CAF and EAA Joins Forces for “Heavy Bombers Weekend” in July

In a second annual rare gathering of World War II-era aircraft the CAF and EAA are joining forces for a “Heavy Bombers Weekend” in Madison, Wisconsin the weekend before EAA AirVenture. The 3-day event starts Friday, July 25, 2014 and will feature an airworthy B-25 Mitchell Miss Mitchell; the B-17 Aluminum Overcast; and the P-51 Mustang Gunfighter. Other attending aircraft include a T-6 Texan, Canadian Harvard MK IV, Vultee BT-13, Ryan PT-22, L-5 Sentinel, T-33 Shooting Star and an OV-1 Mohawk. Most of the airplanes will be available for ground tours and rides. Additional ground tour aircraft include an Air National Guard F-16, UH- 60 Black Hawk, UW MedFlight Helicopter and many experimental aircraft.“The gathering of these specific aircraft in one location is an extremely rare occurrence,” said Jim Gilmore, a coordinator of the Minnesota CAF B-25 Squadron, “We are excited to have the EAA and CAF join forces for the second time in Madison, Wisconsin.”

The event will be held on the east side of Dane County Regional Airport at Wisconsin Aviation, 3606 Corben Court, Madison, Wisconsin 53704. Admission is $15 per person or $25 for families with children under 18. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 25 through 27. The Madison Mallards mascot, Maynard, will be available daily from 1-2 p.m. Famous Dave’s BBQ and other vendors will be available. On Saturday evening, July 26, festivities will include Wisconsin Aviation’s 13th Annual 1940s-style Hangar Dance: A salute to the troops, past and present; 7-10:30 p.m. featuring Ladies Must Swing Orchestra.Sean Elliott, EAA Vice President of Advocacy and Safety said, “This is a historic opportunity for the public to view, touch, photograph, climb through, and even fly onthese aircraft at one location. Madison, Wisconsin makes for a perfect stop for the EAA and CAF for their national tours on their way to EAA AirVenture the following week.”

Aircraft flight reservations are recommended and can be made at www.cafmn.org for all CAF aircraft, or at www.b17.org/madison for the EAA B-17 or T-6. Or, call CAF reservations at (651) 455-6942 or EAA reservations at (800) 359-6217. More information can found on the Heavy Bombers Weekend event website: www.heavybombersweekend.splashthat.com. The B-25J Miss Mitchell served in the 310th Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing of the 12th Air Force in North Africa and Italy completing over 130 missions. Its legacy of no crew fatalities during all of its missions was a rare accomplishment. Prior to taking command of the 8th Air Force in Europe in 1944, the 12th Air Force was under the command of then Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle. After a 12-year restoration by the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, Miss Mitchell took her first flight on April 18, 1992, exactly 50 years to the day of the daring Doolittle raid.Since EAA began tours of the B-17 in 1994, tens of thousands of people have experienced this unique airplane through its flights and ground tours. Known as The Flying Fortress, the B-17 bomber is considered one of the greatest military airplanes ever built and one of the best-known aircraft types of the World War II era.

About the Minnesota Commemorative Air Force: The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing was formed in 1971. The Minnesota Wing was the very first charter unit of the national headquarters wing of the Commemorative Air Force and operated as a maintenance support arm to help the CAF’s mission and its ever growing fleet of rare aircraft. Today, the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing is home to six aircraft, a large motor pool fleet, and a unique collection of World War II artifacts that are on display. For more information, visit www.cafmn.org. About the Commemorative Air Force: Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the Commemorative Air Force ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 8,000 members and a fleet of over 150 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 70 units located in 27 states for care and operation. The mission of the Commemorative Air Force is to honor the men and women who built, maintained and flew in these airplanes during World War II. The organization believes that mission is best accomplished by maintaining the airplanes in flying condition; taking the airplanes to the people allowing them to experience the sight and sound of the aircraft in flight. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org. About the EAA’s B-17, Aluminum Overcast:

EAA’s Aluminum Overcast was built in 1945, but was delivered to the Army Air Corps too late to see active service in World War II. The B- 17 was donated to the EAAAviation Foundation in 1981 with the provision of the aircraft being maintained in airworthy condition. After being displayed at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wis., for a decade, the airplane began annual national tours in the spring of 1994. EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 185,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564- 6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAAupdate.

About Wisconsin Aviation’s Hangar Dance:

Featuring big band music performed by Ladies Must Swing, a jazz band consisting of 19 energetic dames. Vintage wear is encouraged and there will be prizes for the best-dressed couple and best dancers. The ladies will be performing 1940s tunes all night long – enjoy Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Seems Like Old Times, Leap Frog, In the Mood, Tennessee Waltz, and much more. A portion of the door sales and all drink and snack sales will go to benefit Badger Honor Flight. www.ladiesmustswing.com.

Here are the pictures of the participating airplanes.

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