Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Honolulu
Visiting the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a journey through the "Day of Infamy" and the decades of Pacific aviation that followed. Located on Ford Island, an active military base in the heart of Pearl Harbor, the museum occupies two historic World War II hangars and a newly restored control tower that still bear the physical scars of the December 7, 1941 attack.
Hangar 37: The Dawn of the Conflict
Your tour starts in Hangar 37, a 42,000-square-foot former seaplane hangar that survived the 1941 attack. As you enter, you are greeted by an award-winning documentary, East Wind Rain, which sets the stage for the exhibits.
Key Highlights in Hangar 37:
The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero: This pristine "Zeke" is the centerpiece of the Japanese exhibit. Seeing it up close allows you to appreciate the lightweight engineering that gave it such early-war dominance.
The P-40E Warhawk: Adorned with the famous "Flying Tigers" shark teeth, this fighter represents the American response. It’s a poignant tribute to pilots like George Welch and Kenneth Taylor, who managed to get airborne during the chaos of the attack.
The B-25B Mitchell: This is the type of aircraft used in the daring Doolittle Raid. Standing under its massive wingspan, you can almost feel the tension of the 16 crews who took off from the deck of the USS Hornet for their one-way mission to Tokyo.
SBD Dauntless: Known as the "Slow But Deadly" dive bomber, this aircraft was the hero of the Battle of Midway. The museum’s specimen is a haunting reminder of the turning tide in the Pacific.
Hangar 79: The Jet Age and Battle Scars
Walking from Hangar 37 to Hangar 79, you pass "Helicopter Row," an outdoor collection featuring everything from the AH-1 Cobra to the CH-53 Sea Stallion.
Hangar 79 is a massive, 80,000-square-foot space that feels less like a polished museum and more like a working airfield. This hangar was used for engine repair during the war, and if you look at the blue glass panes of the hangar doors, you can still see bullet holes from Japanese strafing runs.
Key Highlights in Hangar 79:
The "Swamp Ghost" B-17E: Perhaps the most legendary aircraft on-site, this Flying Fortress ran out of fuel and crash-landed in a Papua New Guinea swamp in 1942. It remained there, perfectly preserved by the tall grass, for 64 years before being recovered. It is displayed in its "as-found" condition—raw, weathered, and powerful.
MiG Alley: A dedicated section explores the Korean War, featuring the F-86 Sabre and its Soviet rival, the MiG-15.
Modern Legends: You’ll find the F-14D Tomcat (made famous by Top Gun), the F-15 Eagle, and even a Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet.
The Ford Island Control Tower
For the best view in the harbor, you must book the Top of the Tower Tour.
The Experience: You ride a restored vintage elevator 168 feet up to the upper cab.
The View: From the observation deck, you have a 360-degree view of the entire Pearl Harbor battlefield. You can look down on the runway where the first bombs fell and see the white silhouette of the USS Arizona Memorial resting in the water nearby.