Cool Cape May 2021-22

[288] activities
Naval Air Station Wildwood
When education and pure fun combine, special things happen. Welcome to one of those special places!
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WHERE IS IT? Just north of the island.
Take Broadway/Seashore to Breakwater,
turn left. Look for planes a quarter-mile on
your right and follow signs to museum.
WHY SHOULD I GO? History! And
airplanes. How can you need more reason
than that? The Cape May County Airport
is built on what used to be a naval air base
during the Second World War, a place
where brave young men trained to fly the
“quirky” SB2C Helldiver. And by “quirky”
we mean, in the words of one pilot, “the
worst airplane ever built.”
Only the bravest or most reckless of
pilots flew the Helldiver — and they lived,
trained and worked right here. Surrounded
by wetlands, they disturbed few while divebombing
over sparkling rivers and fields
(before heading off to the South Pacific,
where the Helldiver sank more enemy ships
than any other plane in the war).
Their presence is still felt, more than 70
years later, because the Aviation Museum is
still exactly the way they left it. But, oh, the
difference 70 years has made in aviation!
And you can see that difference made
clear as you get up close and personal
with the F-14 Tomcat, F-16 Fighting Falcon,
the UH-1 Huey, the T-33 Thunderbird, and
a Coast Guard rescue helicopter you can
actually sit in. Also on display in the Coast
Guard section is a USCG Humvee! And the
museum recently added a unique WWII
F6F-3 Hellcat fighter aircraft.
The NASW is supported in part by
a grant from NJ Department of State,
Division of Travel and Tourism.
INSIDER TIP The museum has interactive
exhibits, videos and original posters from
the era. A blast for vets, their grandkids
and history buffs of all ages, the museum
is always growing and available for special
events! NASW was added to the National
Register of Historic Places, so look for even
more exciting things to happen!
500 FORRESTAL ROAD l CAPE MAY COUNTY AIRPORT l 609-886-8787 l usnasw.org