'Gathering Of Mustangs' Is The Theme For The Event

A spectacular fleet of P-51 Mustangs and other World War II warbirds will fill the sky for the second Annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend (AWW) Sept. 12-13 in Atlanta, GA, at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK).

Atlanta Warbird Weekend is open free to the public from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. each day to see the aircraft, meet veterans and purchase rides in some of the vintage aircraft. Parking will be available for $10.

This year’s theme will be a “Gathering of Mustangs”, a rare collection of P-51 Mustangs along with a British RAF Spitfire, German FW-190 and other famous WWII aircraft are scheduled to participate at the 2nd Annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend.A special event, “Dinner with an Ace,” will feature World War II pilot Bud Anderson as guest speaker at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at the 57th Fighter Group restaurant at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport.” Tickets are $125 for this limited seating event. “The 2014 dinner was sold out, and everyone enjoyed the evening,” said Jim Buckley, CAF Dixie Wing leader.

This weekend is dedicated to the remembrance and celebration of the men, women and machines of the Greatest Generation. AWW is designed to be a catalyst to bring together organizations, aircraft and people that keep this history alive, and to engage the public and businesses to preserve the spirit of America’s shared past.”Our goal is to create “hands-on” history that brings the era alive and inspires in a way that a textbook simply doesn’t.  This event will help us fulfill that mission as well as increase awareness of the Commemorative Air Force in Atlanta and raise much needed funds for restoration and preservation of our historic aircraft.” said Jay Bess, CAF Dixie Wing’s Executive Officer and program coordinator. “Veterans groups, reenactors and educational displays will engage the public in the aircraft and their stories.”

AWW will include businesses on the field as well as the 57th Fighter Group restaurant. The airport was originally part of Camp Gordon, a World War I era training camp. In 1940, the U.S. Government authorized construction of a military airfield at the site. The airfield began operations on March 22, 1941 as Naval Air Station Atlanta. It has the history, and the perfect location for Atlanta families, along with easy access to major highway routes. The 57th Fighter Group restaurant adjacent to airport property is a WWII fighter-themed business owned by Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame recipient Pat Epps.

Rides on the CAF aircraft can be purchased for a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Rides are popular with veterans who remember these vintage aircraft, and are equally appreciated by younger aviation fans who never had an opportunity to experience flight in an historic 70-year-old warplane. Ground tours of these rare aircraft will be available for a modest fee, which helps cover the cost of restoring and touring these rare aircraft.

(Photos by John Willhoff provided with CAF news release)

FMI: http://dixiewing.org