Avenger Field has become a well-known destination for historians and aviation enthusiasts alike in the last several years. The ability of the National WASP WWII Museum to tell the story of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) has now moved into a new era. Their WASP Homecoming Celebration and Airshow will kickoff this weekend, April 26 and 27, with a great deal of aerial displays and activities for the whole family. Not only will this weekend support the education of the public, it will directly support ongoing efforts at the museum, with the funds from various pay to play and auctions available throughout the weekend supporting their Phase 3B expansion initiative.
The WASP Celebration and Airshow will have free entry to the event and the museum for the public on April 26 and 27. The Airshow portion of the event will feature various aircraft, including the Commemorative Air Force WASP Squadron T-6 “Nella”, Trojan Phyler T-28. the Commemorative Air Force P-40 “Tex Hill”, and a C-130 flyover, among other aerial attractions. Practice day for the airshow, which is open to the public, will occur on Friday, April 26, 2pm to 4pm. The full airshow day is on Saturday, April 27, 12:45pm to 4pm. Spectators are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to both show days.
Additional events are planned throughout the weekend, some of which are open to the general public and some of which are ticketed events. A Cadet Zone for kids will be available during Saturday’s events, located in one of the museum hangars. Tours of static aircraft and rides for purchase will be open on Saturday, both behind the museum and at the airport FBO. Speakers and Authors in panels and presentations will be free to the public throughout both days of the event. Those will include presentations by astronaut Susan Kilrain, Eileen Bjorkman, USAF (ret), WASP granddaughter and author Erin Miller, and various current women military aviators. These panels will offer the public an excellent opportunity to learn about and absorb historically rich content about women in aviation.
Another great event open to the public called Sunset on the Square will take place Saturday evening in downtown Sweetwater. This event, sponsored by the Sweetwater and Nolen County Chamber of Commerce is open from 7pm to 10pm and features a live band, street dance, food trucks, and local vendors. The WASP Celebration Brunch and Rendezvous Dinner and Dance, both ticketed events during the weekend, offer more ways for attendees to celebrate the history of the WASP and support the museum. The WASP Celebration Brunch on Friday, 10am to 12pm, allows ticket holder to enjoy a panel of WASP family members who will relay personal stories about the WASP in an intimate setting. The Rendezous Dinner and Dance takes place on Friday evening, 5pm to 11pm, and will be quite the Texas affair with mouth watering BBQ, retired astronaut Susan Kilrain speaking on the sizzling journey from the 1940’s audacious dream of space travel to the 21st century’s reality, and a night cap with some boot-scootin’ country tunes from the likes of Hank Williams to Luke Combs. The attire is western swag with a 1940’s flair.
For anyone who loves the story of the WASP, is thrilled by aviation history, or is searching for a great way to entertain the family for the weekend, this event has something for everyone. The WASP Homecoming Celebration and Airshow is a great way to come out and support an excellent museum that continues to tell an important story from history. Learn more about the weekend’s festivities here.
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