Aviation
  • Aviation
  • Aircraft
  • Balloons
  • Airships
  • Ultralights
  • Helicopters
  • Vertical flight
  • General aviation
  • Commercial aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Early flight
  • Interwar aviation
    • Spaceflight
  • Spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
  • Human spaceflight
  • Mercury program
  • Gemini program
  • Apollo program
  • Space stations
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Artemis program
    • Astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • Telescopes
  • Stars
  • Sun
  • Solar System
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
  • Exoplanets
    • 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
  • Art
  • Science fiction
    • Technology and Engineering
  • Technology and Engineering
  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
  • Satellites
  • Robotics
  • Drones
  • Rockets
  • Missiles
    • War and Conflict
  • War and Conflict
  • Weapons
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Cold War
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Afghanistan War

    • Explore stories related to war and conflict in the air and in space.
    Aviation
  • Aviation
  • Aircraft
  • Balloons
  • Airships
  • Ultralights
  • Helicopters
  • Vertical flight
  • General aviation
  • Commercial aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Early flight
  • Interwar aviation
    • Spaceflight
  • Spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
  • Human spaceflight
  • Mercury program
  • Gemini program
  • Apollo program
  • Space stations
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Artemis program
    • Astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • Telescopes
  • Stars
  • Sun
  • Solar System
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
  • Exoplanets
    • 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
  • Art
  • Science fiction
    • Technology and Engineering
  • Technology and Engineering
  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
  • Satellites
  • Robotics
  • Drones
  • Rockets
  • Missiles
    • War and Conflict
  • War and Conflict
  • Weapons
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Cold War
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Afghanistan War

    • Explore stories related to war and conflict in the air and in space.
    Jump to content:
  • Deep dives
    • |
  • Stories
    • |
  • Exhibitions
    • |
  • Learning Resources
    • |
  • Publications
    • Stories See all Stories
    Smithsonian In Your Backyard - World War II Aircraft March 20, 2024 A War We Don’t Want to Forget March 20, 2024 Coming in Hot March 20, 2024 An Airman’s Memento March 20, 2024 Just Doing Their Jobs December 21, 2023
    Exhibitions See all Exhibitions
    Learn more World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Modern Military Aviation National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
    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

    Student

    cc-by-nc

         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, African American or Black people

    Student

    cc-by-nc

         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

    Student

    cc-by-nc

         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, African American or Black people

    Student

    cc-by-nc

         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

    Student

    cc-by-nc

         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, African American or Black people

    Teacher

    cc-by-nc
    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 Weapons