Unofficial High Speed Tour of the National Museum of the USAF Pt 1.

Yes, it’s more guerilla footage, this time of one of the best aviation musea I have ever been to.
For those new to the High Speed Tours, the primary purpose is to let you see what is there, and then decide for yourself if you want to make the trip to see it properly. No footage, no matter how good, can substitute for a visit.

[@MorningGI0ry]

A wild USS chieftain appears. Oh Christ there’s a KMS Bernard also

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

you have been spotted :)

[@catfish552]

@Jimmy De'Souza You're right, should be SMS Bernhard.

[@MorningGI0ry]

catfish552 He’s been anschlussed and pressed into service with the Kriegsmarine against his will.

[@cattledog901]

"Dont be carrying your sidearm". Chieftan truly has become one of us Americans. I love it.

[@maxsmodels]

The 50mm auto cannon from the ME-262 has an interesting story. When Watson's Wihizzers were scooping up Luftwaffe tech after the war they grabbed the only 262 with the 50mm cannon. It became Col. Watson's favorite jet. A contract German pilot, Willie Hoffman, was ferrying it when an engine exploded (as they were prone to do) and had to bail out. He spent several week in a hospital but survived. An American mechanic confessed that he had not done a proper pre-flight inspection which was required on the early jets to look for cracks in the turbine blades. The gun was the only thing retrieved from the wreckage and was later put int he museum. Ironically Hoffman would later go in tot he Soviet sector to retrieve his family and was grabbed by the Russians, He was kept as a 'guest' for 10 years.

[@ezragoldberg3132]

Being a Political "Guest" in the Soviet Union was usually not a good time. A Karelian/Finnish relative of mine was a "Guest" within the Union until 1955...

[@jarink1]

"Memphis Belle" was the first plane and aircrew to complete 25 missions in the ETO *without loss of life*. The first plane to fly 25 missions was actually a B-24 named "Hot Stuff" and the first B-17 to do so was "Hell's Angels". It's a difficult measurement to make, since members of the same crew didn't always fly every mission together. My grandfather, for example, was a B-17 bombardier and missed 2 missions because of a flak wound on his hand. Crews early on were assigned to a single plane, but often flew in different planes depending on availability/readiness. My grandfather was shot down in a B-17 "Shack Bunny" which had to be borrowed from a different squadron to meet a late "maximum effort" order. Their assigned plane was scheduled to be flown by a different crew. The Spitfire at 11:35 is indeed accurately marked. The USAAC flew several squadrons of Spits in N. Africa because of a shortage of suitable US-built fighters. The A-36 Apache was similar to the early Mustangs provided to the British, but it had a dedicated ground attack mission.

[@Nnnope]

Did your grandfather survive?

[@markcantemail8018]

Jim . I tried to photograph The B17 from the movie Memphis Bell about 1 hour 10 minutes ago . Trees got in the way . You can hear those Bombers coming , they have their own special sound . We have an Airshow in town this weekend . I have talked to many men who flew in the B17 over the years . Now the men are leaving us quickly . I would bet your Grandfather had some good stories to tell . Those guys were something ! Thank you for the video !

[@markholm6955]

Jim Rinkenberger and the Apache had the Allison engine not the Merlin.

[@robertdendooven7258]

The only reason the A-36 exists is the USAAF did not have money to buy "fighters" but they had funds for "attack" planes and needed to keep enough orders for North American to keep their Mustang assembly line utilized. Stupid Govt. bureaucracy strikes again.

[@warrenchambers4819]

@chris younts It was but after some yrs there they moved it inside a hanger for restoration but lacked personal and funds to compete the job. Being such a significant aircraft the air force museum stepped in and I believe a court battle may have been fought over it. In the end the museum gained posession of it and did a tremendous job restoring it.

[@TheBanditBren]

This museum is worth the trip. I went there in mid 2017, I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. It is HEEEYUGE, I spent 8-9 hours there and could easily go back. I loved it. Gift shop was pretty cool too. Great place for anybody interested in history of any sort.

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

I think I am having a déjà vu...

[@EradWir]

Have you been in this place before?

[@videodistro]

I hope you got to spend more than one day there. It takes 2 or 3 at least to just move quickly with a little reAding. Thanks for coming across the pond to do this. We need to get Military Aviation over here, too!

