National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force preserves for all Americans the stories of courage and sacrifice of the members of the Eighth Air Force.
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They saved the world, we save their stories.

🔧 Labor Day | The Work Behind the MissionBehind every aircraft that took to the skies was a team of airmen working aroun...
09/07/2026

🔧 Labor Day | The Work Behind the Mission

Behind every aircraft that took to the skies was a team of airmen working around the clock to keep it ready for the next mission.

Across Eighth Air Force bases, ground crews worked day and night in machine and electrical shops, maintained turrets and propellers, repaired equipment, and tackled countless other jobs necessary to keep aircraft operational and air crews flying.

Their work often happened far from the spotlight, but every inspection, repair, and adjustment mattered. The success of a mission began long before an aircraft left the ground.

This Labor Day, photographs from the museum's collection offer a glimpse at the skilled hands and tireless work behind the Mighty Eighth.

Photos from the Richard E. Sims, 357th Fighter Group, Leo F. Dempsey, and Robert Harry Wallace Collecions. National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

Now Hiring | Facilities AssociateThe National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is looking for a Facilities Associat...
09/04/2026

Now Hiring | Facilities Associate

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is looking for a Facilities Associate to help keep the museum welcoming, safe, and ready for thousands of visitors each year.

This hands-on position includes maintaining the cleanliness of museum galleries and public spaces, assisting with facility upkeep, supporting special events, and helping care for the museum grounds.

If you take pride in your work and enjoy being part of a team dedicated to preserving history, this could be the opportunity for you.

Full-time position
To apply or learn more, visit: www.mightyeighth.org/employment or contact Pam Vining at 912-748-8888.

Join the team that helps preserve the legacy of the Mighty Eighth.

🎯 Ready. Aim. Register!The Wick Searcy Memorial Clay Shoot returns Friday, September 18, and registration and sponsorshi...
09/03/2026

🎯 Ready. Aim. Register!

The Wick Searcy Memorial Clay Shoot returns Friday, September 18, and registration and sponsorship opportunities are now open!

Gather your team for a day of sporting clays, friendly competition, and camaraderie, all while supporting the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

Proceeds from the Wick Searcy Memorial Clay Shoot benefit the museum's H+STEM education program and outreach, helping connect students with history through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math experiences.

🎯 Register a team
🤝 Become a sponsor
📅 Friday, September 18

Secure your spot today:
https://web.charityengine.net/ClayShoot

A moment of calm between moments of courage.The Spirit of the Few Monument recreates a remarkable photograph taken on Ju...
09/02/2026

A moment of calm between moments of courage.

The Spirit of the Few Monument recreates a remarkable photograph taken on July 29, 1940, showing members of No. 32 Squadron relaxing on the grass at RAF Hawkinge between combat sorties during the Battle of Britain.

It is one of the powerful stories travelers will encounter on Salute to the Few: Battle of Britain Tour, part of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s 2027 Educational Travel program.

Walk the ground where history unfolded and discover the airfields, museums, memorials, and stories of the men and women of RAF Fighter Command during the summer and fall of 1940.

✈️ Full itinerary and reservations are now available.
💳 Flexible payment plans available.

🔗 https://www.wetravel.com/i/6a0b42a240491e53ba114072 -to-the-few

09/02/2026

Today, September 2, marks the anniversary of the signing of the Japanese unconditional surrender papers on the deck of the U.S.S Missouri. The deadliest conflict in human history was over and the rebuilding began although many places and people would never truly recover. Please take a moment today to remember the millions of people worldwide who participated either on the war front or home front during World War II.

Target for Today │ “Remembering V-J Day” from the Oral History of Lt Carl Thorkelson
Lt Carl Thorkelson │ 100thBG 350thBS │ Pilot
Oral History │ Carl E. Thorkelson Collection
V-J Day Photos │ Museum Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
Carl Thorkelson Photos │ 100thBG Foundation Collection
________
The ceremony for the formal surrender of Imperial Japan was conducted on this date onboard the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed 2 September 1945 as Victory over Japan Day (abbreviated as V-J Day).
Rest of the Story: Combat operations in the Pacific Theater of Operations ended on 15 August 1945, when Imperial Japan indicated its surrender by accepting the Allies' unconditional surrender terms. The day prior on 14 August - Eighth Air Force stationed at Camp Pinetree on Okinawa with its assigned B-29 bomber groups - was prepared to launch its inaugural strategic air attack in the Pacific Theater in collaboration with Twentieth Air Force stationed on Guam. General James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle once again commanded the Eighth Air Force, and prepared the Eighth's bombers to strike targets on the Home Islands of Imperial Japan. However, the Eighth's bombers did not launch on 14 August and all combat operations against Imperial Japan ceased on 15 August per order of the Commander-in-Chief, President Truman.
Historian's Note: The only senior ranking Airman of the Army Air Forces to witness all three surrender ceremonies - Germany's surrender to the Western Allies in the town of Reims, the German surrender to the Soviets in Berlin, and onboard the U.S.S. Missouri when Imperial Japan surrendered - was General Carl Spaatz who later would become the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.
William Lane Callaway
Historian, Eighth Air Force
Historian, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center
Historian, Air Forces Strategic-Air Staff Directorates
On Exhibit
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

