Both Events To Be Held This September In Columbus, OH
Aero-News has learned the US Air Force selected Columbus, OH as
the site of this year's Air Force Heritage Week, in conjunction
with the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends at Rickenbacker
International Airport in September.
Lt. Gen. Terry L. Gabreski, vice commander of Air Force Material
Command at Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base made the
announcement Friday during a press conference at Rickenbacker.
In 2007, the Air Force is commemorating its 60th anniversary and
the 10th anniversary of the Heritage Flight Program which involves
today's state-of-the-art fighters flying in close formation with
World War II and Korean War vintage fighters such as the P-51
Mustang and the F-86 Sabre.
Air Force Heritage Week will include community visits and talks
by senior Air Force officials, flight demonstration team
performances and ground displays providing an up close and personal
look at the Air Force men and women serving on the front lines, all
of which will culminate at the Gathering of Mustangs &
Legends.
The Gathering of Mustangs & Legends, hosted at Rickenbacker
International Airport September 27-30, 2007 will provide the
opportunity to share the history of the P-51 Mustang aircraft and
honor the heroes of World War II. The Mustang played a major role
in the Allied campaign to achieve air supremacy in Europe during
World War II leading to a successful ground-forces invasion and the
defeat of Germany.
The Gathering will bring together an estimated 100 beautifully
restored P-51 aircraft with 51 of the heroes, legends and aces
forever connected to these aircraft. At the event the skies will be
filled with the P-51 aircraft in addition to other World War II
fighters and bombers, civilian airshow performers and the Air Force
Thunderbirds.
Lt. General Terry L. Gabreski has a unique perspective on Air
Force Heritage Week. General Garbreski's father-in-law was the
great WWII and Korean War ace, Colonel Francis "Gabby" Gabreski.
Flying a P-47 Thunderbolt "Gabby" Gabreski, flew 266 combat
missions in two wars destroying 37.5 enemy aircraft in World War II
and 6.5 MIG-15s in Korea while flying a F-86 Sabre. The Air Force
Heritage Week will bring to the fore front the sacrifices of the
both the famous, such as Gabby Gabreski as well as the nameless who
fought for our freedom in the skies over Europe and Korea.
Heritage Week is about honoring the past that laid the building
blocks to the Air Force's 60 year legacy of service, commitment to
values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in
all that they have done. The Gathering of Mustangs in conjunction
with Air Force Heritage Week is the perfect tribute to the millions
of Americans who have served in the World's Finest Air Force, the
over 520,000 Airmen who serve in our Air Force today, and the
millions yet to serve who will shape our future and shape our
success.
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