Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
Encyclopedia
The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is an aviation museum
located at the Cape May Airport
in Lower Township
, New Jersey
.
, which hosts the museum, was originally constructed by the U.S. Navy from 1941-1942. Commissioned in April 1943 as Naval Air Station Rio Grande, the field was so named due to its proximity to the community of Rio Grande
, New Jersey. Due to problems with mail, telegram and telephone service, caused in part by confusion with the city of Rio Grande, Texas, the Navy opted to rename the airfield as Naval Air Station Wildwood in June 1943. The air station remained in operation as an active naval installation throughout World War II
, primarily focused on training operations for Naval Aviator
s and enlisted Naval Aircrewmen in dive bomber, torpedo bomber and fighter aircraft. Following the end of World War II, the airfield was declared excess to military requirements and was converted to a civilian airport.
The museum is located in the airport's Hangar #1, which is typical of the design of many U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft hangars of the 1940s, many of which are still in use today at both active Naval Air Stations, Marine Corps Air Stations and Coast Guard Air Stations across the United States, as well as other civilian airports that formerly served as air stations. The museum's hangar is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The museum's aircraft collection focuses on World War II
, when the U.S. Navy conducted training operations at the site, but also includes more recent vintage military aircraft from the Cold War
, the Korean War
, the Vietnam War
and the post-Cold War period, several of which are on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation
at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
Aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...
located at the Cape May Airport
Cape May Airport
Cape May Airport , also known as Cape May County Airport, is a public airport located in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States, about four miles northwest of the central business district of Wildwood, a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States...
in Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Facilities
The Cape May AirportCape May Airport
Cape May Airport , also known as Cape May County Airport, is a public airport located in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States, about four miles northwest of the central business district of Wildwood, a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States...
, which hosts the museum, was originally constructed by the U.S. Navy from 1941-1942. Commissioned in April 1943 as Naval Air Station Rio Grande, the field was so named due to its proximity to the community of Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, New Jersey. Due to problems with mail, telegram and telephone service, caused in part by confusion with the city of Rio Grande, Texas, the Navy opted to rename the airfield as Naval Air Station Wildwood in June 1943. The air station remained in operation as an active naval installation throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, primarily focused on training operations for Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
s and enlisted Naval Aircrewmen in dive bomber, torpedo bomber and fighter aircraft. Following the end of World War II, the airfield was declared excess to military requirements and was converted to a civilian airport.
The museum is located in the airport's Hangar #1, which is typical of the design of many U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft hangars of the 1940s, many of which are still in use today at both active Naval Air Stations, Marine Corps Air Stations and Coast Guard Air Stations across the United States, as well as other civilian airports that formerly served as air stations. The museum's hangar is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The museum's aircraft collection focuses on World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the U.S. Navy conducted training operations at the site, but also includes more recent vintage military aircraft from the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and the post-Cold War period, several of which are on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation
National Museum of Naval Aviation
The National Museum of Naval Aviation is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The museum opened in 1962....
at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
Aircraft on display
The museum's collection includes:- F-5E Tiger II
- F-14 TomcatF-14 TomcatThe Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...
- HH-52A Seaguard helicopter
- AH-1 CobraAH-1 CobraThe Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
- MiG-15
- T-28C TrojanT-28 TrojanThe North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s...
- A-4 SkyhawkA-4 SkyhawkThe Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
in Blue AngelsBlue AngelsThe United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team...
colors - OH-6 Cayuse helicopter
- OE-2/L19 Bird Dog
- UH-1M Huey helicopter -2
- T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
jet trainers - 2 - H-13 Bell 47Bell 47The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
- McCulloch J-2McCulloch J-2-Related content:Related development:Comparable aircraft:Designation sequence:-References:*...
gyrocopter - Air & Space 18AAir & Space 18A|-References:* Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1966.* * *-See also:...
gyrocopter - V2 Rocket
- Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet -2
- TBM-3E AvengerTBF AvengerThe Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
- BT-13 ValiantBT-13 ValiantThe Vultee BT-13 Valiant was an American World War II-era basic trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces...
WWII Trainer