History Presentation and P-51 Flight Demonstration KILLING THE LUFTWAFFE
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Doors Open at 8am Presentation Starts at 9am
Even as America entered the war in Europe, it was clear to military planners that the Allies would have to invade the main continent to defeat Germany. Any such plan would require the combined Allied Air Forces to assemble a fleet of strategic bombers and fighter escorts to strike deep into Germany to reduce its ability to fight, and to ultimately achieve air superiority over the invasion area.
For the newly named U.S. Army Air Forces, this was easier said than done. In 1941, their efforts relied on a relatively small fleet of mostly obsolete bombers and fighter escorts. The U.S. forces were outnumbered and outgunned by the Luftwaffe in all respects, but that would change dramatically over the following two years. From the first mission of a dozen USAAF B-17s against a German aircraft plant in western France in1942, the U.S. would steadily increase the size and effectiveness of its daytime air campaign, building toward the massive 1,000-bomber missions against German factories and transportation facilities in 1944 and into 1945. This effort was not without early controversy and had serious setbacks along the way that required a major reappraisal of strategy and tactics. But by the time of the Normandy invasion in June 1944, the Luftwaffe was a beaten force in the skies over France. By the end of the war, what remained of the once dominant Luftwaffe could not seriously threaten Allied forces in any part of the European Theater.
On Saturday, August 15th, at 9:00 am, museum Curator and Historian Gene Pfeffer will present the story of how air superiority was achieved and the Luftwaffe defeated. Weather permitting, the presentation will be followed by a flight demonstration of a P-51D Mustang, a highly advanced and effective fighter escort that contributed substantially to the defeat of the German Air Force. Please join us for this special event.