The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the workhorse of the German Luftwaffe in World War Two. Produced in large numbers and in many variants, it saw service from the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) through the end of WW II and during the first conflict in the Middle-East between Israel and Egypt in 1948-49.
Curators at San Diego Air & Space Museum discover a mysterious object linked to the legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong
The San Diego Air and Space Museum collection contains an instrument that was a key to the success of the Allies in World War Two: The Norden Bombsight. Key to the operation of the Norden were two features; an analog computer that constantly calculated the bomb's trajectory based on current flight conditions, and a linkage to the bomber's autopilot that let it react quickly and accurately to changes in the wind or other effects.
The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser (first flight: Jul, 1947) was a large, long-range airliner developed from the C-97 Stratofreighter military transport, itself a derivative of the B-29 Superfortress. Boeing’s 377 design was advanced for its day as it featured two passenger decks and a pressurized cabin, however reliability was poor due to problems with the four 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines and control problems with the engine propellers. Only 55 Model 377s were built for airlines, along with a single prototype.
With the recent release of the movie Oppenheimer there has been renewed interest in the many aspects that came together to make the atomic bombing of Japan a reality. This artifact spotlight will discuss some of the back story of the development of the atomic bomb, and highlight artifacts we have on display here at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Much has been written about the reasons for, and decision by, President Harry Truman to use nuclear weapons against Japan; an act that ultimately led to the end of World War II with the unconditional surrender by the Empire of Japan.
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The San Diego Air & Space Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID Number 95-2253027.
