A Museum Tour Through Aviation History

Special Aircraft Exhibits (Gallery 104)

Over the years, the Special Aircraft Exhibits gallery (which is actually located in the Museum's West Wing) has seen a large number of different aircraft on display. Perhaps not surprisingly, the majority of these have been from the World War II era. Here are the ones that I've had the opportunity to catch on display.

Boeing P-26A
(1932)

The Boeing P-26A was a transitional aircraft, from the open cockpit biplanes of World War I to the closed cockpit monoplanes of World War II. It had its first flight in March 1932. The little all-metal plane was one of the last American fighters with an open cockpit and fixed landing gear. Maximum speed was about 230 mph. The Museum's example was stationed in Central America with the U.S. Army and was later transferred to the governments of Panama and later Guatemala.

Grumman G-22 "Gulfhawk II"
(1936)

The Grumman G-22 "Gulfhawk II" was built for the Gulf Oil Comapny and delivered in December 1936. The G-22 was similar in design to the Navy's Grumman F3F fighter, but was modified to withstand the stresses of aerobatic flying. From 1936 to 1948, the Gulfhawk II flew at air shows across the United States and Europe, usually being flown by Major Alford Williams, the head of Gulf's aviation department.

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk
(1939)

One of my personal favorite World War II aircraft in the Museum is the beautiful Curtiss P-40E Warhawk. The P-40 (in an earlier variant) was, of course, made world famous by the American Volunteer Group -- the "Flying Tigers" -- during the early war in the Pacific. Under command of General Claire Chennault, the Flying Tigers destroyed 286 Japanese aircraft to a loss of only 11 planes in China and Burma. From 1939 until 1944, almost 14,000 P-40s were built. They were used successfully by the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, Turkey, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, China, and South Africa.

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC
(1940)

Although the photograph above was taken in 1971, when the Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC was on display in a temporary building before construction of the current Museum on the National Mall, it fits into this part of this aviation history tour. The Hurricane, along with the Supermarine Spitfire, was one of the heroes of the Battle of Britain. The brave pilots of the Royal Air Force flew these two types of planes in their successful defense of Britain against the relentless bombing attacks of the German Luftwaffe.

North American P-51C Mustang "Excalibur III"
(1942)

The North American P-51C Mustang "Excalibur III" has a connection to the Virgin Islands because it was owned and flown by Captain Charles Blair, who in the 1970s and 1980s owned and operated Antilles Air Boats, a commuter airline that flew a fleet of Grumman Goose seaplanes between the islands of the Virgin Islands. After World War II, this particular P-51 was sold to a movie stunt and race pilot and later to Charles Blair. Blair was an experienced Pan American Airways pilot who also flew seaplanes during the War. In 1951, Blair flew the P-51, now christened the "Excalibur III" on speed record-setting flights from New York to London, over the North Pole to Fairbanks, Alaska, and then back to New York.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat
(1943)

The Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat was the mainstay of the U.S. Navy during most of World War II. It had its first flight in June 1942 and entered service in a series raids on Marcus Island in August 1943. During one of the most lopsided battles of the War involving air-to-air combat near the Mariana Islands in June 1944, Navy fighters -- mainly F6Fs -- destroyed 260 Japanese aircraft to a loss of 26 American aircraft. F6Fs also saw service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. In total, Hellcat pilots destroyed over 5,100 enemy aircraft to a loss of only 270!

Vought F4U Corsair
(1943)

Made famous by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and the "Black Sheep Squadron," the Vought F4U Corsair was another important U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine fighter of World War II. During the war, Corsair pilots destroyed over 2,140 Japanese aircraft. Corsairs also saw service during the Korean War, being flown by 7 Marine and 28 Navy squadrons.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
(1943)

An equally famous U.S. Army Air Corps fighter of World War II was the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. The P-47 first flew in May 1941 and was soon under production and on its way to the front lines in Europe. Although it was much larger and heavier than other contemporary fighters, the P-47 proved itself to be able to out-fly most enemy fighters, survive heavy battle damage, and also serve capably as a ground attack fighter. With it's long range, it was used in the Pacific to escort B-29 bombers directly attacking Japan during the closing stages of the War.

Arado Ar-234B Blitz
(1944)

The jet-powered Arado AR-234B Blitz first flew in July 1943, almost a year after the Messeschmitt Me-262 fighter. By late 1944, plans were in place to begin to put the Blitz into production. Although intended as a bomber, the Ar-234 provided valuable aerial reconnaisance service for the Luftwaffe, including taking photos that were critical in Germany's plans for the offensive that became the Battle of the Bulge. Use in its primary bombing role didn't peak until the spring of 1945. The Museum's Ar-234 is the sole survivor of this type of aircraft.

Beechcraft King Air 90
(1980s)

[Historic photo not available]

I don't have much information on the Beechcraft King Air 90 other than that it was and continues to be a popular business and commuter airline airplane that was first produced during the 1980s. It is perhaps the most modern of the non-jet aircraft in this category of aviation.

Cessna Citation 500
(1980s)

[Historic photo not available]

A late-arriving contemporary of the Gates Learjet, the Cessna Citation 500 continues to be a popular executive jet. The Citation and King Air pictured here were on display at the Musem as part of an exhibit on "Corporate Aviation."

With the emphasis on World War II aircraft among the planes displayed in the Museum's West Wing, we continue in that vein in the next stop of our tour -- the World War II Aviation gallery.

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Last Updated: January 1, 2003