American Air Museum in Britain

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American Air Museum in Britain We commemorate the pivotal role of air power in preserving freedom, by connecting generations to stories of heroism and aircraft that have shaped history.

✈️ The Lockheed U-2: Eyes Above the Clouds The Lockheed U-2 was a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the ...
08/10/2026

✈️ The Lockheed U-2: Eyes Above the Clouds

The Lockheed U-2 was a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force during the Cold War. Developed by Lockheed's Skunk Works, the U-2 was designed to collect intelligence from altitudes beyond the reach of most aircraft and air defenses of its era.

The U-2C was an improved version, featuring a more powerful Pratt & Whitney J75 engine and increased fuel capacity. These improvements allowed the aircraft to operate at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet while carrying sophisticated photographic and electronic reconnaissance equipment.

The U-2 became particularly important during the Cold War, providing critical intelligence on Soviet military capabilities. Its missions played a significant role during periods of heightened tension, including the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when U-2 imagery provided evidence of Soviet ballistic missile sites in Cuba.

You can see a U-2 on display at the American Air Museum in Britain. Come visit us at IWM Duxford!

Photo of the U-2 Dragon Lady at Kadena Air Base, from DVIDSHUB.

Online Store Closeout Sale! Get ahead of the holiday shopping season with gifts from the American Air Museum in Britain ...
30/09/2026

Online Store Closeout Sale!

Get ahead of the holiday shopping season with gifts from the American Air Museum in Britain online store – www.aamb.store.

We are closing our online store at the end of the year, so almost all of our inventory is steeply discounted.

Your purchase will help to support our mission of commemorating the pivotal role of air power in preserving freedom. Each dollar will be used to continue to honor and celebrate veteran stories that highlight courage, heroism, sacrifice, bravery, and ingenuity.

Show your AAMB pride with a hat, shirt, or mug. Grab a print of a historic aircraft to be hung in your office or studio.

Now is the time! Make your purchase today, while supporting the important work AAMB does each day! www.aamb.store.

79 years of service, sacrifice, and airpower. Today, the American Air Museum in Britain commemorate the 79th anniversary...
18/09/2026

79 years of service, sacrifice, and airpower.

Today, the American Air Museum in Britain commemorate the 79th anniversary of the United States Air Force and honor the generations of Airmen who have defended our nation from the skies and beyond.

From its founding in 1947 to today, the Air Force has carried forward a proud legacy of innovation, courage, and service. We are grateful to all who have worn the uniform—and especially to those serving today—who continue to protect our nation and uphold the values we hold dear.

As we look to the future, may we never forget the sacrifices that built this legacy or the Airmen who continue to carry it forward.

Happy 79th Anniversary, United States Air Force.
Aim High. ✈️

82 years ago today, the crew of B-24 I’ll Be Seeing You filed into the briefing room at North Pickenham to learn about t...
18/09/2026

82 years ago today, the crew of B-24 I’ll Be Seeing You filed into the briefing room at North Pickenham to learn about the day’s mission.

This time, they would not be dropping bombs from high altitude. Instead, they would join 251 other B-24 Liberators of the Eighth Air Force in a low-level mission to deliver vital supplies to Allied airborne forces engaged in Operation Market Garden.

To prepare for the mission, the ball turret had been removed from their Liberator. The ten-man crew was also joined by Pfc. George E. Parris of the Quartermaster Corps, who would serve as Drop Master and assist with radar countermeasures.

There was no doubt that this would be a dangerous mission, but it was a vital one.

The B-24s flew over the Dutch coast at tree-top level to avoid radar detection. However, this made them easy targets for small arms and anti-aircraft fire. During the mission, "I’ll Be Seeing You" was struck by flak, starting a small fire in the right wing. With only seconds to react, Capt. Hunter began bringing the damaged B-24 in for a belly landing.

At less than 50 feet, however, the right inboard engine burst into flames. The right wing dropped, and the aircraft was too low to recover. The moment it struck the ground was captured by a camera aboard another aircraft.

The Liberator slid across the ground and exploded, finally coming to rest in a field about three-quarters of a mile northeast of a railway overpass near Udenhout in the Netherlands. At such a low altitude, there had been no opportunity for the crew to bail out. Ten crew members were killed.

The sole survivor was waist gunner Frank Di Palma. He evaded capture and was hidden from German forces until the town was liberated by Canadian troops.