[@thurin84]

me to!

[@Dockhead]

you can pay for me andy lol id love to visit somewhere like this, but cant even travel in my own country to see our displays in the UK due to financial instability.

[@libertycosworth8675]

We used to live nearby before moving south. My son and I went almost every Saturday for 2 years - so about 100 times in a 2 year period. Before that I went 2-3 times a year for 15+ years. I could give tours. ;) Since then I have been back about every other year. I saw the museum when it was in its early days in much smaller buildings just off of Springfield street, and have seen it grow from the first hangar as shown in today's video, to the current massive museum complex. It is incredible when you realize that it has a 2 B17s, a B29, B52, B1, B2, the remaining XB70, a bunch of other very large aircraft, and a massive B36... . All inside the buildings. :o

[@robertgordon8159]

I was down there last weekend. Visit it 2-3 times a year. Free entertainment with some of the most significant aircraft ever produced.

[@majorleaguegaminchannel6396]

Robert Gordon same here

[@ES90344]

Growing up in Ohio the AFM was like a second home. Love that place. My dad actually wrote a two part article on the back story of the Ju-88, which actually is accurate. The plane was surrendered by the Romanian pilot to the Brits who turned it over to us. The plane was extensively tested during the war and lived the rest of its life as AFM property.

[@seppijessup9563]

I’ve been to this museum many times, it never gets old but it can take a lot of time to see everything. They’ve done a magnificent job.

[@PMGF]

Within a minute It is so American "Just don't be carrying your sidearm" & the gift shop is the size of my nearest supermarket...

[@Chilly_Billy]

A museum that must be visited every few years. It changes that often. A fantastic day trip.

[@redcoated2517]

The spitfire is in the markings of the 308th FS / 31 FG , which was part of the first Army Air Corps units to operate in the ETO, flew spitfires in 1942. I believe the machines were delivered straight from RAF stock, which might explain the British style camouflage and lettering.

[@drtidrow]

9:45 In that display case in the distance is the set of drinking cups used at Dolittle Raiders reunions - each Raider had his own. They would turn over the cups of Raiders who had passed away since the last reunion, then drink a toast to their fallen comrades (IIRC). The last cup was finally turned over this past May. :-( My memory was a little faulty: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195854/a-raiders-toast-the-doolittle-raiders-goblets/

[@leandrocosta3709]

Thanks for the run up, Chieftain. That is one of the places I have in my list to go before I die. Just a quick trivia on the Catalinas used by Brazil. They were used until 1980 by the Brazilian Air Force. There was simply no better aircraft to land in the wide Amazon rivers to supply and medvac the locals. They were augmented and finally replaced by the DHC-5 Buffalo, a turboprop version of the Caribou, which were themselves replaced by CASA C-295's which are in operation today. Catalinas had the range and payload Hueys didn't have in a period in History in which there wasn't much in the region with which to support local settlements. Beautiful planes. Thanks again for the run up and I'm anxiously waitting for the following videos. Kudos to MHV tagging along.

[@charleswade2514]

I live about 2hrs from the museum. A friend and i make a yearly visit there. My favorites are the SR71, A10 Warthog, and B17 to name a few. Your video makes me want to visit again. Thanks for posting your visit.

[@Nutzkie2001]

The Army's version of the SBD Dauntless was called the A-24 Banshee. BTW.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

welcome to my hometown. the snack bar upstairs is good too. I remember going to the museum when all the aircraft were outside.

[@_Matsimus_]

God I would love to go there

[@theastrononeer1211]

It's a great museum. I've gone to it tens of times and I still find new things each time I go.

[@donsambo5488]

Definitely worth a trip. I still hang out with the guides and volunteers whenever I make a trip.

[@jarink1]

I haven't been there since the latest hangar was built but I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!! Not only do they have a comprehensive display of aircraft types, but most of the ones on display are historically significant artifacts. It felt surreal standing under the bomb bay of Bockscar. I was walking through JFK's Air Force One and saw a framed photo of LBJ's swearing in ceremony on the plane. I literally got chills down my spine when I realized I was standing the *exact spot* it happened.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

LBJ did not need to be sworn in that day, or any day. upon JFK death he is automatically pres. in fact LBJ had a note with the swearing in words in his pocket. he wanted the effect and publicity. he told the people there that they should not ask where this note came from.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

I realize this is a high speed tour but please Chieftain, pan slower...

