Commemorative Air Force Brings History To Life

The Commemorative Air Force will host its second Aviation Discovery Fest from October 4-6 at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) in Texas.

The Dallas-based nonprofit will have on display a wide-ranging array of World War II-era airplanes for history enthusiasts to check off on their bucket lists by taking rides or interior tours and other hands-on experiences. Some of the aircraft include the B-29 Superfortress Heavy Bomber “Fifi”, P-51 Mustang Fighter “Gunfighter”, B-24 Liberator Bomber “Diamond Lil”, C-47 Skytrain Transport “That’s All, Brother”, and more than a dozen other historic aircraft.

New to the lineup is a favorite of ground troops during the Vietnam War era, the AC-47 Spooky gunship. This was a converted C-47 cargo transport converted to an attack version with multiple 7.62mm miniguns loaded with tracer rounds, which inspired its other nickname as Puff the Magic Dragon.

The Aviation Discovery Fest will have other Living History attractions such as re-enactors and military vehicles. The interactive displays will be well-staffed with volunteers eager to bring meaning to these experiences with rides and discussions about the vehicles and how they were used during the war.

The Discovery Zone will be located inside the Henry B. Tipple National Aviation Education Center, where there will be live performances and veterans sharing their experiences. It will provide a memorable experience for the young and old alike as they learn about the wartime-era history, and the men who lived it and the vehicles ,airplanes, and other equipment that made it possible.

FMI:  commemorativeairforce.org/