In 2000, The Millville Army Air Field Museum (MAAFM) announce the acquisition of the Philadelphia Seaplane Base Museum — its history and artifacts. In November of 2000, Museum assumed full responsibility for the Seaplane Base Museum from curator, Robert Mills of Essington, PA, who retired and closed its facility which had been located on the Delaware River in Essington for more than 85 years. The Seaplane Museum was founded by Mills’ father, Frank Mills, Sr., in 1915. “This is another very exciting step for our Museum” said Russell Davis, Millville Army Air Field Museum president. “We are adding artifacts and memorabilia from the Seaplane Museum to our continually expanding permanent collection and will promote the significance of the seaplane as part of our ongoing mission to preserve and promote aviation history.”
The Philadelphia Seaplane Base Museum’s history and artifacts span the very beginnings of flight. There is a strong focus on the history of the seaplane during WWI and WWII, as well as its continued significance throughout America’s aviation history both military and private — up to the present day.
VIDEOS
Bob Mills gives some history of the Seaplanes and their use during WWI.
This 9-minute video documents the launch of a seaplane. Bob Mills from the Philadelphia Seaplane Museum details the launch, along with a bit of history of seaplanes.
