Lower Township, NJ — Visitors to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum next week will witness a rare military-style aircraft recovery operation when the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing conducts a specialized crash recovery drill using the museum’s F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The May 14 exercise at Cape May Airport will simulate the recovery of a disabled aircraft, giving the public an up-close look at procedures typically seen only during military emergency operations. The drill is expected to begin around 10 a.m. inside the museum’s historic WWII-era hangar. Members of the 177th Fighter Wing Recovery Unit will remain on-site throughout much of the day.
According to the museum, crews will lift the aircraft by crane before using an inflatable transport system designed for disabled aircraft recovery operations.
Museum’s F-16 doubles as training asset
The aircraft used in the drill is the museum’s two-seat F-16 Fighting Falcon, which arrived at the facility in 2012 with support from the 177th Fighter Wing. The jet previously served as a training aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas before becoming part of the museum’s aviation collection.
Museum officials said the longstanding partnership with the Atlantic City-based Air National Guard unit allows the aircraft to continue serving operational training purposes while remaining on public display.
“Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is incredibly fortunate to continue its strong partnership with the 177th Fighter Wing,” the museum said in a release announcing the event.
The exercise is designed to help recovery personnel rehearse procedures used when military aircraft become disabled during emergencies, accidents, or off-runway incidents.
Public will get close look at recovery operation
Unlike many military training exercises conducted on secure bases, the Cape May County event will unfold in front of museum guests.
Following a safety briefing, spectators will be able to observe recovery crews maneuver the aircraft using specialized lifting and transport equipment. The museum said opportunities like this are uncommon for the public.
The 177th Fighter Wing, headquartered at the Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, operates F-16 Fighting Falcons and regularly trains for combat, emergency response, and aircraft recovery missions.
Key Points
• The 177th Fighter Wing will conduct an F-16 recovery drill May 14 at Cape May Airport
• Crews will use a crane and inflatable transport system during the exercise
• Museum visitors can watch the operation beginning around 10 a.m.
Historic hangar continues military aviation mission
The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum operates inside Hangar #1, a 92,000-square-foot World War II-era structure that once served as part of Naval Air Station Wildwood, a wartime dive-bomber training center.
Today, the museum houses more than 26 aircraft displays along with military vehicles, engines, aviation exhibits, and historical artifacts tied to military and civilian aviation history.
The museum also honors the 42 airmen who died while training at Naval Air Station Wildwood between 1943 and 1945.
Officials said the recovery drill highlights how the museum continues supporting active aviation education and military partnerships decades after the air station’s wartime operations ended.
Guests visiting during the exercise will still have access to the museum’s regular exhibits, including interactive displays and cockpit experiences available inside select aircraft.
Training reflects real-world emergency preparation
Aircraft recovery units play a critical role following aviation emergencies by stabilizing, lifting, and transporting damaged military aircraft from crash sites or inaccessible terrain.
Exercises involving disabled aircraft simulations allow crews to rehearse coordination, lifting procedures, transport systems, and safety protocols before real-world deployments.
The Air National Guard has increasingly emphasized readiness training as units maintain aging aircraft fleets while supporting domestic and overseas operations.
The May 14 drill at Cape May Airport remains open to museum visitors during regular operating hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum can be reached at (609) 886-8787 or through its website at www.usnasw.org.