[@videodistro]

This place is SO HUGE its very hard to try to not look at everything. You must visit if possible. Set aside at least two days, preferably three. The hangars are huge and they have everything the us has made, even the original one off survivors (plus a good deal of foreign aircraft)!

[@thefireisonfire]

It took me 3 days to go through the whole museum spending 4-5 hours per day there

[@LokkieF]

Some people think that everybody can handle a camera...

[@drtidrow]

@@videodistro At least two full days (open to close)... three would definitely be better, especially if you like to read all the info panels along the way. It needs to be on the bucket list of every aviation enthusiast.

[@Dockhead]

@@LokkieF its not too hard mate, he doesn't have cerebral palsy or autism.

[@denniswilkerson629]

I love going their every now and then it feel like a new place every time I go.

[@joeshmoe9978]

The Army version of the SBD Dauntless was called the A-24 Banshee. No tail hook though.

[@Bigbacon]

mad I missed you at the D-Day event...passed you on the stairs, did a double take, and said "I think that was the Chieftain" but kept on going. Was there as a German reenactor. I hope WG comes back again...and brings you along again. Hope you enjoyed it!

[@Alte.Kameraden]

Oh, I almost cried on this one. I used to live in Hilliard Ohio, which is just west of Columbus Ohio. The Dayton Airforce Museum was almost a yearly thing for my family for a number of years. Until my parents I guess got bored of going. We did take one final trip when some of my family decided to stay. I'm shocked at how little as changed. Definitely the entrance with the manikins.

[@killermouze]

I was raised in Dayton and went to this museum many times. I now live in DC and I can tell you, the Smithsonian Air and Space is a joke in comparison.

[@norad_clips]

Dude, I love that museum! Best I’ve ever seen!

[@tomlindelow7984]

It really is the best avation museam. Plus general admission is free to the public.

[@Barman1942]

I was here a few years ago with a friend and *could not* stop geeking out over pretty much everything, it's an amazing place.

[@averypayne9520]

Shame that more collections don't have JU-87's and we'll probably never see one fly again. They really are quite a spectacle.

[@erinwhite2017]

The Flying Heritage collection is restoring one to flying condition: flyingheritage.org/Explore/The-Collection/Germany/Junkers-Ju-87-R-4-Stuka.aspx I wouldn't be surprised if it never actually fly's though, as their FW-190 D-13 is also in flying condition but they choose not to as its the last D-13.

[@17njl01]

One of the few remaining Ju87's resides in Chicago in the Science and Industry Museum, along with a Spitfire

[@WCW4469]

I have been lucky enough to visit this museum twice. I found tons of stuff I missed when I went the second time and I bet I would find more if I get to go back. Thank you for sharing your visit!

[@TWH_Pixy]

Absolutely love this place, I try to visit there every time I'm in town there.

[@RCTanksTrucks247]

Thanks for the great video. What an awesome place.

[@ZGryphon]

Man alive, that place has changed a lot since the last time I was there. Thanks for the update. :)

[@CraigLYoung]

You lost Bernard again? Come on Major stay with your Battle Buddy. I'll bet your wing man just loved you. BTW, don't forget to check out the X planes across the tarmac and the cargo planes outside.

[@libertycosworth8675]

Almost everything that used to be across the old flightline, (including the XB70 and the presidential aircraft) has been moved inside the current, expanded museum.

[@LeewardStudios]

I was just there two weeks ago. My father took us there way back in 70’s when you could touch the planes and get in some. You can see all 4 galleries in one day but take two to savor everything you can. The Presidential planes are humbling. You stand where Johnson took the Otha as Kennedy’s body was in the back. A very poignant way to touch history. Glad to say my 18, 14 and 12 year old daughters even had to be wowed.

