PRESS RELEASE
POOLER, GA — In a major development for aviation preservation, a rare Consolidated B-24 Liberator is being transferred from Barksdale Air Force Base to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia. The aircraft, one of only three B-24s in the U.S. Air Force’s historical collection, will become a centerpiece of the museum’s expanding exhibit on World War II aerial warfare. The bomber, currently known as Rupert the Roo II, was previously on display at the Barksdale Global Power Museum. Its relocation is the result of a collaborative effort between the Eighth Air Force, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
“Our main priority is the preservation of this historic aircraft,” said Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, commander of the Eighth Air Force and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. “By rehoming it to the Mighty Eighth Museum, we ensure that this artifact remains accessible to the public and preserved for future generations—thanks in large part to the generosity of donors who value our WWII heritage.”
The acquisition significantly enhances the museum’s ability to tell the full story of the Eighth Air Force’s daylight strategic bombing campaign in Europe. Already home to a restored Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the addition of the B-24 allows the museum to showcase both of the heavy bombers that defined the air war over Nazi-occupied Europe. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was a powerful symbol of American industrial might, with over 18,000 built by the end of World War II—more than any other U.S. bomber. Entering service even before America’s official involvement through Lend-Lease with Great Britain, the B-24 flew in every theater of the war. Thanks to its greater fuel capacity and innovative low-drag wing design, the Liberator could fly faster, higher, and farther than the older B-17, making it a vital asset in strategic bombing, maritime patrol, and long-range transport missions across the globe.
“With both the B-17 and the B-24, we are now uniquely positioned to present a comprehensive narrative of the Eighth Air Force’s contribution to aerial warfare,” said Scott Loehr, President and CEO of the Mighty Eighth Museum. “We are deeply grateful to the U.S. Air Force for entrusting us with such a significant piece of history.”…