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Reminder for all - We have two excellent presentations on the Korean War this Saturday, March 16th: Korea - The Now Remembered War at 1:30 and Korea – Triumph at Kapyong, Tragedy at Imjin and How Armor Made the Difference at 3:00. No reservations needed. More information see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/events/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Our tank restoration and maintenance shop has started the M24 Chaffee "fluff up" in anticipation of our WWII Tank Demonstration weekend on May 25&26. Turret was removed and all compartments and parts will be restored and repainted. There is nothing quite like a new tank smell and feel! Experience it for yourself in May!The M24 Chaffee tank, introduced during World War II, was a light tank that played a significant role in the Allied forces' armored operations. It boasted remarkable speed and agility, making it well-suited for reconnaissance missions and infantry support. Weighing around 18 tons, it was armed with a 75 mm main gun and two .30 caliber Browning machine guns. Its relatively thin armor was compensated by its speed, allowing it to outmaneuver heavier enemy tanks. The M24 Chaffee continued to serve various armies even after the war, seeing action in conflicts such as the Korean War. Its versatility and effectiveness solidified its place in military history as a pivotal light tank design. ... See MoreSee Less
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Looking for a great museum to visit over February school break week? Visit us at the American Heritage Museum. See some of the world's most rare tanks, armored vehicles and aircraft. Experience the WWI trench, see the Clash of Steel and talk with some of the greatest docents in the world! Open all week, Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.American Heritage Museum.org ... See MoreSee Less
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The American Heritage Museum will be open all through February school break (next week! 2/19-2/23). Bring the kids for fun scavenger hunts, board games, show and tell and more! ... See MoreSee Less
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The response on our search for Sue Tharp or Sue Thorp from Evansville, IN who worked at Republic Aircraft from 1944-1945 has been tremendous... below is a YouTube video you can share with some video of where her signature is. See it at: ... See MoreSee Less
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Defense of the Reich


8.8 cm Flak 36
– GER | ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN

Sd.Kfz. 8 12 TON – GER | PERSONNEL CARRIER/PRIME MOVER

Kommandogerrat 38 – GER | FIRE CONTROL COMPUTER

Flak Battery Generator – GER | ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY SUPPORT

Flak Battery Searchlight – GER | ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY SUPPORT

V-1 (“JB-2 Loon” – Suspended) – GER | GUIDED MISSILE

The Defense of the Reich (also known in German as Reichsverteidigung) was the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe air arm of the combined Wehrmacht armed forces of Nazi Germany over German-occupied Europe and Nazi Germany during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German civilians, military, and civil industries by the Western Allied bombing campaigns. The day and night air battles over Germany during the war involved thousands of aircraft and aerial engagements to counter the Allied strategic bombing campaign. The Luftwaffe fighter force defended the airspace over German-occupied territory against attack, first by RAF Bomber Command and then against the United States Army Air Forces.

The constant night bombing by the RAF and daylight attacks by the USAAF added to the destruction of a major part of the German’s industries and cities, which caused the economy to collapse in the winter of 1944–45. It also pulled nearly two million Germans into defense of the homeland and diverted critical, dual-purpose 88 mm guns from an anti-tank role in the east against the advancing Red Army to an antiaircraft role inside Germany itself. By this time, the Allied armies had reached the German border and the strategic campaign became fused with the tactical battles over the front, while also completing a deliberate and methodical Allied campaign of punishment of all of Germany by destruction of German cities and civilian morale. The air campaign continued until April 1945, when the last strategic bombing missions were flown, ending just before the surrender of Germany on May 8th.

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OPEN PRESIDENTS DAY WEEK - February 19-25

The American Heritage Museum will be open for Presidents Day Week (February 19-25) including Monday, Feb 19th and Tuesday, Feb 20th. Open daily from 10am to 5pm.