Deland Naval Air Station Museum

The DeLand Naval Air Station Museum is a former 1930’s-era residence which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Local Register of Historic Places. The museum building is one of the last WWII structures remaining on the City of DeLand Airport Complex. The house museum was restored in 1995 as a result of a community effort by Veterans and Community Partners who dedicated the museum to preserve local military history. The museum offers an impressive collection of historical artifacts, wartime memorabilia, military art, and veterans’ mementos. The collection includes an entire room display dedicated to the men and women who served at DeLand Naval Air Station during WWII, 1942-1946. The collection consists of photographs and memorabilia donated to the museum and arranged to provide a visual remembrance of the purpose and impact the military base had on the local area. The collection reveals the story of the young Navy Fighter Pilots who came to DeLand Naval Air Station in DeLand to complete their flight training and learn how to make landings on aircraft carriers. They were often called “Ninety Day Wonders” as they were quickly trained and then transferred to units fighting in the Pacific and other locations around the world. Over 100 Pilots and other support troops were killed during training accidents at DeLand Naval Air Station and a specific display in the museum has been set up to honor their memory and ultimate sacrifice. Additional photos and memorabilia in the 1942-1946 DeLand display give visitors a glance of life on the base, as well as other activities and contributions made by military personnel and civilians during that time. Many weddings took place at the DeLand Naval Air Station Chapel and local churches in the 1940’s. Many families remained or returned to the local area resulting in generations of their children and grandchildren still in Volusia County. The collection also includes a restored Grumman TBF Avenger, Navy F-14 Tomcat Jet, T-33 Aircraft, Korean War MASH Helicopter, 1953 Army Jeep and a Vietnam Era PTF-3 Patrol Boat. (This description has been provided courtesy of the Deland Naval Air Station Museum)