The US Eighth Air Force, the National Museum of the US Air Force and the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force proudly announce the reallocation of an extraordinary artifact of World War II aviation history: a B-24 Liberator from the collection of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
“Our main priority is the preservation of the historic bomber, Rupert the Roo II,” said Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander. “By rehoming to the Mighty Eighth Museum, it will allow the artifact to be kept alive and well for generations – a gift made possible not only the Air Force, but generous benefactors who understand the importance of WWII heritage.”
This remarkable aircraft is one of only three B-24s in the Air Force’s historical collection.
The addition of the B-24 marks a pivotal moment in the Mighty Eighth Museum’s mission to preserve and interpret the history of the Eighth Air Force. Already home to a restored Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the arrival of the B-24 allows the museum to present the complete story of the heavy bombers flown by the Eighth during World War II.
“The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is forever grateful to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the Eighth Air Force for entrusting this significant historical object, one of a few in the Air Force’s historical collection, to its care and public exhibition,” said Scott Loehr, President and CEO of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. “With the two heavy bombers flown by the Eighth in World War II, the Mighty Eighth Museum is able to present a comprehensive history of daylight strategic bombing, a pioneering form of aerial warfare. In tandem with the B-17 currently on exhibit, these rare objects put the museum on the map.”
The B-24, a cornerstone of Allied strategic bombing efforts, played a critical role in the European and Pacific theaters. Its arrival strengthens the Mighty Eighth Museum’s ability to educate the public about our nation’s most storied air force, the Mighty Eighth.
The transfer from Barksdale AFB to its new home will be scheduled at a later date.
Following its restoration, the B-24 will be centerpiece of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s multi-million-dollar capital-improvement program, Maximum Effort. The museum expansion and new permanent exhibitions are scheduled to be completed in late 2026.