This year, the Texas Flying Legends Museum team prepared for the annual Airshow events but everything had extra special meaning and required a lot more attention because we also were host to the 345th Bomb Group and the 352nd Fighter Squadron, as they both held their reunions during Wings Over Houston! Visit their websites to learn more about these great men who served in the Second World War. Also, check out this great article that was published in Warbirds News!
Thursday morning, October 24th, documentary interviews of the veterans began, and their wives and widows were filmed as well. That evening, the two groups joined in an ice cream social together!
Friday started off with an educational session at the TFLM hangar, “Air Combat Then and Now: A Discussion of WWII Tactics, A Discovery of Current Day Similarities” (click here for flyer) and afterwards everyone enjoyed a thorough tour of B-25 and a P-51, some veterans even got to fly in these planes. This day was really exciting as the Airshow got underway and everyone took a trip back in time as we started the evening off by honoring the heroes in our midst, as so many of the pilots who were present had done so much for our country. We had a very special visit from General George Patton as he gave a military presentation to get us all in spirit of the times. Finally, dinner was served and the dancing began! Third Coast Swing, a nine piece swing band really carried us all away with great music accompanying a dance-off! Everyone was dressed to the nines in uniforms and costumes from the 1940s and there were even trained dancers in the crowd to show-off moves that really put the final touch on creating a new memory for everyone present.
Saturday the veterans were the honored guests of the Airshow. Many came together and took turns in the Autograph tent where attendees of the airshow were able to meet and speak with these aviation and military legends. These living legends signed their autographs and some offered their autobiographies and other memorabilia for sale.
All in all it was a pleasure to host these fine military heroes. We were truly honored that they were willing to be interviewed and many of their families said that it was the first time they had spoken of their memories; preserving these stories is so important to teach “Sacrifice Above Self” and provide the younger generations with a context for history.