World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation, opening July 28

Eugene Bullard was one of only a few Black combat pilots — and the only African American combat pilot — during World War I, though he never flew for the United States. Due to racial prejudice, the U.S. denied his request to fly for the Army Air Service after the U.S. entered the war, despite having flown 25 combat missions (with two unconfirmed aerial victories) for the French air service. World War I: The Birth of Aviation will tell Bullard’s story, including the display of a bust of Bullard made by artist Eddie Dixon.

The Sopwith Camel is among the most significant and famous of all World War I aircraft. During WWI, Camels downed 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter. (It is also famously the aircraft that Snoopy's WWI Flying Ace flies in the Charlie Brown Halloween special, though we never see the Camel in the program — Snoopy's doghouse is a plane only in his imagination.)

The cowling over the two Vickers machine guns ahead of the cockpit created a distinctive “hump,” making the name Camel a natural choice, although it was never an official military designation. The Museum's Camel, previously on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, goes on display at the Museum in DC for the first time in the World War I exhibition.

Although women were denied the opportunity to enlist in the military during World War I, they contributed in other ways, especially in and around aviation. Discover how women built aircraft, flew airplanes to recruit and fundraise, and otherwise supported aviation during World War I in the new exhibition and in a new blog.

The exhibition will also feature a de Havilland DH-4, an observation and bomber aircraft used by the U.S. in the war. In this behind-the-scenes sneak peek, staff and contractors suspend the aircraft in the gallery.