[@mikenyc1501]

I loved this museum. I was stationed at this base for my 4 years of service and was here many times. I can't wait to take my son next year

[@larryfontenot9018]

What the Chieftain calls a Fokker D-VIII (D8) is a D-VII (D7). The D-VII is infamous as the only aircraft specifically mentioned in an international treaty -- the Allies required that the Germans turn over any existing D-VIIs to them and never build any more. There was a D-VIII, though. It was a parasol wing aircraft with a rotary engine. The D-VIII had the distinction of being the last aircraft type to shoot down an enemy before the armistice went into effect. A parasol wing is a single main wing that the aircraft is suspended from by means of spars, without being directly attached to the fuselage. The suicide aircraft was called the Ohka (cherry blossom) by the Japanese, and the baka bomb (from one of the Japanese words for "idiot") by Americans. It is a kamikaze aircraft. Both the Navy and Army air forces has Special Attack Units, although the Army Air Force only sent out about half as many pilots as the Navy. Before the Ohka was designed, regular aircraft had been modified for the mission as flying bombs, so it was a natural progression for them to design a flying bomb with a pilot once the tactic had been officially accepted by the military general staff. The Ohka was an overall failure, although it had a very high speed in its terminal dive and was difficult to intercept then. It had to be carried into striking range by a bomber, and the bombers were easily shot down by US combat patrols once the fleet figured out what was happening. While many where built, their effect on the war was insignificant.

[@larryfontenot9018]

In case anyone wonders why a flying bomb with a pilot would be called the cherry blossom, it's because of Japan's samurai tradition. The Japanese cherry tree blossoms are delicate and are only open for a very short time before they fall. Samurai compared themselves to them, saying that their own lives were as transient. A related occidental concept is "live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse".

[@ExPatTanker]

One of the best aviation museum's on the planet, and I say that as an Englishman who has been many times to the Fleet Arm Museum, IWM Duxford, and both RAF Museum at Hendon and Cosford. Smithsonian next?

[@videodistro]

THE best. Nothing can come close tomsize or completeness of the collection. He didnt get even close to everything there.

[@ExPatTanker]

Wait for part 2...

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

dayton ohio museum is the worlds largest and oldest military aviation museum.

[@glorgau]

Fantastic display. Truly a great collection. I must say that the missile gallery made me feel quite "inadequate".

[@mcm95403]

WOW! This is AWESOME! Thank you so much for doing this. Now I know for sure where I need to go.

[@jephthaholt]

When I was about 8, the movie Memphis Belle was at the Geneseo Air Museum. At the time I knew a heck of a lot about WW2 aircraft for a kid, and the mechanic for it was there that day. He was impressed that I knew so much and asked if I wanted to go inside the Belle, and oh boy did I ever. That plane is a beauty, and yes, the ball turret is as cramped as it looks. I will never forget hanging around in that plane for hours, that is something I think I will remember till the day I die.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Great video. My brother and I were at that museum last November just before Thanksgiving. We went to the WWII section first, then the jet age, and sort of skipped through the modern era, and ended up in the WWI area. We planned on staying maybe 2 hours and to see "Memphis Belle", and actually ended staying almost 5.5 hours!!! Also, we went to the Wright Brothers Monument and got to see the actual very 1st AIRPORT in the world - just a farm field with about a dozen historical signs explaining its purpose. Also, visited this museum a few times in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 2000s when a lot of the larger aircraft of all types were actually on display OUTDOORS!! My last visit was sometime early 2000s and that is when the museum was expanding and building the larger hangers in order to get those larger aircraft out of the elements. This video brought back memories. THANKS!!!

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Thanks. I can remember about 50 years ago going to some of the Museums in Washington, D. C. and got to spend some time in one part of the Smithsonian. I loved doing that. Being there - seeing the real things ... it's great. .

[@davidkaminski615]

Had the pleasure of visiting this museum two years ago. My gf got tired after the first hanger, and I speed walked through the next three. I need to go back because I didn't have time to read about all of the exhibits they have. And see Belle! Hope you and Bernard had fun!

[@calvingreene90]

After the USofA entered the war and the pilots of the first American fighter group arrived in England they Churchill noticed them hanging around in cafes and asked about them as it was explained that their planes had not arrived yet Churchill ordered words to the effect "Give them Spitfires and get them in the fight."

