April 10 Flyover To Commemorate US Airmen Who Died in Combat

Boeing announced Tuesday it will sponsor a flyover of four historic military airplanes in honor of US airmen who died during World War II, and in subsequent conflicts.

The event will take place on Thursday, April 10, at 1315 EDT. The airplanes will take off from Andrews Air Force Base, will cross the airspace around Ronald Reagan National Airport (which will close briefly to accommodate the event) and will circle the Air Force Memorial before returning to Andrews. Spectators will be able to view the flyover from the grounds of the memorial, as well as from multiple points along the Potomac River in Arlington and Washington, DC.

The American Air Museum (AAM) in Duxford, England, organized the flyover, which features a B-17 Flying Fortress (made by Boeing), a P-51D Mustang (made by North American Aviation, now a part of Boeing), a P-40 Kittyhawk (made by Curtiss Wright), and a Spitfire (made by Vickers Armstrong).

Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, president of the AAM and chairman of the Imperial War Museum in the United Kingdom, will preside over the event and pay tribute to the thousands of airmen who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom.

Joining him for the ceremony at the memorial will be former British Prime Minister (and honored guest) Sir John Major; Lt. Gen. John Bradley, commander, US Air Force Reserve Command; and Richard Ashton, executive vice president, AAM.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.af.mil, www.army.mil, www.navy.mil, www.marines.mil