Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum - Pooler, GeorgiaApr 15, 2012
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| Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum – Pooler, Georgia Today we spent the afternoon at this fantastic museum. They call this “One of the World’s Most Powerful Museum Experiences” and are they ever right. The museum was established to honor the men and women who helped defeat Nazi aggression by serving in or supporting the greatest air armada the world had ever seen, the Eighth Air Force. The museum is located in Pooler, Georgia, minutes from historic downtown Savannah where the Eighth Air Force was founded in 1942. The museum tells the compelling story of the ordinary people whose lives were transformed by extraordinary commitment, sacrifice, and patriotism. Vintage aircraft, theatre presentations, and hundreds of artifacts are just some of the tools used in telling the powerful story of the Eighth. Situated in England during WWII, the Eighth consisted mainly of B-17 & B-24 bombers. There was also fighter wings attached to the Eighth. At one point during the war the Eighth was able to put over 2000 planes in the air at one time. Although there were very few aircraft, I (Bill) was so moved by this museum. We have been to several aviation museums but this one was extra special. We had an additional treat while we were there. One of the volunteers, A.S. “Bud” Porter, Jr., was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 during WWII and a member of the Eighth Air Force. He was 91 years old and led us through an interactive typical mission from the briefing to the bomb run over Germany. He was great and full of stories. We loved to listen to him. (See him in the pictures) There was a special section devoted to the WASP (Women Army Service Pilots) and their contributions during WWII. There was a special Tuskegee Airman display and a Medal of Honor Section. If you are ever in the Pooler, Georgia area, make sure you visit this museum. |
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