Millville Airport
The Millville Airport was dedicated “America’s First Defense Airport” on August 2, 1941 by local, state, and federal officials. In less than a year, construction of military base facilities began, and in January 1943, the Millville Army Air Field opened as a gunnery school for fighter pilots. Gunnery training began with Curtiss P-40F “Warhawk” aircraft, but after a few weeks, the P-40s were gone, and the Republic P-47 “Thunderbolt” ruled the skies over Cumberland County.
During its three year existence, thousands of soldiers and civilians served here, with about 1,500 pilots receiving advanced fighter training in the Thunderbolt.
Following the War, the airfield was declared excess to the governments needs, and returned to the City of Millville. Most of the airport buildings were converted to apartments for the many veterans returning from the war. The last of the apartments vanished in the early 1970s, and the airport soon became a hub of industry and aviation for Southern New Jersey.
Today, the airport continues to support a variety of personal and business aircraft, and is home to the Millville Army Air Field Museum and Air Show.
Millville Army Air Field Museum
Need information…
Museum Hours
10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
Tours
Monday visits and/or personal tours may be scheduled by appointment only.
To schedule a personal or group tour, call Lisa Jester at (856) 327.2347.
