Airbase Georgia to Host Special Screening of Documentary Honoring WASP Cornelia Fort

CAF Airbase Georgia will host a special screening of Crosswinds: The Courageous Life of Cornelia Fort on June 28, celebrating the legacy of the trailblazing aviator and WWII’s first female pilot to die on active duty. The family-friendly event will include historical exhibits, a restored PT-19 aircraft display, and a panel discussion with the filmmaker and special guests.

Moreno Aguiari
Moreno Aguiari
Cornelia Fort (with a PT-19A) was a civilian instructor pilot at an airfield near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941
Platinum B 729

A limited number of free tickets remain for a special June 28 screening of Crosswinds: The Courageous Life of Cornelia Fort, a new documentary that explores the remarkable story of aviation pioneer Cornelia Fort. Presented by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia—the state’s largest World War II flying museum—the event will take place at 6 p.m. inside the Warbird Museum hangar, located at 1200 Echo Ct., Peachtree City, GA 30269, next to Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field. Reservations can be made at www.cafairbasegeorgia.com.

CorneliaPT19
Cornelia Fort (with a PT-19A) was a civilian instructor pilot at an airfield near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

The documentary, produced by Redwood Educational Technologies, made its debut earlier this year at the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas. The film brings to life Fort’s passion for flying, her fearless pursuit of excellence, and her place in history as the first female pilot to die on active duty with the U.S. Army during World War II. The evening promises to be more than just a film screening—it will be an immersive 1940s-style movie night. Family-friendly activities will include popcorn, CAF merchandise, dog-tag making, and historical displays by Kelly’s Zeroes and the WASP. Guests will also have the rare opportunity to view a restored Fairchild PT-19 Cornell, the same aircraft model Fort flew during her military service.

PT 19 left side from rear 2024

Cornelia Fort, born in 1919, made headlines for her heroic experience on December 7, 1941, when she was in the air over Honolulu with a student pilot as the attack on Pearl Harbor unfolded. She later joined the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) in 1942, becoming one of the first female pilots to serve in a military capacity. Tragically, she died in a mid-air collision in 1943 while ferrying an aircraft to Dallas. The film features interviews with Fort’s family members—including nieces Chloe Fort and Leontine Fort Linton Lapointe, and nephew Dudley Fort, Jr.—as well as Cornelia’s great-great-niece, who voices her story. Retired FAA inspector Leslie Sargent, who appears in the film, will be at the event for a post-screening panel discussion with filmmaker Judy S. Miller, founder of Redwood Educational Technologies.

Cornelia Clark Fort. Tennessee State Library and Archives
Cornelia Clark Fort. (Tennessee State Library and Archives)

“This film is a tribute to Cornelia’s courage, both as an aviator and as a woman challenging the norms of her time,” said Miller. “Partnering with Airbase Georgia underscores our shared commitment to honoring WWII aviation history.”

WASP Pilots
Pilots of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron at Long Beach Army Airfield, 7 March 1943. Left to right, Barbara Towne, Cornelia Clark Fort, Evelyn Sharp, Barbara Erickson and Bernice Batten. The airplane is a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. (Image Courtesy of the WASP Archive, The TWU Libraries’ Woman’s Collection, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas)

“This event reflects our mission to educate, inspire, and honor,” added Airbase Leader Joel Perkins. “By telling Cornelia’s story, we help preserve the legacy of the Greatest Generation.” Following the screening, Crosswinds will be available for streaming at www.stories250.com.

CAF Airbase Georgia Hangar with all planes
The hangar of the CAF Airbase Georgia in Peachtree City, GA. Photo by Tony Granata
AirCorps Aircraft Depot
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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