The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing will host the tenth annual “WWII Heritage Days” April 27-28, 2013. The history festival will be held at The Historical Airpower Facility, Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field, Peachtree City from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days.
The weekend will feature vintage aircrafts, period vehicles, guest speakers, education displays and demonstrations by reenactors portraying Allied and Axis troops and activities for kids. Local actors and singers from Twilight Theatre will impersonate 1940’s celebrities and perform musical hits from the era throughout the weekend.
Bruce Gamble, author of Swashbucklers and Black Sheep, (A Pictorial History of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II), will lead a panel discussion featuring two pilots from the famous squadron. Award-winning aviation artist Marc Stewart will be displaying several of his WWII-theme prints.
“WWII Heritage Days is a community celebration that will entertain and educate the entire family.” said Jim Buckley, CAF Dixie Wing leader. The event draws enthusiasts to Peachtree City from throughout the southeast.
“Our goal is to honor the Greatest Generation, the men and women who won the Second World War,” explained Buckley, who also flies several of the group’s aircraft.
Weekend highlights include an opening ceremony recognizing World War II veterans and “Keep ‘em Flying”, a 1940’s-theme hangar dance fundraiser. Proceeds from the dance offset the cost of WWII Heritage Days, aircraft preservation and “Education Through Living History”, the group’s WWII history program made available to schools and youth groups free of charge.
Sunday morning will begin with a jeep-top religious service familiar to millions of American servicemen during and since the Second World War.
Organizations scheduled to attend include the Atlanta History Center, U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum, Marietta Museum of History, Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History & Holocaust Education, 1st Infantry Division (reenacted), Five-oh-First, 134th IR134 “Hoch und Deutschmeister” and Kelly’s Zeroes.
Local civic organizations and schools are also invited to create and display 1940’s exhibits.
WWII Heritage Days is an annual program that promotes education and patriotism. The CAF Dixie Wing is a non-profit education organization that relies on fundraisers and donations to restore WWII aircraft and teach WWII history.
For more information, please visit www.wwiidays.org or call 678-364-1110.
