BATTLEFIELDS & MUSEUMS -  United Kingdom
Dover

AIR MOBILITY COMMAND MUSEUM

The museum houses a growing collection of vintage planes and artifacts that reflect the evolution and history of the Air Mobility Command, and of the varied missions of Dover AFB since its beginnings in 1941. 

Dover's first strategic airlifter is represented by the only remaining C-54M, which was specially modified during the Berlin Airlift for hauling coal.  The Skymaster’s restoration was also quite extensive, and took several years.  The inside shows examples of its World War II cargo and passenger configurations. During the restoration process, we were fortunate to find a photograph of this aircraft showing its military serial #44-9030 and the markings it carried in the Pacific Theater in World War II.  They were still in place during her service in the Berlin Airlift, and we have restored the aircraft in these markings.

One of the most charismatic planes in the collection is undoubtedly the B-17 Flying Fortress.  Although produced too late to see combat in WW II, #44-83624 saw extensive service.  First in a highly secret project that resurrected the idea of using obsolete aircraft as radio-controlled flying bombs, then as a drone-control aircraft in the ground-to-air missile development program. 

The collection also includes a C-45 light cargo plane and, to represent Dover's air defense role, an  F-101B Voodoo  and an F-106A Delta Dart. Our PT-17 bi-plane trainer was restored using pieces from several aircraft and hand fabricated replica parts.  This rounds out our collection of trainers, which includes a BT-13, an AT-6 and a T-33, the USAF’s first jet trainer. An HH-43 helicopter is on display in the main hangar, it is used to depict the Air Rescue Service story.

Along one wall of the hangar is a series of rooms that each tells a story. One relates the history of airlift during the Korean War. Other rooms relate the accomplishments of Air Force enlisted members, selected Air Force airlift operations, and one that explains Dover’s role in the development of rockets during World War II. 

Phone:  01304 211067

During the Napoleonic Wars, Dover's defences were greatly expanded, mainly with the addition of the Napoleonic Tunnels and what is now the Secret War Time tunnels. These defences where never needed however as Napoleon was defeated by Admiral Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar and later by Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo.

Underneath the famous White Cliffs, lie the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Started in the middle ages, greatly expanded during the Napoleonic Wars, and then again during the Second World War, the tunnels housed the headquarters of Vice-Admiral Ramsay, whose job it was to plan the evacuation of 40,000 British and French troops from the beach of Dunkirk. In the end he succeeded in evacuating 366,162 men in 9 days.

The tunnels also include the Hospital level (the other level open to visitors) and the Dumpy level .