Image credit: IWM FRE 8586

A name on a photograph. An aircraft in the sky. An airfield in the English countryside. A letter sent home. A story pass...
14/09/2026

A name on a photograph.
An aircraft in the sky.
An airfield in the English countryside.
A letter sent home.
A story passed down through generations.

The new American Air Museum website brings these pieces of history together — making it easier to explore the people, places, aircraft, and experiences that shaped the American air war in Britain.

We invite you to take a look, explore our collections, and discover a story that speaks to you.

🌐 discoveramericanairmuseum.org

On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, the American Air Museum in Britain observes a moment of silence to honor those we lost...
11/09/2026

On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, the American Air Museum in Britain observes a moment of silence to honor those we lost.

We join our fellow Americans in remembering the profound sorrow of that day, while also reflecting on how we came together as a nation in its aftermath. May we remain united in our commitment to ensuring that those we lost are never forgotten.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who continue to carry that loss. May we continue to heal as a nation and dedicate ourselves to the highest ideals of peace, security, and freedom.

Never forgotten. 🇺🇸

✈️ A NEW WEBSITE. THOUSANDS OF STORIES. ONE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY. The American Air Museum in Britain is excited to intr...
09/09/2026

✈️ A NEW WEBSITE. THOUSANDS OF STORIES. ONE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY.

The American Air Museum in Britain is excited to introduce our new website!

From iconic aircraft to personal photographs, from airfields across Britain to the stories of the people who served here, our collections offer countless ways to discover the American experience in Britain during WWII to modern day conflicts.

And now, it’s easier to explore them.

🔎 Search.
📖 Discover.
✈️ Explore.
🧐 Remember.

Start your journey today at discoveramericanairmuseum.org

What will you discover?

This Labor Day, the American Air Museum in Britain honors the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who serve ...
07/09/2026

This Labor Day, the American Air Museum in Britain honors the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who serve our nation every day.

While many of us enjoy a day of rest, family, and community, countless service members are standing watch—working around the clock and around the world to protect our freedom and our way of life.

To those currently serving: thank you for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to our country. We are grateful for you today and every day.

On the afternoon of January 26, 1944, 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Lester Leo Lowry was involved in a tragic incident during a pr...
07/09/2026

On the afternoon of January 26, 1944, 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Lester Leo Lowry was involved in a tragic incident during a practice flight from his base at Bodney in Norfolk.

Onlookers saw his P-47 Thunderbolt dive vertically at speed into a field outside the Essex village of Great Bardfield. The resulting fire was still burning when the American recovery team
attempted to approach the wreckage two days later. The crater was filled in and Lester Lowry's remains were never recovered. He is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Madingley, England.

More than 80 years on from that fateful day, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) contracted Cotswold Archaeology to investigate Lt. Lowry's P-47D crash site with the aim of recovering and repatriating evidence of Lt. Lowry. They are looking for physical remains or personal effects that will allow the DPAA to officially account for Lester, finally bringing closure for his family.

The excavation is now in its second season, and this year, American Air Museum curator, Hattie Hearn, had the privilege of joining volunteers on site for two days of field work. This involved meticulously sieving earth from the crash site in search of debris, personal effects, or possible bone.

On Sunday, Hattie and AAMB volunteer, David Horspool, gave a tour of Imperial War Museum Duxford to some of the dig's volunteers from Operation Nightingale - a Ministry of Defence scheme that offers wounded service personnel and veterans the opportunity to take part in archaeological digs. We hope that their visit to the American Air Museum provided some important historical context as they continue their work to bring Lt. Lester Lowry home. We ended the day by finding Lester's name on the AAM's Roll of Honour.

The stories are still waiting to be discovered. For generations, the American Air Museum in Britain has preserved the st...
04/09/2026

The stories are still waiting to be discovered.

For generations, the American Air Museum in Britain has preserved the stories of the American men and women who served in Britain during World War II and beyond.
Now, we have a new home for those stories. ✈️

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, designed to make it easier than ever to explore our collections, discover individual stories, learn about aircraft and airfields, and connect with this extraordinary history.

🌐 Visit discoveramericanairmuseum.org

Explore the past. Discover the people. Remember their stories.

Address

Imperial War Museum Duxford Air Field
Cambridge
CB224RQ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18888599550

Website

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