Veteran's Day Event - Saturday 11/07/09

phxtoad · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:21 pm

Second Annual Gathering of Legends Military Aviators from WWII to Today

Veterans Day Open House at the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation Museum, November 7, 2009

The public is cordially invited to attend the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Arizona Wing Aviation Museum’s “Second Annual Gathering of Legends” on Saturday, November 7. Military aviation veterans including Tuskegee Airmen, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), Fighter and Bomber Crews, Aces and many others will gather in our museum to relate to the public their experiences from WWII through today. The public will be provided with the opportunity to meet and learn first-hand of the sacrifices these individuals made to ensure our freedom and way of life throughout the past nearly 70 years. Join us as we remember and say “Thank You” to our Veterans. The event is planned to be the largest Veterans Day gathering of military aviators in the state of Arizona.

For more than thirty years, the Commemorative Air Force's Arizona Wing has honored the courageous men and women who sacrificed so much to preserve our heritage of liberty and freedom. Veterans Day is an important time to remember our veterans and to keep the history alive for future generations. Museum Director Larry Turner says, “The significance of the ‘Gathering of Legends’ is that the public may meet and speak with these veterans and get their first-hand accounts of what they have done, and are still doing, to preserve our legacy of freedom.

The ‘Gathering of Legends’ Veterans Day Celebration will be held at the CAF Arizona Wing Aviation Museum located at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, AZ. The Museum is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Road. Doors will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Ceremonies begin at 11:00 a.m. Flyovers are planned throughout the day

Warbirds on display for this Veteran’s Day event include the B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey”, B-25 Mitchell Bomber, North American SNJ/T-6 and stearman trainers, and many more. This event will be an educational experience with honoring all of our veterans. Included are tributes to the B-17 Chow Hound, honoring fallen Airmen and the 91st Bomb Group, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Flying Tigers, the China Burma India Theater and Women in Aviation, including the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) of WWII.

Admission Price - Ages 13-Adult $10.00, Seniors 62 and older $9.00, Ages 5-12 $3.00, Ages 5 & under free. Admission includes a tour through the B-17 Sentimental Journey. Admission is free to our Veterans on November 7 for the Veterans Day Open House. Rides are available on WWII B-17 Sentimental Journey and SNJ/T-6 trainer. Gift certificates may be purchased for flights on Sentimental Journey or other warbirds. The museums gift shop has many aviation gifts available for that unique gift. Food and drinks will be available.

The CAF Arizona Wing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to celebrating our heritage of freedom through flight, education, exhibition and remembrance. For more information on The Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum please call 480-924-1940 or visit our web site at [url="http://www.azcaf.org"]www.azcaf.org.[/url]

To be in attendence:

