Within the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s vast permanent collection are smaller
collections and individual objects that operate as they did originally. By operating, these artifacts enable
museum visitors to understand better technologies of the World War II era, advances achieved for
superior performance, and the intellect and know-how required of Eighth Airmen to prepare for and to
fly a mission. The Where Everything Works collections range from the relatively simple to the
exceedingly complicated, whether it is a compass or the highly sophisticated Norden bombsight.
Regardless of an object’s complexity, engaging with it affords the museum visitor a unique
opportunity to experience and understand the tools and practices of aerial warfare.