SJ Kids - Air Museums

With all the coverage that our military has been receiving since the attacks of September 11, I thought it was only natural that we feature a few military related places in south Jersey that are great places to take the kids and teach them a bit about the roll South Jersey has had in our nations military.

First lets head on down to Wildwood, and pay a visit to the Naval Air Station, Wildwood. Originally planned as the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Rio Grande, the facility was re-designated as a Naval Air Station on 5 March 1943, based on a recommendation of the Commandant, FOURTH Naval District, and it was commissioned as the Naval Air Station Rio Grande (Cape May) by Commander F. B. Connell USNR, Commanding Officer, on 1 April 1943.

At one point the facility housed approximately 154 planes, 443 officers and 2497 men. In order to provide necessary facilities for this number of planes, an additional hanger, plane parking area, barracks, and training building space were added, but the numbers just kept growing. The Hotel Davis in the city of Wildwood was leased by the military and occupied by 150 men. 190 men were quartered in eight Westward Huts, which were provided for temporary barracks by the Bureau of Aeronautics, and additional men were housed in tents on the station. In spite of these emergency facilities, over 270 men were quartered in each of the five barracks then available. Approximately 250 officers were quartered at the Naval Annex (Admiral Hotel)in Cape May.

With all that said, now you want to know what there is to do there right? Well, visitors can tour the Station, visit hanger #1, a fully restored aircraft hanger and museum, you can also pay tribute to the 38 brave men who lost their lives while training at Naval Air Station Wildwood during World War II. Visitors can also view numerous WWII fighters in various stages of restoration.

If you like aircraft and want to learn a bit more about South Jersey’s role in WWII, the Naval Air Station Wildwood is the place to visit.

Another great place for kids to learn about the military and South Jersey is the Millville Army Air Field Museum.

Dedicated by the U.S. War Department in 1941 as "America's First Defense Airport" the MAAFM as it has come to be known saw more than 10,000 men and women serve there, with 1,500 pilots receiving advanced fighter training in P-47 'Thunderbolt' and P-40 'Warhawk' fighter planes.

During World War II, pilots from all over the country learned the skills of the fighter pilot before being shipped into action overseas. The legendary P-47 Thunderbolt was the plane these pilots trained with at Millville and eventually would take into combat.

After the War, the Air Field was decommissioned for military use and through the 50's and 60's became the hub of commercial aviation for Southern New Jersey with several aviation-based businesses.

Visitors to the Air Field will be escorted through the museum by someone who served at the Air Field during World War II (when available), bringing history to life as your group explores the collection of rare artifacts and photos of the Air Field's history and the World War II era. The Wall of Remembrance is another spot that should not be missed as it pays tribute to the 14 pilots who lost their lives while stationed at the Air Field.

These two places are great spots to take the kids to not only see some great stuff, but also to learn about the vital role that South Jersey played in the defense of our nation.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Steve Kelly - Editor, SouthJersey.com