Five For the Show

The 2022 Sound of Speed AirShow will host a quintet of historic aircraft during its inaugural Sound of Speed Warbird Fly In. 

The event—which will grace St. Joseph, Missouri’s Rosecrans Memorial Airport from 14 through 17 July—will feature:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress No. 44-69972–affectionately dubbed Doc—after the sagest of Snow White’s wee companions. And an airshow superstar since 2017.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Texas Raiders—one of only five flying specimens remaining in the world, and the first Flying Fortress acquired solely for the purpose of restoration and use as a flying museum.

North American B-25 Mitchell Berlin Express—a 1943 vintage “H” model formerly owned by Woolworth’s heiress Barbara Hutton and her husband, Dominican diplomat, race car driver, polo player, possible-assassin, and jet-set archetype Porfirio Rubirosa.

North American T-6/SNJ Texan—a two-place advanced trainer designated Harvard by the RAF and a popular ship among aerobatic pilots and teams.

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver—a rotund, iconically controversial aircraft whose pilots fashioned its alpha-numeric designation SB2C into Sonofabitch-Second-Class. 

All five aircraft will be available for ride-flights, as well as ground, and cockpit tours.

Sound of Speed Airshow executive Captain Julius Rice states: “The Sound of Speed Airshow is greatly looking forward to hosting these literal pieces of our nation’s history at our first ever Warbird Fly-In.  We want to give back to the community of St. Joseph for all the tremendous support we receive putting on airshows.” Captain Rice adds, “It’s always nice to get one or two warbirds at a single event, but to get five at once is almost unheard of outside of huge venues. This is a truly unique experience for St Joseph and surrounding communities. It will be an educational event to not just read about; but to see, touch, and hear World War II aviation history in your own backyard.”

The aircraft are scheduled to arrive in St. Joseph, MO, at Rosecrans Memorial Airport at approximately 11:00 Thursday, 14 July. Gates will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 15 July; Saturday, 16 July; and Sunday, 17 July. Admission tickets can be purchased online ahead of the event for $10-per person or $25-per family. Admission at the gate the day of the event will be $15-per person and $30-per family.

FMI: www.stjairshow.com