For such a small state, Delaware has a fascinating aviation history. Delaware counts aircraft from the smallest, like the 1910 Delaplane, to the largest, the USAF C-5 Galaxy airlifter, among its rich variety. Numerous small grass airstrips dotted the state in the early years, serving as an incubator for aerial progress. The state has been a home to aircraft manufacturers, notable aviators, and aeronautical innovators and hosts military aviation units from the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the US Air Force, and the Air Force Reserve on two major bases. World War II brought the development of Dover Air Force Base, currently the largest aerial superport in the United States. This collection of historical photographs depicts the colorful people, the locales, the varied aircraft, and the milestone events that make up the history of aviation in Delaware.

The Delaware Air National Guard got its start when a group of World War II veterans formed a new National Guard unit composed of surplus airplanes, combat experience, a measure of hard work, camaraderie, and fun. Some called this assemblage a gentlemans flying club, but in a few short years, it was tested for the first time in the Korean War. Since then, the Delaware Air National Guard has flown and fought in almost every corner of the globe. It answered the call in Vietnam, the Middle East, the Balkans, and most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Celebrating 60 years of service, it has become a well-known local institution. The Blue Hen Air Force has evolved into a professional organization that shoulders a significant operational role for the U.S. Air Force and serves as a versatile emergency resource for the state of Delaware.