Chatham County, GA (August 4, 2025) — A powerful symbol of wartime resilience and sacrifice has arrived in Georgia. On Friday, August 1, a 1902 German box car, one of the few remaining examples of its kind, was received by the Georgia Ports Authority. Originally built for freight, the railcar was later used by the German military during World War II to transport Allied prisoners of war to prison camps across Europe.
On Tuesday, August 5, the box car will be transported to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia, where it will become a centerpiece of the museum’s future renovated exhibit, Airman’s Fate. This expanded exhibition, slated to open in late 2026/early 2027, will explore the POW experience and Escape & Evasion stories of Eighth Air Force airmen during the Second World War.
First manufactured between 1900 and 1927, this type of enclosed railcar was originally designed to carry goods requiring protection from the elements. During both world wars, however, they took on a more somber role. Referred to as a “40 and 8”, denoting its capacity to carry 40 men and 8 horses, these box cars became a grim mode of transport for POWs across occupied territories. Over the decades, the car underwent several modifications, with original wooden doors replaced by steel fixtures. In preparation for preservation and display, those steel doors were later replaced with authentic wooden doors salvaged from original stock, restoring the car’s historical integrity.
“We are honored to welcome this extraordinary artifact to the museum,” said Tiffany Bueno, Research and Collections Manager. “This box car embodies a crucial and often sobering chapter of the airmen’s story, not just their service in the skies, but the hardships many endured after capture.”
The box car’s arrival marks a major milestone in the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s ongoing Maximum Effort Capital Campaign, supporting long-term exhibit enhancements that deepen the storytelling and preserve the history of the Eighth Air Force. When complete, the Airman’s Fate will offer visitors an immersive and deeply human portrayal of the war behind the wire, honoring the fortitude, courage, and sacrifice of those who faced captivity or fought for freedom from behind enemy lines.
Further details on the box car’s transatlantic journey and the exhibit’s development will be shared in the coming months. The box car is scheduled to depart the Georgia Ports Authority at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, to make its final journey to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.