On December 17th, the First Flight Society honors a 99 yr old WWII veteran, the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, and the 116th Anniversary of Powered Flight. Join us at Wright Brothers National Monument.
The First Flight Society annually honors those individuals and groups that have achieved significant “firsts” in aviation and includes them in their Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine exhibit at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. This year’s honorees are 99-year-old Colonel Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret) “the Candy Bomber” and the Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949) commemorating the 70th Anniversary of that historic event.
On the morning of December 17th, the Berlin Airlift 70th Anniversary will be honored with ceremonies on the Wright Brothers National Memorial grounds at Kitty Hawk, NC. The 116th Anniversary Celebration of the Wright Brothers’ first flight will include General Maryanne Miller, Commander, USAF Air Mobility Command as keynote speaker. Representatives of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, as well as representatives from the British and German Embassies are invited. Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF Ret. – the “Candy Bomber” and 2019 Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine Inductee – will attend. The traditional Flyover of the Wright Brothers Monument is expected (depending on weather) in tribute to the First Flight by USN C-40, USAF C-17, and German A400M aircraft, with a static display of the venerable C-54 Spirit of Freedom and C-47 Miss Virginia aircraft used in the airlift.
The event is open to the public and park entrance fees will be waived.
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