US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum

[kirk1168]

On the way back from my vacation in South Carolina, I stopped in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps. Also in Fayetteville is the US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum.




The museum traces the Airborne, Rangers, and Special Forces from their inception during WWII to the present day (including the First Special Service Force, OSS, SOE, and Jedburghs). Some of the highlights include a complete C-47 suspended from the ceiling with a paratrooper jumping out (unfortunately they went for a night effect, and the plane was too far away for the flash to reach, so I don't really have any good photos), a Waco glider, pack howitzers, a Sheridan tank, a UH-1 helicopter, too many WWII artifacts to list, etc.
I really like the way they display the 1/1 mannequins; many of them aren't behind glass or roped off, so you can touch them and handle the weapons. I would guess that they use reproduction uniforms and gear on these displays. Anyway, here are some shots:














And one I found particularly interesting:
An M42 jump jacket camouflaged by the wearer:


I took 158 photos in all, far too many to post. I took a photo of every behind-the-glass display, which included every US weapon from WWII to present day (and some used by allies and enemies), a display on the SOE & Jedburghs, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Deset Storm, Afganistan, and Iraq. Ask if you want to see anything specific (I probably took a picture of it), or I can e-mail any photos you want.

[saw249man]

When I hit Fayettenam it is usually one of my final stops before I hit 95 North back home. The museum never ceases to amaze me. I see something new everytime I go. To think, that area around the museum used to be infested with druggies and hookers.

[The other Jorg]

Looks very interesting-thank you for posting the pics!
Any chance on pictures of post 45 / modern troops?
If I remember correctly another OSW member said they had a display depicting Delta troops during the Panama OP "Acid Gambit", got some of those perhaps? Any more pics are greatly appreciated.

[Steiner77]

Mike, Thanks for posting the pictures, looks like you had a great time. I must make a trip down there one of these days and see it in person. I would like to request if you could post some pics of the Vietnam era displays(weapons, gear, uniforms......) that would be great. Thanks

[kirk1168]

If I remember correctly another OSW member said they had a display depicting Delta troops during the Panama OP "Acid Gambit", got some of those perhaps?

Panama:

[kirk1168]

I would like to request if you could post some pics of the Vietnam era displays(weapons, gear, uniforms......)

Vietnam:

[The other Jorg]

Mike,
excellent! Terriffic pictures, thanks a ton!!!! Perfect reference stuff, great to see those details. Much appreciated.

[Shane1]

Man..the Panama one wasnt started yet last time I visited. Excellent set-ups..very accurate.

[cpt_winters]

This is an aswesome museum. Everything looked accurate and complete. Fort Bragg is the ..... Excllent pictures too, you snapped some really neat angle shots and captured the realism of the displays. Good work.