In 1957 a government official named Herr Jaeckel, stationed at an air force base in Appen, Schleswig-Holstein, began collecting historical military items for the soldiers stationed at his base. His ultimate aim was to assemble an historical overview of military aviation for an interested public. Early exhibits contained uniforms, medals, decorations and small technical instruments.

Dr. Boecker, a Colonel and physician, took over the administration of the museum in 1967. With the support of his wife and the newly-formed Sponsorship Association, he expanded the exhibition into one of the most complete military collections in all of Germany. Highlights of the collection at this time included the addition of a Heinkel 111 and Messerschmitt BF-109 as gifts from the Spanish Air Force.

Because of the continued growth of the collection, needs for more exhibition space and rising costs, the Sponsorship Association donated the entire collection to the Bundeswehr or German Federal Armed Forces.

The emphasis of the work of the Air Force Museum was now focused on the acquisition of airplanes used in the Luftwaffe since the First World War, as well as filling gaps in the collection.

The documentation of the history of the air forces/air defense of the East German "Nationalen Volksarmee" (National People's Army) and the transfer of appropriate uniforms, technical devices and aircraft to the museum began in 1989. Through these additions the size of the museum's collection grew approximately one third in size. On April 1, 1995 the Air Force Museum moved its collection from Appen to Gatow, Berlin. The present exhibition premises are now sufficient to bring the museum up to national standards.

The museum was finally made accessible to the public on September 23, 1995 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Bundeswehr. Over 150,000 guests have visited the museum since it opened its doors to the public.

In September, 1998 The Luftwaffe Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary.