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 The Millville Army Air Field Museum began as the dream of one man Michael T. Stowe, of Millville, New Jersey Who as a young high school student became interested in the old W W II Army base which is now the Millville Municipal Airport. Mr. Stowe began by searching for machine gun shell casings in the woods south of the airfield. His curiosity about how the shells got there brought him to the Millville library where he researched all of the newspapers from 1940 through 1947. He discovered the story of a great Army Air Base and thought it was a crime it’s history had been nearly forgotten. Over the next few years He continued to gather information and artifacts from the former army air field site. Through his research Mike came in contact with former Airmen who were stationed at M.A.A.F. who helped him with his understanding of what the operations of the base were, and the locations of various facilities. In 1983 He was asked to present a display of his artifacts at the airport, with this request Mike approached the Airport manager and the City Commissioner to acquire a building to house the museum. |
Mike was given several buildings to house the museum in, and with the help of friends and family he began the first museum. The museum’s existence is due largely to Mike’s commitment to the M.A.A.F.’s history and the memory of it’s people. In 1987 Mike recovered the remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt from Union Lake which had hidden the aircraft since 1944 when it crashed. With the discovery of the aircraft the museum received much needed press coverage which sparked new interest. Mr. Stowe made acquaintances with three men Andrew Kondrach, William Force and James Vertolli. These men would form a team, who would become the catalyst along with other volunteers to lay the ground work for a better museum with more meaningful and professional displays.On August 2nd 1991 M.A.A.F.’s 50th anniversary celebration and rededication took place and the Museum was largely involved.
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M.A.A.F.M. hosted historic planes including a B-24 Liberator, B-17 Liberator, P-51 Mustangs and various other warbirds from WWII. Most importantly though, were the 48 former service men from the base and there spouses who gathered from all over the U.S. for a reunion.As part of the celebration a monument was placed to honor and remember all those who trained and served in Millville during WWII. Many of the items on display at the museum are donated by the Officers and Airmen who served in Millville from 1941-47, who’s first hand accounts are heartwarming and fun. The building also houses the artifacts found by Mr. Stowe and the subsequent archeological team digs since then. The Museum’s heart is the display honoring the 14 Army Pilots who died in accidents at the airfield. M.A.A.F.’s mission today is to preserve the history of the airfield, to provide the public with first hand knowledge of the gallant men and women who served our nation at the "First Defense" airbase during WWII. |