Air Group One, the San Diego Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will be hosting it’s 18th annual Wings Over Gillespie Air Show June 1-2 at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California. Friday, May 31st will be a FREE youth Education Day with a focus on Aviation related Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (a-STEM), and while there will be no scheduled air show flying on Education Day, it nonetheless promises to be entertaining as well as informative.
This year, Air Group One will be commemorate San Diego’s contribution to aviation in WWII, the role the region played as part of the “Arsenal of Democracy” and the remaking of the metropolitan area wrought by the unprecedented concentration of military bases and defense contractors, transforming San Diego into a economically vibrant capitol city of the military-industrial complex.
Audiences will learn, through the memories of veterans, from military re-enactors and displays and flybys of aircraft what it was like when San Diego was home to massive aircraft industries and thousands of aerial warriors training to protect freedom, liberty and our great nation. A representative collection of San Diego designed and built aircraft will be on display, including a Consolidated PBY Catalina, PB4Y-2 Privateer, Ryan STM, PT-22 Recruit, L-17 Navion and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant.
New this year will be performances by Silver Wings Wingwalking and returning favorites, John Collver’s War Dog T6/SNJ aerial display plus the world’s only Northrop N9M Flying Wing will also be returning. Other WWII aircraft attending the event will include: the Douglas C-53 “D-Day Doll”, a Vought F4U Corsair, Grumman F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat and F4F Wildcat, North American P-51D Mustang, NA-50, Bell P-63 Kingcobra, and many more “Flying Museums.”
The Wings Over Gillespie Air Show is a once-a-year family event with a free Kid’s Zone, amusements, rides, educational displays, a variety of food and beverages, plus a Beer Garden that will add up to a great summer weekend for all. Gates will be open 9AM to 4PM on both the 1st and 2nd.
Advance ticket sales are available online HERE.
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