Who We Are

The DVHAA is a non-profit, 503(c), volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and display of the aviation history of the Delaware Valley.

DVHAA members come from all walks of life. Many are retirees from both the military and commercial sectors. Some have an aviation background, most do not. But all share a common interest in the preservation of aviation history. Everyone is encouraged to spend whatever spare time they find helping build and maintain museum exhibits, give tours, and work on the aircraft in our collection. As a rule, we are a close knit group and thoroughly enjoy each others company while we work towards that common goal. The benefits of DVHAA Membership go far beyond the pleasure of seeing one's handiwork become an outstanding restoration.   Join us, experience the excitement and share the pride.

What We Do

There are no full time employees at the DVHAA. All the work done by the association is through members who volunteer their time and expertise several days a week. Membership brings with it the opportunity to lend a hand in any area of the association's operation that interests you. The DVHAA works year-round in the following areas:

• Aircraft Restoration
• Museum Operations/Library Support
• Guided tours and aerospace education programs
• "Profiles In Aviation" lecture series
• Wings of Freedom Newsletter
• Administration
• Displays and Graphics
• Fund raising programs

Periodically field trips are organized to other air museums, air shows, and the like. Popular trips have included destinations such as the National Air & Space Museum's Paul Garber Restoration Facility, the US Army's Weapons museum at Aberdeen, Md, the USS Intrepid museum in New York City, and the Cradle of Aviation at the old Mitchell Field Army Air Force Base on Long Island.

How To Join

There are no prerequisites to join the DVHAA, except perhaps a desire to preserve the wonderful aviation history of this area for future generations. Don't worry if you haven't worked on aircraft before, we have plenty of people to show you the ropes if you're willing to learn. And there are other areas where members can use their talents to help with our mission, too. To join simply return a completed Membership Form to the DVHAA Office with the appropriate dues, or call our offices to make arrangements for a guest visit at one of our Saturday work sessions or visit the corporate office on Wednesdays 10am - 3pm.

The Dream

Back in 1985 the DVHAA reorganized with the goal of building a museum to house the collection. After successfully seeking financial support and with the help of enthusiasts like you and others we completed the museum in 2001. This satisfied the requirement that a permanent facility be built for our ME-262. During the early summer of 2000, we also succeeded in erecting a hangar, suitable for working on several projects and one or two aircraft at a time.

History

The tradition of displaying historic aircraft at Willow Grove began shortly after World War II. In 1946, a group of Naval officers led by LCdr David Ascher rescued axis and allied aircraft from the scrap yard and assembled them into a display along US Route 611. The display came to be known as the Ascher Collection.

These remarkable aircraft included a rare Curtiss TP-40E "Kittyhawk", German Arado AR-196 Reconnaissance Seaplane and Messerschmitt 262 B1a/U1 Jet fighter/trainer, Japanese Mitsubishi AGM2 Model 21 Zen-Sen "Zero" fighter, Kawanishi N1K2J Shinden Kai "George" bomber, Kawanishi "Rex" seaplane, and Kugisho Ohka 11 "Baka 22" flying bomb. Weather took its toll, and in time, most of the original collection was transferred to facilities where they could be placed in environmentally controlled storage, and expertly restored for future generations to appreciate. Only the Me-262 B1a was retained by virtue of agreements requiring its complete restoration and the construction of an environmentally controlled facility to house it upon it's return to NAS Willow Grove in 2001. The Me-262 is now housed in the museum building located on Route 611.

Even as aircraft were transferred to other places, new aircraft were being added to the collection. Concern for the upkeep of these aircraft grew and a new group of Naval reservists stepped forward to take the job. In 1972 they formed the Willow Grove Historical Aircraft Association, a private not-for-profit association dedicated to preserving and maintaining the collection at Willow Grove. In the decade that followed, the membership and activity of the association grew enormously. Planning began for a museum to permanently house these and other aircraft and artifacts from the area. In 1985, to reflect this broader scope of the association's goals, the name was changed to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association.