On
Sept. 26, some 70 vintage aircraft will take to the skies over
Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 75th anniversary
of the end of World War II. The Arsenal
of Democracy Flyover will
feature historically sequenced formations representing the war’s
major battles – from the Battle of Britain through the final air
assault on Japan.
More
than 20 different types of vintage military aircraft are scheduled to
fly in formations beginning over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington,
D.C. The airshow is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT with planes
flying in two-minute intervals over the skies of the nation’s
capital. The commemoration is expected to last approximately 70
minutes.
As a principle
organizer of this historic event, the Commemorative Air Force –
the world’s largest flying museum – will send 18 warbirds from 13
units across seven states to participate:
- B-29 Superfortress FIFI: One of only two B-29 Heavy Bombers still flying.
- C-47 That’s All, Brother: Led the formation of 800 aircraft from which 13,000 U.S. paratroopers jumped during the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
- P-51 Mustang Tuskegee Airmen: Long range fighter-bomber made famous by the inspirational stories of the African-American pilots who flew them.
- B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey: Flew bombing missions over Europe throughout the war. One of only five B-17s around the world still actively flying.
- T-6 Texan Nella: Flown by the Women Airforce Service Pilots – America’s first female military aviators and the “spiritual grandmothers” to today’s female pilots.
