Education at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

10/24/2026

10/17/2026

On October 14, 1945 T/Sgt Robert Ellsworth Wickham and Hilda Galloway were married. 453rdBG 732SQ Radio Operator

T/Sgt Robert Ellsworth Wickham and Hilda Galloway were married on October 14, 1945. Hilda wore a wedding gown made from Wickham's parachute.
Wickham and his fellow crew members bailed out of a B-24, January 3, 1945 and landed in Putte Lange, Alsace-Lorraine, France. His broken leg was taken care of by local residents until an American patrol took him to a hospital. He kept the chute with him and gave pieces to nurses and doctors for their use as scarves. He recovered from his injury and flew seven more missions before the end of World War II - total 22. Wickham was a radio operator in the 8thAF, 453rdBG 732SQ with the rank of Technical Sergeant during World War II. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1947 and re-entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant in December 1948. He served in Germany, Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam and retired as a Colonel in 1974.

Wedding portrait of Robert Ellsworth Wickham and Hilda Galloway, October 1945. Hilda wears a wedding gown made from Wickham's parachute.
From the Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

10/15/2026

Mighty Talk | A Convenient Villain

Charles Lindbergh. Aviator. Celebrity. Controversial public figure. But is there more to his story?

Join the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force on Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m. for our next Mighty Talk, A Convenient Villain: Charles A. Lindbergh’s Remarkable and Controversial Legacy Preparing the U.S. for War, with author Dr. Jonathan D. Reich.

Drawing on archival research, Reich examines a lesser-known chapter of Lindbergh’s life: his trips to Germany between 1936 and 1938, the aviation and military intelligence he gathered, and his work with American aircraft manufacturers as the United States prepared for the possibility of war. The book also revisits Lindbergh’s opposition to American entry into World War II and the controversies surrounding his public advocacy.

Reich brings a unique perspective to the subject, combining a background in research, medicine, aerospace engineering, and a lifelong interest in aviation to explore one of the 20th century’s most debated figures.

📅 Sunday, October 25 | 2 p.m.
📍 National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
🎟️ Free and open to the public. Registration requested.

🔗 Register: https://forms.gle/3Bccw7F3QCoipusD8

10/10/2026

10/09/2026

Black Week │ October 9, 1943
Target │ Anklam, Marienburg, Danzig and Gdynia
VIII BC Mission #113
Dispatched 338 B-17s and B-24s to 4 targets
Of that, 3BD 96 B-17s hit the Focke-Wulf aircraft plant at Marienburg that produced nearly 50% of the FW-190s used by the Luftwaffe (GAF).

Rest of the Story: The specific strike mission against Marienburg was noted as the best example to date of daylight precision bombing by the 8th in the air war against Germany. The mission was a 1,500 mile trip with 10 hrs of flying. The weather over Marienburg was perfect with little counter-air activities by the GAF and FLAK was almost non-existent. These conditions allowed the B-17s to conduct bomb release altitude between 11-13,000 ft. The B-17s dropped nearly 218 tons of 500lb & 100lb jellied oil bombs with accuracy of some 58% of mu*****ns within 1,000 ft of the target and some 83% within 2,000 ft. Two B-17s were lost at Marienburg.
Lessons Learned: 8thAF bombings at Marienburg, caused confidence to soar among its leaders and crews. British Air Chief Marshal Portal declared the B-17 bombing at Marienberg as the “most perfect example of accurate distribution of bombs.” Leaders of 8thAF released post-strike photos of Marienburg to the press to boost confidence in daylight precision bombing and to counter the push by the RAF to move all aerial bombardment to night.
For 8thAF, Marienburg provided a false sense of comfort that fighter escorts were not needed. The subsequent air battles over Munster (10-10-43) and Schweinfurt (10-14-43), clearly demonstrated fighter escorts were necessary to allowing bombers to concentrate on accurate aerial bombardment. These 2 air battles subsequent to Marienburg, also showed that the GAF was a learning organization. The GAF was adjusting to larger bomber formations of 8thAF, and started re-thinking their counter-air and FLAK tactics and techniques.
William Lane Callaway
Historian, Eighth Air Force, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Air Forces Strategic-Air Staff Directorates

From the Collection
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

10/02/2026

Prost to the Past!

It may be Oktoberfest season, but around here, we’re raising a glass to the Mighty Eighth!

The Mighty Eighth Commemorative Pilsner Glass is available online and in the Museum Store, ready for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, collectors, or anyone who appreciates a toast with a little history behind it.

Featuring commemorative detailing and a classic pilsner shape, it’s a great way to bring a piece of the Museum home.

So fill your stein, grab your pilsner, and raise a glass to history!

🛍️ Stop by the Museum Store or shop online: https://shop.mightyeighth.org/mighty-8th-glass-pilsner-16-oz/

Every purchase helps support the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force and its mission to preserve the stories of those who served.