Air Mobility Command Museum

1301 Heritage Road, Dover AFB
Delaware 19902
website

This Expeditor was converted from an AT-11 Bombardier Trainer by Beech in 1953. Equipped with autopilot, the plane was used primarily as a six-seat transport. Versions of this plane were in production for 32 years starting in 1940 and have served with more than 40 Air Forces during and after WWII.

The museum began in 1986 with a single C-47A that was rejected as “beyond salvage” by other museums. Today, it stands immaculately restored; complete with D-Day invasion stripes, as it was when it served with the 61st Troop Carrier Squadron in World War II. Its extensive combat history is meticulously documented with actual photos and memorabilia donated by former crewmembers. This plane, the “Turf & Sport Special”, was the centerpiece of a reunion in July 1990, that included the D-Day pilot, aerial engineer, and three of the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers who dropped into St. Mere-Eglise on June 6, 1944—forty six years earlier.

Dover’s first strategic airlifter is represented by the single remaining C-54M, which was specially modified during the Berlin Airlift for hauling coal. The Skymaster’s restoration was also quite extensive, and took several years. The inside shows examples of its World War II cargo and passenger configurations—and if parts become available will display how medical litters were carried in its Korean War role as a Medivac aircraft. During the restoration process, we were fortunate to find a photograph of this aircraft showing its military serial #44-9030 and the markings it carried in the Pacific Theater in World War II. They were still in place during her service in the Berlin Airlift and we have restored

The C-9, known as the Nightingale, is the military version of the civilian DC-9 passenger plane built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was developed to fill the need for an Aero Medical Evacuation ( Medevac ) aircraft. The Air Force purchased 20 C-9s to replace older propeller driven Medevac planes. The Nightingale is a twin engine jet that can fly at 565 miles per hour at 35,000 feet. It can haul 40 ambulatory patients or 30 liter patients and has a separate isolation area for intensive care patients.

A four engine, turboprop powered, tactical airlift aircraft capable of operating from austere airfields. Over 40 foreign countries operate C-130s. The US Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines and Air National Guard operate C-130s. The Delaware Air Guard in Wilmington operates a fleet of C-13H models. 2004 marked the 50th anniversary of the first flight of a C-130 and new models are rolling off the assembly lines today. C-130s have been flown on every continent, landed and taken off from an aircraft carrier, operated with skis, and have been used to haul every conceivable type of cargo. The C-130 on display was retired from active duty on Feb 2, 2004 and flew its final flight to the Air Mobility Command Museum.

AFB
1301 Heritage Road, Dover AFB
Delaware 19902

Phone: (302) 677-5939