Fort Miles Museum to host Delaware Defense Day April 20

Fort Miles Museum will honor the men and women who secured the home front during World War II with Delaware Defense Day, beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 20.

The daylong event, an annual living history showcase at the museum in Cape Henlopen State Park, features artillery demonstrations, speakers and music. At noon, a flyover of the World War II-era B-25 Mitchell bomber Panchito is planned from Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown (weather dependent).

World War II re-enactors from the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware Living History Association will re-create the surrender ceremony of the German submarine U-858 at the fort in the final days of WWII.

“Our annual Delaware Defense Day is a great event for everyone. We remember and recognize the people who safeguarded our coast from enemy attack during World War II,” said Jim Pierce, Fort Miles Museum president.

Fort Miles Museum in Battery 519 will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with docents and demonstrations. Museum entrance is $6 per person. Artillery and small arms firing demonstrations are set for morning and afternoon.

The Orientation Building will be open with Cold War-era displays, and the observation tower, Tower 7, will be open with displays and re-enactors. Rita’s Water Ice will sell food, and music is planned.

Shuttle parking is at McBride Beach Bathhouse in the state park. The event ends at 4 p.m. and the last shuttle departs at 4:30 p.m.

For details, go to fortmilesmuseum.org/delaware-defense-day-2024/.