World War II aircraft to be featured at air show

Oct. 8, 2009

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Oct. 8--Some of the legendary planes of World War II will take to the skies Saturday and Sunday for the first WWII Warbirds Weekend put on by the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.

Attendees will be treated to fly-ins, fly-bys and tours of some of the aircraft that helped the Allies win the war.

Among the planes will be the heralded B-25 Mitchell bomber, the type of plane made famous by the April 18, 1942, surprise raid on the Japanese homeland.

Sixteen of those planes took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet for the attack, which was immortalized in the movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."

But the Mitchell bomber won't be the only famous plane at the show.

The vaunted P-51 Mustang, a sleek fighter that terrorized Japanese and German opponents alike, is expected to delight visitors.

Other planes on display will include the T-6 Texan trainer; a Stearman Kaydet, a biplane trainer used for naval and Army flying cadets; and the T-28 Trojan, a trainer put into service after World War II.

The planes are locally owned and will be flown by members of the Tulsa Warbirds.

Jim Bridenstine, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum's executive director, said attendees should bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the displays on both days.

The National Weather Service's forecast for Tulsa shows that both days should be mostly sunny, with cooler temperatures.

Planning for the show has been in the works for nearly seven weeks.

The Tulsa Air and

Space Museum was inspired to put on this kind of show after the success of its "Oklahoma Defender Days" in August.

That show, a tribute to the state's military personnel, featured a number of more modern military aircraft, both fixed-wing and helicopters.

More than 5,100 people attended the two-day show, far more than the museum had expected.

Bridenstine said he expects at least that many people to attend this weekend's show.

He said the Tulsa Air and Space Museum is putting on this weekend's show to draw attention to Tulsa's rich aviation history, which included the production and modification of many World War II airplanes.

One of the planes made in Tulsa was the B-24 bomber, he said.

About the show

Where: Tulsa Air and Space Museum, 3624 N. 74th East Ave.

Cost: $12 for adults; $9 for students, military personnel and senior citizens; $7 for children ages 4 to 12; free for children younger than 4 ($2 discount coupons are available online at tulsaworld.com/tasm).

Admission is good for both days.

For more information: 834-9900 or tulsaworld.com/tasm.

Schedule

Saturday:

10 a.m.: Show opens and will include flag-raising ceremony plus POWMIA tribute by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

10:30 a.m.: Warbirds will fly into the show and be on display all day.

1:30 p.m.: A B-25 bomber and P-51 Mustang fighter will conduct a high-speed fly-by.

3 p.m.: Three T-6 Texans will conduct a fly-by.

3:45 p.m.: Two Stearman Kaydets will do a fly-by.

5 p.m.: Show closes.

Sunday:

1 p.m.: Show opens, and planes will be on display all day.

5 p.m.: All airplanes will conduct high-speed fly-bys, accompanied by patriotic and big-band music by the Tulsa Praise Orchestra and soloist Ernestine Dillard.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386 [email protected]