National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Celebrates the 84th Anniversary of the Mighty Eighth

Wednesday, January 28 marks a historic anniversary for both the City of Savannah and the United States. Eighty-four years ago, on January 28, 1942, the charter for the Eighth Air Force was established in a former National Guard Armory at 1108 Bull Street in Savannah, Georgia. Formed at a critical moment in World War II, the Eighth Air Force was tasked with two primary objectives: crippling Nazi Germany’s war-making capability by destroying factories and transportation networks, and gaining air superiority over the Luftwaffe to enable an Allied invasion of continental Europe. Lieutenant General Henry “Hap” Arnold appointed Major General Carl Spaatz as the first commander of the new air force. Brigadier General Frank Hunter, a Savannah native, was placed in charge of Fighter Command, while Brigadier General Ira Eaker assumed leadership of the bomber force.

During World War II, more than 350,000 men and women served in the Eighth Air Force. Of those, approximately 26,000 were killed in action and another 28,000 became prisoners of war. Their sacrifices were instrumental in the Allied victory over Germany, earning the Eighth Air Force its enduring reputation as the “Greatest Air Armada of All Time.”

To commemorate this milestone, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force will offer $8.00 admission on Wednesday, January 28, along with an 8 percent discount in the museum store. The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force educates visitors about the character, courage, valor, and patriotism of the individuals who served in the Eighth Air Force, the largest air armada in history. Through films, exhibits, artifacts, and archival materials, the museum tells the personal stories of those whose service and sacrifice helped secure victory in World War II.

Museum highlights include a fully restored B-17 Flying Fortress and the multimedia Mission Experience, an immersive simulated bombing mission presented in a dedicated theater using actual combat footage. The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is located at 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, Georgia. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.mightyeighth.org or call (912) 748-8888.