Please note: due to inclement weather, the number of aircraft participating will be limited.

The day after formations of World War II aircraft fly over Washington, D.C. as part of the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Capitol Flyover, a selection of the historic airplanes will be on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This celebration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe will feature variety of educational and WWII-era activities.

TIMED ACTIVITIES

  • 11:00 am
    Mission Reenactment
    Attend a reenactment of a mission briefing with a World War II veteran from that mission. 
  • 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
    United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note
    Enjoy jazz music from this popular military band.
  • 12:00 pm – 2:45 pm
    Swing Dancing
    Learn how to swing dance with Gotta Swing.
  • 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 12:30 pm
    Ask an Expert: Flak-Bait
    Jeremy Kinney will discuss Flak-Bait overlooking the aircraft on Space Hangar Mezzanine.
  • 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 1:30 pm
    Flights of Fancy Story Time
    Hear a reading of Rosie Revere, Engineer and build a take-apart airplane.
  • 10:55 am, 1:45 pm, and 3:40 pm
    D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944*
    Gain a new perspective on how the Allied operation at Normandy changed the world in this Imax film narrated by Tom Brokow.
    *Ticket fees apply
  • 11:00 am and 1:30 pm
    Veteran's History Project
    Hear a special presentation from the LIbrary of Congress about their Veteran's History Project

ALL DAY ACTIVITIES

  • World War II Aircraft and Vehicles
    View aircraft participating in the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Capitol Flyover as well as World War II era jeeps.
  • Victory Gardens
    Design your own Victory Garden poster, plan your own Victory Garden, plant your own Victory Garden, and talk to horticulturists from Smithsonian Gardens about planting your own home garden.
  • Paper Airplane Nose Art and Design Challenge
  • World War II Reenactors

Timing of aircraft display is dependent on weather and subject to change.

AIRCRAFT 
Aircract will be on display from 10:00 am until 2:15 pm. You must obtain a safety briefing prior to exiting the building. The last briefing is at 2:00 p.m.

Twenty-two aircraft will be on display including:

  • Boeing Stearman PT-17
  • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (two)
  • Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
  • Douglas A-26 Invader
  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain
  • Douglas C-53 Skytrooper
  • Douglas SBD Dauntless
  • Grumman (General Motors) FM-2 Wildcat (two)
  • Grumman TBM Avenger
  • North American B-25 Mitchell
  • North American P-51 Mustang (three)
  • North American SNJ (two)
  • North American T-6 Texan (two)
  • Piper L-4 Grasshopper
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel
  • Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair

This program is made possible by the generous support of Thomas and Jamie Pumpelly.

Stars and Stripes issue no. 285 from May 8, 2945, Paris Edition, VE Day.

Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning "Betty A III" and "Mim".

A U.S. Army Air Force North American B-2C Mitchell bomber in flight near Inglewood, California in October 1942.

How to attend