[@yopsolodes]

Seems un this case thats it's a desert version of the Spitfire My old great uncle wich was flying for the french air force in North Africa, told me that after mers el Kebir, there was such animosity against english pilots that during the operations in 1942, they painted the american star over, because french aviation and AA would shoot on sight english planes but not american ones

[@seumasnatuaighe]

Congratulations on your superior camera technique, Nicholas. I really enjoyed this tour.

[@RickJZ1973]

Very nice video! Wonderful museum. Have to go back in the near future to see the Memphis Belle.

[@shorttimer874]

Bit of a story about the crew on B29's: Dad was combat camera with the B29's and flew on random ones enough to get an air medal. The only story I ever remember him telling about that time was about the fact that whoever used the toilet first had to empty it after the mission. Some hours after takeoff one of the crew wouldn't be able to hold it any longer and would have be the first to use it. Immediately following this the trim had to be adjusted as everyone else in the crew made a dash for the latrine, the crew in the back compartment having the advantage while the crew in the front had to crawl through the pressurized tunnel over the bomb bay.

[@SpartanEagle7]

Welcome to my home turf, I live right nearby there. Glad you made it!

[@uncralph4354]

One of my favorite museums. I am fortunate enough to live close enough to visit it at least once a year.

[@matthewnorthrop7586]

Best Museum ever. Unofficial high-speed tour takes four hours

[@videodistro]

Heartily agree!

[@Vanilla0729]

Four hours? Are you sure that's not the unofficial ultra-high-speed tour?

[@donsambo5488]

I just pick a hanger and walk til I don't feel like reading lol

[@mattkrea]

My grandfather used to take me every year and give me the same tour every single time. And each year I ate it right up and couldn’t wait to get back. Great place and collection.

[@Masada1911]

Do you still go?

[@nicholasmacdonald100]

YES FINALLY ANOTHER HIGH SPEED TOUR!

[@darinjustice994]

I've been going there every few years ever since I was a small boy in 1973. It's impossible to see everything there in just 1 day. Not just inside the 4 hangers but outside as well. The XB-70 and B-36 are my favorites. Realistically it will take 2-3 days minimum to properly see it all. There are many volunteers on site also that can tell you all about these fine war birds as well. Well worth the trip.

[@dylanreynolds4334]

I was there on my 18th birthday as my family and I were traveling through Ohio then for a cross country move. I had so much fun I will forever remember it! The video makes it look great, but is still even better in person!!!

[@Randolph1924]

Finally, one of my favorite museums and one of my favorite historians!!!

[@kitbi9368]

Yep, just wish the cameraman would keep quiet so we could hear Bernhard speaking

[@Randolph1924]

@@kitbi9368 Pretty sure Bernhard is making a detailed tour video, not the high speed tour we got XD. It'll probably take Bernhard 5 hours to get through the first hangar with filming, not even thinking of all the fun stuff in 3 and 4

[@harbringerf9416]

Allied aircraft in the Pacific theater went to a fair degree of effort to avoid being labelled Japanese. So all red markings were removed, with some using US marking to further try and reduce friendly fire.

[@martijn9568]

And orange markings too. The Dutch squadrons dropped the black and orange triangles for just a Dutch flag.

[@bradkoon2512]

I absolutely love this museum! I used to live in Cincinnati through high school, & that was a place I went often!

[@cerperalpurpose]

Will you ever do one of these at Duxford? Nice collection of armour there as well plus the flying spits, B17, ect

[@videodistro]

Wright Patterson is the BEST in the world!! Glad you two could go there. It was my NO 1 recommendation!!

[@USAFmuseum]

Thanks so much for the tour!!!

[@peridoodle2644]

Something interesting, if you look at a lot of the propellers, a good portion of them are made by the same company. If you look at a lot of them you'll see the gold and red oval around a silver propeller about half way down each blade. This is the insignia of the Hamilton Standard company.

[@vonfragesq7145]

The razorback 47 is a representation of Neil Kirby's plane. The bent up vertical stabilizer is from the crash site of his actual plane.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

Can't wait for part 2!

