Retired Marine Col. Pangburn Joins Millville Army Air Field Museum Advisory Board

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Charles H. Pangburn III, a Millville native and Millville Senior High School graduate from the class of 1973, has joined the Millville Army Air Field Museum advisory board, the museum announced March 2, 2026. The appointment brings a 30-year military career and local roots to the museum housed in an original 1940s hangar at Millville Municipal Airport.

Pangburn “completed 30 years of distinguished active and reserve service before retiring in 2008,” the museum release states. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Army War College, and his postings include Okinawa, Korea, Hawaii, Washington, DC and a deployment to Iraq where he served as Chief of Staff for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. His career included command of multiple Marine Corps units, service as appellate government counsel and senior staff positions supporting the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and his decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

As an advisory board member, Pangburn “will provide strategic guidance and insight to support the Museum’s educational programs, exhibits, and long-term vision,” the announcement said. Jerry Carey, president of the Millville Army Air Field Museum, welcomed the appointment, saying: “We are deeply honored to welcome Col. Pangburn to our Advisory Board. His experience, integrity and dedication to preserving military history align perfectly with our mission and will be an invaluable asset as we continue to grow and educate future generations.”

The Millville Army Air Field Museum “preserves and interprets the legacy of America’s First Defense Airport and the men and women who served there during World War II and beyond,” and the board change is positioned as part of the museum’s broader effort to expand educational outreach and exhibit development. The museum operates on-site at Millville Municipal Airport (MIV) in one of the original hangars and stages public programming including the Millville Wheels and Wings Airshow, veteran gatherings and aviation displays that draw visitors from South Jersey, Philadelphia and parts of Delaware.

Visitors and researchers can reach the museum at its street address, 1 Leddon Street at Millville Airport, or by phone at (856) 327-2347 for information about hours and donations. The museum lists its regular schedule as Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday by appointment only, and Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children. Exhibits include aircraft models, uniform galleries, Navajo Code Talkers information, a Radio Headquarters display, fire brigade artifacts and modern warfare objects; a notable loan from the National Museum of the Air Force saw Lt. Isabella’s helmet and personal artifacts displayed in the main conference room through April 1, 2018.

The advisory board and staff roster available through the museum includes Frank DiDomenico as Board Attorney, Cumberland County Freeholder Darlene Barber, muralist Samuel Donovan, Zachary Z. King of Cornerstone Capital Holdings, WWII B-26 tail gunner John McCabe, pilot and aviation collector Jim Robinson, Senior Chief builder Dave Schill, Cumberland County Deputy Administrator Kimberly Wood, Executive Director Lisa Jester, Display Coordinator Joan Legg and receptionist Patty Oliver. The museum’s history traces back to early preservation efforts in the 1970s led by airport manager Lewis B. Finch and community volunteers such as Michael T. Stowe who helped uncover former base bunkers, and the institution continues to grow under Delaware River & Bay Authority management.

Following retirement, Pangburn has continued to demonstrate a deep commitment to service, leadership, and historical preservation, the museum noted. With his appointment to the advisory board, the Millville Army Air Field Museum signals an intent to leverage local veteran leadership to strengthen programming, preserve artifacts and broaden the airport museum’s role in regional aviation history.