Service museum
The museum provides service-specific context for aviation recipients and preserves documented medal material, including the verified Neel E. Kearby relationship below. Its aircraft and campaign galleries help visitors understand the missions, technology, and risks described in aviation citations.
Historical context
The National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base preserves the material history of American military aviation. Its extensive galleries cover the Army Air Corps, Army Air Forces, the independent Air Force, aerospace development, and major conflicts. Medal of Honor recipients and artifacts appear within that broader operational story.
Researchers can connect Medal of Honor actions to aircraft types, operational theaters, units, technological change, and the development of American air power.
Collection guide
The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.
Original aircraft and aerospace artifacts
World War II air power galleries
Medal of Honor recipient interpretation
Air Force and predecessor-service history
Verified connections
Original Medal of Honor
The Air Force museum identifies Colonel Neel E. Kearby's Medal of Honor as on display in its World War II Gallery.
Record: World War II Gallery
Verified 2026-10-06 · Current, display status not specified
Direct official U.S. Air Force evidence supports the displayed medal claim.
Collection focus
U.S. Army Air Corps · U.S. Air Force
World War II