[@Dauntless2000]

Beautiful museum, wished you showed the Dolittle Goblets that the museum has behind the B-25. The museum received them and the bottle the last two were to share. It’s been years since I been there, and at that time, our tour guide told us that only Dolittle’s copilot was alive at 100. The B-25 is set up as Dolittle’s aircraft and the man hanging out of the cockpit is the copilot.

[@DESTRUCT0NAT0R]

The copilot passed away in the spring unfortunately. They've not turned his cup over yet though.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

Love the shot of the young girl looking to buy a Pink bomber jacket! The second B-25 looks like it had a 75mm cannon from the M4 Sherman. They were replaced by rockets when they became available.

[@Cirux321]

Ah the Memphis Belle. That is the original one, reclaimed from Tennessee by the Air Force as it sat outside and deteriorated in the elements. It was restored and is now what you see at the museum. There is another B-17 known as 'Movie Memphis Belle', that was one of the B-17s used in the 1990 film that still flies around to this day. Regardless, glad to see her back in pristine condition and now displayed indoors. And if anyone cares, the first B-17 to complete 25 missions was called 'Hells Angels'. They completed their 25 missions one week prior to Morgan's crew in Memphis Belle.

[@ThePac7278]

when I was a teen they had a B-17 Shoo Shoo Baby. I read somewhere that the name was Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby originally. big planes until be you see the B-29, B-52 or B-36 bombers for comparison.

[@jcf20010]

@@ThePac7278 Or the XB-70 which is on display there too.

[@jackfuller8960]

That's an awesome collection. The WW2 section is especially comprehensive.

[@mikehenthorn1778]

nice quick overview of wright patt. it was great seeing both of you at the D day ohio event the next day.

[@Cygnus32k]

Good to see you here in Dayton Chieftain! I've been fortunate that I've lived 5-10 minutes away from the museum my entire life. It used to be something you could kill a half day to see. Nowadays you definitely need to plan a couple days unless you plan to speedrun the museum.

[@misterjag]

6:10 That's the sole surviving Martin B-10.

[@MT-rh3bq]

By far the best air museum, the place is huge. I remember going there as a kid and it took all day. It's at least a six hour day just to walk through all the exhibits.

[@gaw5024]

Nice to see you were in Dayton. Was there both before and after the massive hanger was built. It was neat that before the hanger was built many of the large bombers and cargo planes were just on a tarmac where you could walk up and touch them.

[@justme-xq5ml]

There still are aircraft out side.

[@swwy5]

Excellent video. Thank you

[@cavscout888]

Man, sweet place. I really need to start seeking out these museums. Willing to disarm for several hours to go here!

[@enimentharp7421]

I went to this museum and I thought it was amazing! I loved all the exhibits even though I prefer WW2! I got my school lanyard from there and it was amazing!

[@MrJustinUSCM]

Its weird seeing chieftain do a video somewhere where I go on a regular basis.

[@davidnemoseck9007]

Another place to add to the list of places I'd love to visit.

[@justinpyke1756]

This place is on my list!

[@justme-xq5ml]

Plan 2 or 3 days. Its free though.

[@MilitaryHistoryNotVisualized]

yeah, if you don't read 1 day, but then again after WW2 my interest did a dive bomb, also I didn't care about the space stuff at all... 2-3 days probably the best.

[@theginger7148]

5:18 Chieftain, ask Drachinifel about that test if you ever see him again. You’ll get an interesting story

[@grantlee5737]

Tanks with wings? Madness!

[@billbrockman779]

My favorite museum. I had an AF Historians conference there in 2004 and have been a dues paying supporter ever since. They publish a good magazine quarterly.

[@nickythenickname]

As an ohioan, i am sad i missed the opportunity to meet you. Still nice to see you tour the place :)

[@KorbinX]

Wish I knew when you were there, would love to have met you mate. Thanks for sharing

[@yankeetown3739]

I’ve been here a few times and it is wonderful! I’m a former Army tanker but my first love was planes. I wanted to fly but my eyes are crummy.

[@wally626v_m7]

Finally a museum I have been in. In the old days in the modern wing you could get up to and touch the planes, more museum like now. Great museum.

[@thornydig]

Dropped everything to watch this👍

[@mattsmith7019]

Nice I wish to go there one day. Some fun facts for you; the Junkers 88 is the last surviving combat aircraft of the Romanian Air Force of WW2. Also the Beaufighter is actually an ex Australian Beaufighter, a combat veteran even, recovered from someones backyard in Australia.