NEW T-SHIRT ALERT | Bride of MarsHistory from the collection meets a brand-new look!Inspired by the National Museum of t...
09/01/2026

NEW T-SHIRT ALERT | Bride of Mars

History from the collection meets a brand-new look!

Inspired by the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force's Starcer Collection, the new Bride of Mars T-shirt was created in partnership with Nine Line Apparel, bringing a piece of Mighty Eighth history to life in a whole new way.

Add this one to your collection and wear a story inspired by the museum's archives.

🛍️ Available now in the Museum Store and online at shop.mightyeighth.org

Powering the mission for four years and counting!The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force recently welcomed Ge...
09/01/2026

Powering the mission for four years and counting!

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force recently welcomed Generator Supercenter for a special check presentation following its annual Freedom Month promotion.

For the past four years, Generator Supercenter has chosen to support the museum through this program, helping preserve and share the stories of courage, character, and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force.

Reliable power keeps homes and communities prepared for whatever comes their way. Support from community partners like Generator Supercenter helps keep the museum's mission going strong, too.

Thank you to the entire Generator Supercenter team for four years of generosity, partnership, and continued support of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

Now that's some serious power behind the mission.

Preserving a legacy of service.For 30 years, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force has worked to preserve a...
08/31/2026

Preserving a legacy of service.

For 30 years, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force has worked to preserve and share the stories of the men and women whose courage, sacrifice, and service shaped history.

Membership helps continue that mission while offering a year of opportunities to experience the museum, including unlimited admission, exclusive member events and previews, Museum Store discounts, a subscription to the Flyer newsletter, and more.

Become part of the mission and help ensure these stories continue to be shared for generations to come.

🎟️ Learn more or become a member: https://web.charityengine.net/M8Membership

08/29/2026

Before the Nuremburg Trials, there was the Russelsheim Massacre Trial on July 25, 1945. Eleven citizens of Russelsheim, Germany stood trial for "Violation of the laws of war" for "willfully, deliberately and wrongfully encourage, aid, abet and participate in the killing of" SIX airmen, "each of whom was then unarmed and a prisoner of war in the custody of the then German Reich." The public trial lasted six days, and forty eyewitnesses were called for the prosecution. (Quoted from the official trial record: United States v. Josef Hartgen, et al, Case 12-1497. Darmstadt, Germany, July 25-31, 1945) Three weeks after the trial, the War Crimes Investigation received a surprising letter- unbeknownst to them, two crewmembers survived the brutal assaults, Sgt Sidney Brown and Sgt William Adams.
Sgt Sidney "Brownie" Brown recounts the Russelsheim Massacre on August 26, 1944. In this edition of Target for Today, "Brownie" discusses the tragedy that befell his "Wham Bam" Crew.
All nine crew members bailed out of B-24J-CO 42-110107 "Wham! Bam! Thank you, Ma'm" on August 24, 1944 after being downed by FLAK but unfortunately, their situation only intensified once they were on the ground. This tragedy lead to the Russelsheim Massacre Trial.
Sidney Brown Oral History Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

08/29/2026

Before the Nuremburg Trials, there was the Russelsheim Massacre Trial on July 25, 1945. Eleven citizens of Russelsheim, Germany stood trial for "Violation of the laws of war" for "willfully, deliberately and wrongfully encourage, aid, abet and participate in the killing of" SIX airmen, "each of whom was then unarmed and a prisoner of war in the custody of the then German Reich." The public trial lasted six days, and forty eyewitnesses were called for the prosecution. (Quoted from the official trial record: United States v. Josef Hartgen, et al, Case 12-1497. Darmstadt, Germany, July 25-31, 1945) Three weeks after the trial, the War Crimes Investigation received a surprising letter- unbeknownst to them, two crewmembers survived the brutal assaults, Sgt Sidney Brown and Sgt William Adams.

Sidney Brown Oral History Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

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175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, GA
31322

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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