Naval Air Station Wildwood
Website: usnasw.org
Phone: 609-886-8787
Address: Cape May County Airport
500 Forrestal Road, Cape May
Where Is It? Just north of the island. Take Broadway/Seashore to Breakwater, turn left. Look for planes a quarter-mile on your right and follow signs to museum.
Why Should I Go? History! And airplanes. How can you need more reason than that? The Cape May County Airport is built on what used to be a naval air base during the Second World War, a place where brave young men trained to fly the “quirky” SB2C Helldiver. And by “quirky” we mean, in the words of one pilot, “the worst airplane ever built.”
Only the bravest or most reckless of pilots flew the Helldiver — and they lived, trained and worked right here. Surrounded by wetlands, they disturbed few while dive-bombing over sparkling rivers and fields (before heading off to the South Pacific, where the Helldiver sank more enemy ships than any other plane in the war).
Their presence is still felt, more than 70 years later, because the Aviation Museum is still exactly the way they left it. But, oh, the difference 70 years has made in aviation! And you can see that difference made clear as you get up close and personal with the F-14 Tomcat, F-16 Fighting Falcon, the UH-1 Huey, the T-33 Thunderbird, and a Coast Guard rescue helicopter you can actually sit in. Also on display in the Coast Guard section is a USCG Humvee! And the museum recently added a unique WWII F6F-3 Hellcat fighter aircraft.
The NASW is supported in part by a grant from NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
Insider Tip: The museum has interactive exhibits, videos and original posters from the era. A blast for vets, their grandkids and history buffs of all ages, the museum is always growing and available for special events! NASW was added to the National Register of Historic Places, so look for even more exciting things to happen!