Aviation heritage organizations are organizing to create a “nationwide flyover of WWII aircraft” Aug. 15-16, 2015, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, but the event may not be what you think. The Chennault Foundation describes the nationwide flyover as taking place in communities throughout America. Groups involved in the event include the History Channel, the Air Force Association, EAA Warbirds of America, the Commemorative Air Force and a host of other groups. Its not precisely clear if nationwide will translate to many local events or one grand one but an official announcement on Dec. 20 will provide more details. The press conference will be hosted by the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, which holds its own direct ties to aviations rich history.
The executive director of Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is Nell Calloway, the granddaughter of Gen. Claire Chennault, whose Flying Tigers group entered World War II in the skies over China on Dec. 20, 1941. The group is credited as a first counterattack against Japan following Pearl Harbor. Said Calloway, My grandfather and the Flying Tigers helped lay the foundations for what became the U.S. Air Force and are a fitting symbol for a movement to pay tribute to the achievements of American Airpower during WWII. One goal of the planned flyover is to raise and maintain public awareness of historic aircraft with the hope of maintaining them in flyable condition.
