National Museum of the U.S. Air Force – Riverside, Ohio - Atlas Obscura
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National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Riverside, Ohio

Inside houses a vast collection of military aircraft and missiles spanning the ages.  

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The Mark 39 bomb. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Mark 39 bomb. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
This is the B-29 bomber that dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan. The bomber was named “Bocks Car.” rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Mark 41 bomb would’ve been transported by a B-36. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Sopwith Camel and Fokker Triplane Ahuntley (Atlas Obscura User)
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A description of the largest hydrogen bomb on display at the museum. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Another view of the Mark 6 atomic bomb. A B-36 bomber is in the background. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
This weapon was an improved Fat Man bomb developed in the late 1940s. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Technical info on the Fat Man weapon. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Another view of Little Boy rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A copy of the very first atomic weapon, nicknamed “Little Boy.” rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The nose of a Mark 41 hydrogen bomb on a transport cart. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Mark 28 bombs resemble torpedos! rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A display placard that goes with the Mark 53 bomb. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The second atomic bomb was nicknamed “Fat Man.” rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Several types of hydrogen bombs were equipped with parachutes to slow their descent so the bombers could escape the blast. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Mark 53 hydrogen bomb. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The nose of a Mark 39 hydrogen bomb on its dolly. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A technical description of the Mark 28 bomb. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Here is a cluster of four Mark 28 hydrogen bombs that were carried on B-52 bombers in the 1960s. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Technical info on Little Boy. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Mark 17 hydrogen bomb required a huge bomber like the B-36 to carry it. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The XB-70 bomber and the X-15 rocket plane. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The six engines of the XB-70 tower over the first American jet fighter, the P-59. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The F-12 fighter plane which is similar to the SR-71 spy plane. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A close up of the X-15 rocket plane. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The safing switch on this Mark 41 nuclear warhead is set to “strike”, which means it is ready to be dropped on a target! rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The missile exhibit at the Air Force Museum contains Titan and Minutemen ICBM’s among others. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Other missiles that are on display. The Atlas and Titan missiles were used on the Mercury and Gemini space missions. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A German V-2 rocket engine from World War II. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Titan II rocket engines. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A multiple warhead arrangement used on modern day missiles. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A beautifully painted P-26 fighter from the 1930’s. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A French Spad VIII fighter plane from World War I. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Presidential seal on SAM26000
The Osprey
SAM26000
F117 Stealth Fighter
Northrup's Experimental Tacit Blue
The nose of the KC97 tanker
The exceptionally rare Twin Mustang
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The National Museum of the United States Air Force is heralded as the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. Inside, a massive collection is on display dedicated to the history and traditions of the Air Force. The first two atomic bomb replicas utilized casings made during World War II, and are prominently displayed right beside the B-29 bomber that was deployed over Nagasaki in 1945.

The hydrogen bombs that were developed during the 1950s and 1960s are displayed near an enormous B-36 bomber. Other exhibits explore various aircraft used during U.S. conflicts, ranging from the Korean War to the Cold War. Some of these inactive weapons are on loan from other museums. 

There is also one warhead on display in the space flight section. The museum is adjacent to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Know Before You Go

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are both free. It's easily accessible from Interstate 70. The museum contains 17 acres of exhibits under one roof and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

aircraft military history military museums
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Published
November 5, 2019
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