[@thefireisonfire]

What pisses me off is that by chance, I happened to be there on my vacation the same day he filmed and DIDN'T NOTICE HIM! Im even in one of the shots, standing behind the B17 with my head obscured by the bomb bay door, in the orange shirt.

[@eazy8579]

One of the best Museums I've been too. I was there about a year ago

[@malusignatius]

Re: the Australian Spitfire: I think from memory RAAF squadrons in PNG adopted the US star to avoid confusion. I know that's why they went for the simplified rounden (no red kangaroo), but maybe that wasn't enough.

[@richardvernon317]

Spitfire Mark Vb fitted with tropical filters on the nose were operated by the USAAF in North Africa during Operation Torch in 1942/43. The aircraft is in the markings of the 31 Fighter Group / 308 Fighter Squadron. The group were trained in the US to fly P-39s but when they got to the UK, the aircraft were found to be unsuitable, so they got Spitfire V's from British stocks. They operated the Mk V, Mark VII and Mark IX until April 1944 when they got P-51D Mustangs.

[@timorvet1]

The Spitfire Mk Vc as represented by the Airforce Museum, in what appears to be Operation Torch markings, was intended for overseas use. "Tropicalised" with its Vokes filter fitted, many were factory finished for service in North Africa in an RAF desert scheme consisting of "dark earth", with "mid stone" upper surfaces and with "azure" or "sky" undersides. On arrival in Australia these aircraft were usually partly repainted with "foliage green" (dark green) over the "mid-stone". Some were also received in the temperate land scheme "green" and "brown". Reference the roundel and fin markings, these were also partially repainted or painted over and reapplied in the "RAAF" "blue and white roundel" style (no American Stars where applied to RAAF combat operated aircraft as far as im aware) deleting the unwanted "yellow and red" part, which had been deleted due to an earlier episode when a No. 11 Squadron Catalina was mistaken for a Japanese aircraft and attacked by a Grumman Wildcat of VMF-212 of the United States Marine Corps on 27 June 1942. This due to the red centre being visually similar to the Japanese "red meatball" or "Hinomaru". On 2 July 1956, the current version of the roundel was formally adopted. This consists of a white inner circle with a red kangaroo surrounded by a royal blue circle.

[@malusignatius]

@@timorvet1 Cool, I knew the US used some Spitfires, but I didn't know how many or where. I admit should I find myself in that end of the States, I'll have to see if I can visit the collection, it looks mighty impressive.

[@timorvet1]

@@malusignatius Me to mate, I had hoped to get over from Australia for the Memphis Belle unveiling weekend last year, but alas wasn't to be.

[@malusignatius]

@@timorvet1 Hah, I'm in Brisbane. The Belle's only been there a year? I would have thought it would have been put in a museum as soon as they'd finished the recruitment drives.

[@m35benvids87]

I hope Bernard enjoyed his time in America.

[@codboroks97]

I went to this museum a day after we attended the airshow up in Dayton a few months ago. It really is massive. There's so much stuff to look at it would take hours just to see it all properly. Unfortunately I went with two other people who weren't nearly as interested in this sort of thing as I am, and was kind of rushed through most of it. What I did get to stop and look at was really interesting though, and my phone storage is completely full of photos. I would love to go back and visit the museum again one day.

[@IronTulikettu]

My favorite museum on earth! I try to go there at least twice a year.

[@videodistro]

Lucky you!

[@Khalifrio]

I wish I had know you two would be there. I would have made a point to drive the 30ish miles to meet you both and bought you a nice lunch.

[@inclusivemodeldesigns16]

Fantastic!

[@kirahawkins3931]

I spent about 100+ hours there as a high schooler my dad was stationed a WPAFB. Airplane heaven!

[@potatonamedtate6727]

Was just there a couple weeks ago. Absolutely amazing museum

[@Idahoguy10157]

The USAAF did use photo recon Spitfires. The U.S. Navy used Spitfires over Normandy to direct Battleship gunfire.

[@axelrajr]

wish i had known you were in my area of the world. great walk-through so far taking into account that your a tanker.