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    • Explore stories related to war and conflict in the air and in space.
    Aviation
  • Aviation
  • Aircraft
  • Other
  • Airships
  • Balloons
  • Commercial aviation
  • Early flight
  • General aviation
  • Helicopters
  • Interwar aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Naval aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Ultralights
  • Vertical flight
    • Space
  • Space
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Apollo program
  • Gemini program
  • Human spaceflight
  • Mercury program
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Space stations
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
    • Art
  • Art
    • Astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • Stars
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Sun
  • Telescopes
    • Behind the scenes
  • Behind the scenes
    • People
  • People
  • African American or Black people
  • Asian American or Asian people
  • Latino people
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • Native American or Indigenous peoples
  • Pacific Islander people
  • People with disabilities
  • Women
    • Records and Firsts
  • Records and Firsts
    • Science
  • Science
  • Life sciences
  • Physical science
    • Society and Culture
  • Society and Culture
  • Science fiction
    • Technology and Engineering
  • Technology and Engineering
  • Missiles
  • Robotics
  • Rockets
  • Satellites
  • Drones
  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
    • Solar System
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
    • War and Conflict
  • War and Conflict
  • Afghanistan War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Korean War
  • Modern military aviation
  • Post-Cold War
  • Vietnam War
  • Weapons
  • Cold War
  • World War I
  • World War II

    • Explore stories related to war and conflict in the air and in space.
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  • Publications
    • Stories See all Stories
    Project Paperclip and American Rocketry after World War II March 31, 2023 The Military Gets Its Wings September 09, 2022 Speed and the Cold War July 07, 2022 Phantom Flyers: Aerial Victory over North Vietnam June 21, 2022 The Strength and Resolve of Ukraine ｜ Сила та рішучість України March 15, 2022
    Exhibitions See all Exhibitions
    Learn more Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Fly Marines! The Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation: 1912-2012 National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC January 14, 2012 - January 13, 2013
    Learning Resources See all Learning Resources
    Smithsonian Science Starter: Fun with Flags: Civil War Battle Communication Flags do more than just represent your country. They are used for communication too! Learn how they were used at the Battle of Antietam during the Civil War. https://youtu.be/zYrkWjjkzmk Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5 World War I, World War II, War and Conflict

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         Louis R. Purnell in Uniform An image of Louis R. Purnell; a Tuskegee Airman and curator of Astronautics at the National Air and Space Museum; wearing his United States Army Air Force Uniform. https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/world-war-ii/6Yc7MtgiNxdvFTjq#r/817459 Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Military aviation, War and Conflict, World War II

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         Training Aircraft Used by Tuskegee Institute This image is of a vintage; open-cockpit biplane—one used at Alabama’s renowned Tuskegee Institute to train African American pilots for Army Air Corps service during World War II. https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/world-war-ii/6Yc7MtgiNxdvFTjq#r/817461 Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Military aviation, War and Conflict, World War II, African American or Black people

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         Tuskegee Airman Flight Jacket See what you can learn from this image of the airman jacket worn by Lt. Col. Woodrow W. Crockett. https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/6Yc7MtgiNxdvFTjq#r/817460 Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Military aviation, War and Conflict, World War II

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         World War II Patriotic Cover Control of the air was recognized early in WWII as a decisive factor in modern warfare; hence the popularity of the slogan Keep 'em Flying!. See it in this letterhead used by servicemen at the time. https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/world-war-ii/6Yc7MtgiNxdvFTjq#r/789466 Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Military aviation, Society and Culture, War and Conflict, World War II

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         WWII Learning Lab Students and teachers can use this learning lab to learn about various aspects of aviation during WWII and some of the most important aviators at that time. https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/world-war-ii/6Yc7MtgiNxdvFTjq Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Aviation, Military aviation, War and Conflict, World War II

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    Publications See all Publications
    Learn more Albatros D.Va: German Fighter of World War I Learn more In the Cockpit II: Inside History-Making Aircraft of World War II
    Explore other subtopics Cold War World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Afghanistan War Gulf War Iraq War Post-Cold War Modern military aviation Weapons