World War II Flight Training Museum

About

The Museum tells the important and often unknown story of wartime aircrew training. The WWII Flight Training Museum is in a barracks used by the 63rd Army Air Forces Contract Pilot School as part of the effort to quickly train pilots for World War II. The museum is part of the 63rd campus that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can explore the barracks and other rooms containing the story of the 63rd and its training. Exhibits describe bomber and fighter aircraft flown by the pilots in the war; bailout, survival, and evasion gear; pilot, bombardier, and navigator equipment; and the roles of the Flying Tigers and Doolittle’s Raiders. The exhibits conclude with a look at issues on the Home Front, including some of the roles of women. Aircraft photos, models and artwork are scattered throughout the museum.

After you visit the museum, walk around the historic campus of the 63rd Army Air Forces Contract Pilot School (Primary), which is always open. It represents one of the dozens of flight schools, bases, and airfields that sprung up to meet the wartime demand for combat pilots. The campus contains 10 buildings, 2 airplane hangars, and 1 flagpole from the days when the 63rd AAF Flying Training Detachment trained here. You are welcome to walk the sidewalks that the air cadets used as they marched to their assignments. Look upon the barracks, administration building (headquarters), ground school building, hospital and hangars that still remain. Imagine what it was like to be a cadet learning to fly his first plane in preparation for going into war! Click here to download our walking tour brochure. Or click here for our recently developed smart phone walking tour.