Built as a F-4E-44-MC by McDonnell Douglas at Saint Louis in 1970, 69-7263 was first assigned to the 4th TFW, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. In 1972/73 it was deployed to Ubon RTAFB and in 1977 it was one of 116 undergoing conversion to F-4G Wild Weasel configuration with electronics to seek out SAM air defence radars. It then served various units at Nellis AFB, George AFB and Spangdahlem in Germany. Deployed to Bahrain with the 35th TFW in early 1991, it launched over 40 missiles during Desert Storm before transfer in 1992 to the 190th TFS/124th FG Idaho ANG at Boise. It joined the USAFM in 1996

Designed and built by Bell at Buffalo, NY in great secrecy during WWII, the P-59 was America's first jet aircraft. After use by the NACA Laboratory at Cleveland, in 1947 it was transferred to Kirtland AFB, NM for further testing. By 1951 it had been placed on display there and after use as a ground instructional airframe, was flown to the USAFM aboard a C-124 in 1956. The 66 P-59s built were powered by two GE turbojets developed from the British Whittle engine. but low thrust and a heavy airframe design resulted in poor performance but did provide valuable development cues. Six now survive

Assigned to the 495th TFS, 48th TFW at RAF Lakenheath in 1977, in April 1986 this 'Swinger' led an attack on barracks in Libya during Operation El Dorado Canyon. Then in August 1990 it was deployed to Taif in Saudi Arabia, flying 29 combat sorties in Desert Storm and destroying 58 targets. From 1992 it served the 27th FW at Cnnon AFB, NM till ferried to the USAFM in May 1996 where it is now exhibited with the badges of the 492nd, 493rd, 494th and 495th Tactical Fighter Squadrons as operated during Desert Storm

Officially commissioned as presidential aircraft in July 1947, "The Independence" carried President Truman to Wake Island in October 1950 to discuss the Korean situation with General MacArthur. In May 1953 it was taken out of presidential service and was transferred to the MATS at Bolling AFB, Washington DC, later moving to Andrews AFB and McDill AFB. In 1964 it was transferred to TAC as a command support aircraft and in July 1966 was flown to Wright Field for storage pending museum construction. My 1973 photo shows it displayed outside in final service markings

This is the only X-3, first flown from Edwards AFB in 1952 and designed to test sustained flight at twice the speed of sound. It also explored the use of very short wings and titanium airframe construction.. Because it was underpowered with an interim J34 engine, it failed to achieve the high speeds for which it was designed. By 1956 it had been transferred to the USAFM

Modified from the civilian Beech 36 Bonanza under the Pave Eagle II program, the 27 QU-22Bs delivered to the USAF were intended as airborne relays for the Igloo White operation during the Southeast Asia War, monitoring ground sensors to detect traffic along the main enemy supply line, the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Remote control equipment allowed the QU-22B to be flown directly by an onboard pilot or as an unmanned drone. In practice flights were all manned and after the loss of several aircraft, in 1972 the program ended. Registered N90637 to a tech college in 1974, this one joined the USAFM in 2001

In September 1948, the XF-92A became the world's first jet aircraft to fly with the radical delta-wing configuration, pioneered by Germany's Dr Alexander Lippisch. Convair used the knowledge learned from the XF-92 to design the delta-wing F-102, the USAF's first operational supersonic interceptor. Operated by NACA, it made its last flight in October 1953, the nose gear collapsing on landing. It then became a travelling exhibit with the USAF's Recruiting Service, next going on display at Franklin County Airport, TN in 1965. In vandalised condition, it was recovered by the USAFM in 1969

During the 1960s, this U-2A, the last one built, made 285 flights to gather data on high-altitude clear-air turbulence. It went on the following decade to flight test reconnaissance systems and was delivered to the USAFM in May 1980

This C-20 served the 89th AW at Andrews AFB from July 1987 till September 2015 when delivered to the NMUSAF

As a kid in the 1960s I can well remember being inspired by this extraordinary rocket-powered machine built to investigate the effects of hypersonic flight. In June 1962 this, the second of three X-15s, became the first aircraft to exceed Mach 5 after being air-dropped form its NB-52A mothership over Mud Lake, NV. In October 1967, after a fuselage stretch and addition of the large propellant tanks, it reached Mach 6.7, fastest of the three X-15s. In December 1968 the 200th X-15 flight was cancelled and 56-6671 went into storage till moved to the USAFM the following year

