Aviation Museum Celebrates a Love Story with Beginnings at Hangar #1

CAPE MAY AIRPORT — It has been more than 70 years since the United States Navy has occupied Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport, and it’s been 20 years since the restoration efforts commenced to bring Naval Air Station Wildwood back to life. Through the two decades of rehabilitating and restoring the hangar, staff at the museum have uncovered many stories and memories with the help of local families as well as the families of those that trained at the facility. Museum staff had the honor of meeting Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) baseball team’s very own short stop, Mr. Oswald “Ozzie” Capone.
Hangar #1 has seen a fair share of tragedies and magical moments alike. Training for combat in World War II as a dive bomber was exceptionally dangerous. Recruits had to complete training mission after training mission, a very strenuous and stressful situation to say the least. Forty-two men would die while training at Hangar #1; they are memorialized in a special exhibit room which also features letters and pictures of loved ones. These loved ones were parents, siblings and even sweethearts, some who had met while enjoying the many amenities that barrier islands offered through the war years. The dance halls, boardwalks and beaches offered much needed relief from the stresses of training. The famous Starlight Ballroom in Wildwood was where Mr. Capone met his wife, Evelyn. The story goes, Evelyn and a girlfriend were “jitterbugging” at the ballroom when Evelyn slipped and fell. Who was there to scoop her up, but a handsome sailor named Oswald…the rest is NASW history. The couple just celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary on June 29th.
An opportunity to meet and honor the men and women who served our country, especially ones that have spent time at Hangar #1 is an incredibly special occasion for NASW Museum Staff. Ozzie has been to the hangar several times, even building two podiums that are still used for events and in the ready room. A recent trip was planned to give the Capones a special token of appreciation. Unfortunately Ozzie’s wife Evelyn could not make the trip but close family accompanied him at the museum for stroll down memory lane. In addition to talking baseball and admiring the team photo that Ozzie can be seen in, Mr. Capone was shown where his wedding photo is on display in the memorial room. These stories can be hard to uncover, however it makes them all the more worthwhile as they are a big part of the hangar’s history.
Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum is located in Historic Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport. The airport was once Naval Air Station Wildwood, which served as a World War II dive-bomber training center. The museum is dedicated to the 42 airmen who perished while training at Naval Air Station Wildwood between 1943 and 1945. The museum is currently open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays in July until 8 p.m. and Thursdays in Aug. until 8 p.m.