National Air and Space Museum

Upon entering this gallery, you find yourself almost nose to nose with a B 17 Flying Fortress roaring out of a clear blue sky, contrails streaming behind it. The Keith Ferris mural Fortresses Under Fire fills an entire wall and serves as a backdrop for five fighter planes.

The story of World War II is too big for a single gallery, so this one focuses on land-based fighter aviation. The fighter planes on display are a British Supermarine Spitfire, German Messerschmitt Bf 109, Italian Macchi C.202 Folgore, U.S. North American P-51 Mustang, and Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Also on exhibit are engines, bombs, armament, ammunition, aircrew and service uniforms from several nations, and personal memorabilia.

This exhibit is now closed.