Built as a T-37A, this basic jet trainer was upgraded to T-37B around 1961 with improved engines, navigation and communications equipment. By the mid-1980s it was operating with the 8th FTS/71st FTW at Vance AFB, OK and is now displayed with their 'OK' code having been delivered to the museum in October 1991

Built as a F-104C-5-LO by Lockheed at Burbank, this Starfighter was based at George AFB with the 435th TFS/479th TFW, but in October 1965 operated from Da Nang, S Vietnam, escorting EC-121Ds over the Gulf of Tonkin. Soon moving to Kung Kuan AB, Taiwan, the unit returned to George that December. For a year from mid-1966 it deployed to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, attached to the 8th TFW for F-105 escort. One of the first F-104s to be painted in camouflage, it also saw visits to W Germany and Spain. Transferring to the 198th TFW, Puerto Rico ANG by 1971, it was ferried to the USAFM in August 1975

Conceived as the solution to provide fighter escort protection for heavy bombers, the XF-85 was the first and only aircraft designed as a parasite fighter to be launched by a trapeze mechanism from the bomb bay of the Convair B-36 and Northrop's planned B-35 flying wing. McDonnell built two prototypes in 1947 which were tested under a B-29, but great difficulties were encountered in attempting to dock the Goblin back to the mothership, requiring a very skilled pilot. With improvements to air-to-air refuelling, docking problems and superior Soviet opposition, the program was abandoned in 1949

Flight testing of the X-4 Bantam began in 1948, the design having been inspired by German WWII research and developments, with both examples constructed being passed to the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) in 1950. The first X-4 was grounded after only 10 flights and the second (seen here) was used in the joint USAF/NACA program which ended in 1953. Instability at high speed led to the conclusion that semi-tailless aircraft were not suitable for transonic flight with the technology then available. It now hangs in the fascinating Research & Development Gallery

In February 1973 this was the first aircraft to land in Hanoi to collect and repatriate American POWs, earning it the nickname "Hanoi Taxi". Around 1980 it underwent the stretch converting it to C-141B status. In May 2006 it gained further distinction by carrying out the final flight of a Starlifter in USAF service when delivered to Wright-Patterson for the NMUSAF

This F-101B on display in the NMUSAF's Cold War Gallery served with the 18th FIS, Grand Forks AFB, ND, and the 142nd FIG, Oregon ANG at Portland. It was flown to the museum in February 1981

This was one of two Bell Model 47J Rangers purchased in 1957 for use by President Eisenhower. While it was usually the other (57-2729) that flew the President, this one carried his physician and a Secret Service agent. In March 1962 it was removed from presidential service but was employed to carry high-ranking Department of Defense personnel and several foreign dignitaries till retired to the museum in July 1967 where it is now displayed the the fourth building's Presidential Gallery

This was a one-off King Air with VIP interior and a high specification purchased from Beechcraft to transport President Lyndon B Johnson and family between Bergstrom AFB, TX and their ranch near Johnson City. After leaving presidential service, it continued to operate as an executive transport with the 89th MAW at Andrews AFB until it was retired to the museum in September 1985

Built in 1959 and first with the 27th FIS at Loring AFB, ME then the 94th FIS, Selfridge AFB, MI and from 1969 the 71st FIS (ADC) at Malmstrom AFB, MT. On a flight from here in Feb 1970 '787 gained fame when it entered an uncontrollable flat spin, forcing the pilot to eject. The aircraft recovered on its own and made a gentle belly landing in a snow-covered field. Shipped by rail to McClellan AFB, CA, repairs were completed by Nov 1971 and it was allocated to the 84th FIS at Hamilton AFB, CA, finally transferring to the 49th FIS (ADC) at Griffiss AFB, NY in May 1973, as preserved since 1986

Built as a C-119F-FA by Fairchild at Hagerstown, MD in 1953 and converted to C-119J in 1957 with beaver-type rear cargo doors, this Flying Boxcar initially had a regular transport role, but in 1958/59 was modified for the mid-air retrieval of space capsules re-entering the atmosphere from orbit. In August 1960, it caught the Discoverer XIV satellite using recovery gear lowered from the open rear door and snagging the satellite's parachute, a winch then reeling in the satellite's film capsule. In 1963 it was flown to Wright Field to await display facilities; my 1973 photo here