. In the ensuing days, Noody utilized his bazooka to destroy a German tank that threatened his unit outside of Carentan. For this action Robert Noody received a Bronze Star with Oak leave Cluster. It was his first and last bazooka usage, as he expended the three rockets he carried into battle. A leg wound at Carentan ended his Normandy adventure.

He was only 20 years old on D-Day, and later in the war, Noody made the Operation Market Garden jump and fought with Fox Company from Eindhoven to the Rhine. Noody was discharged from the Army in November 1945 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and received two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star for his actions in Carentan, two Presidential Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre.

What a hero!

Commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day at the ASOM this Saturday!Meet D-Day reenactors in the museum lobby from 10 AM...
06/04/2026

Commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day at the ASOM this Saturday!

Meet D-Day reenactors in the museum lobby from 10 AM–2 PM, explore historic equipment and displays, and learn more about the Normandy invasion. Then visit the museum galleries to discover D-Day artifacts, exhibits, and the stories behind one of history's most pivotal days!

Help Keep History Alive. Become a Volunteer.Every day at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, volunteers ...
06/03/2026

Help Keep History Alive. Become a Volunteer.

Every day at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, volunteers play an important role in preserving the stories of the soldiers who shaped our nation's history.

Whether you're passionate about military history, looking to give back to the community, or hoping to meet new people and learn new skills, there's a place for you on our team.

As a volunteer, you'll help support museum programs and events, engage with visitors from around the world, and ensure the legacy of Airborne and Special Operations soldiers continues to inspire future generations.

Join us in preserving history and honoring service.

📍 Learn more and sign up today: https://www.asomf.org/volunteer/

06/02/2026

On June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Rangers raced toward the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc knowing the odds were against them.

As we approach the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, we’re taking an in-depth look at the stories of the Airborne and Special Operations soldiers whose courage helped change the course of history.

This is just the beginning.

The June newsletter has arrived! ☀️See what's happening at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation...
06/01/2026

The June newsletter has arrived! ☀️

See what's happening at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation this month, including exhibits, events, and museum updates.

📞Additionally, our phone lines are currently down. If you need to reach us, please send us a message on this platform and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience, and enjoy the newsletter: https://www.asomf.org/june-newsletter-2/

Address

100 Bragg Boulevard
Fayetteville, NC
28301

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+19106432778

Website

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