CLARENCE "BUD" ANDERSON (WWII ACE, P-51 "OLD CROW")
ROBERT ASHBY (WWII TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, USAAF P-51s)
DAVID BAKER (HELICOPTER PILOT, VIETNAM)
BETTY BLAKE (WWII WASP)
JOHN BEDDALL (WWII USAAF B-25 GUNNER)
KEN BEEBY (RAF #4 BRITISH FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL CADET)
DALE P. BURTON (USAF MiG MAINTENANCE AT AREA 51, GROOM LAKE)
KEN DAHLBERG (WWII ACE)
WAYNE DANIELS (WWII USAAF B-17s)
MATT DILLON (107 F-105DMISSIONS IN VIETNAM)
FRANK DOHERTY (WWII USAAF B-24 NAVIGATOR)
FRED FERGUSON (MoH VIETNAM, UH-1)
JOE FORSTER (WWII USAAF P-38 ACE)
Richard FULTON (USAF F-4s, POW VIETNAM)
RON FURTAK (A-1 "SANDY" MISSIONS IN VIETNAM
DR THURSTON GAINES (WWII TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, USAAF P-51s)
ED GEISS (WWII B-17 PILOT)
HORACE GRIFFEN (#4 BRITISH FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR)
OLE GRIFFITH, (F-10 (B-25) RECONNAISSANCE PILOT)
RICH HALL (ARKANSAS ANG RF-101s)
ASA HERRING (WWII TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, USAAF P-51s)
PAUL KELLY (WWII USAAF B-17s)
HERRMAN LAABS (WWII D-DAY & OPERATION MARKET-GARDEN VETERAN USAAF C-47s)
MS MARILYN KINGMA REPRESENTING CAPT. DWIGHT DIR (WWII CBI PILOT)
TOM LEARD (USAF OV-10 NAIL FAC, VIETNAM)
MIKE LEWIS (ACTIVE DUTY CAPTAIN, MQ-9 PREDATOR DRONES, 55+ A-10 MISSIONS IN AFGHANASTAN) (PENDING LEAVE APPROVAL)
PHIL LOIGNON (COLD WAR USAF SR-71s)
GARY LONG (KOREA B-26 INVADERS)
LONNIE McCLUNG (>250 MISSIONS IN F-4 DURING VIETNAM >1000 "CATS AND TRAPS" PAST COMMANDER OF TOPGUN SCHOOL, MIRAMAR)
JOHN METZGER (VIETNAM A-4 & A-6)
Richard MURPHY (USN E-2 COMMAND AND CONTROL, VIETNAM)
JERRY O'BRIAN (KOREA USMC F3D) AND VIETNAM (RF-4 & EA-6)
MATT QUY (ACTIVE DUTY CAPTAIN, MQ-9 PREDATOR DRONES B-52 PILOT)
BILL SCHULTZ (KOREA F-80 & F-84 HYDRAULICS SPECIALIST)
BGEN RICHARD "Richard" STICH (ANG F-102, F-106, F-100 & A-7)
MS. LANA TAYLOR, DAUGHTER OF VIETNAM O-2 FAC PILOT MAJ ROBERT WOOD, MIA IN N. VIETNAM FOR 41 YEARS REMAINS RECOVERED IN 2008)
RALPH WANDRY (WWII ACE)
LEWIS D. WELLING (KOREA/COLD WAR USAF B-29, B-36 & B-47 PILOT)

Hope to see you there!

Todd

SNAFU · **Posted:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:21 pm

Hrm i may attend this. LOST meeting somewhere if i do attend?

phxtoad · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:31 pm

I'll PM you my phone number. Give me a call when you get there if you go. I'm working the parking lot in the morning and have trash duty in the afternoon, but I can take a break and show you around.

TL

phxtoad · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:18 am

Bump - It's tomorrow!

Hasta,

TL

AZKJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:33 am

We'll try to make it out. There's a lot going on this weekend... Old West Days is also going on in Mesa.

Any idea how much for the bomber ride??

phxtoad · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:09 pm

AJ, I think it's $425 per person currently...

AZKJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:15 pm

phxtoad wrote:

AJ, I think it's $425 per person currently...

Wow!! That's a lot of drukets for a ride around the flagpole. Some of the older snowbirds might be able to swing that, but not me, even tho I love flying but never had the $$$ to take it up. 24 years in aircraft maintenance is as close as I ever got. Hmmmm... do they need a flying crew chief??

phxtoad · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:32 pm

Well you aren't flying Southwest to San Diego for $59... You are flying in a 65 year old piece of history. It's the only flight worth remembering!

Flying crew chief: Yes. Then you can fly for free! It's all volunteer out here. We are always looking for able help. Everything from working the gift shop, to restoring aircraft, to touring the country with SJ each summer.

TL

phxtoad · **Posted:** Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:18 pm

Some pics and movies (if the links work):

Stang flew in from North Dakota the day before

Three P-51's in attendance!

Historical significance: In 1941 Falcon Field was the home of the British Flying school - prior to the US entering the war. British fighter pilots were trained here since England has less than ideal training weather. The T-6 in the foreground has markings that were originally used at Falcon. BP refers to British Program. In the air beyond the two Stearman's are making a low pass. The Stearman's were the Primary training aircraft used at Falcon Field. Pilots would transition from the Stearman to the T-6, and then on to actual fighter aircraft like the Spitfire or Mustang.

Maid in the Shade beyond one of the P-51's. Both flew during the day.

A P-51 and a replica Spitfire splitting formation in preparation for landing. This Spit is a custom built version powered by an Allison engine rather than a Merlin. It also has a composite wing, vs. aluminum skin. Really a slick bird.

Here's links to two vids of the Spitfire and Mustang taking off in succession. Love that sound!

Veteran's Day Event - Saturday 11/07/09

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