The 38th annual National Warplane Museum Airshow was held on July 13th through the 15th, billing itself as “The Greatest Show on Turf !”.
The aircraft lineup this year consisted of a variety of World War II era bombers, trainers, fighters and troop carriers including:
[if !supportLists]· [endif]P-63 King Cobra Built by Bell Aircraft Corp in Buffalo, NY (first time in Geneseo)
[if !supportLists]· [endif]C-46 Commando Built by Curtiss Aircraft in Buffalo, NY
[if !supportLists]· [endif]P-40 Kittyhawk Also built by Curtiss Aircraft in Buffalo, NY
[if !supportLists]· [endif]P-51 Mustangs
[if !supportLists]· [endif]PBY-5A
[if !supportLists]· [endif]3-B-25’s
[if !supportLists]· [endif]2-C-47s including the Museum’s very own D-Day Veteran, Whiskey 7.
Leading up to the show I was invited to meet Mr. Les Cruise. Mr. Cruise was a paratrooper who participated in the D-Day campaign as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He left for Normandy from Cottesmore Airdrome on June 5, 1944 bound for Ste Mere Eglise, Normandy for D-Day June 6, 1944. He served 38 days in Normandy was relieved and returned to England. He served with distinction in many more campaigns. He received the Purple Heart after being wounded in artillery barrage during an attack on German lines January 3, 1945,
His plane: Geneseo airfields own Whiskey 7
He was staying in the Oak Valley Inn in Geneseo and was escorted to the airfield by a convoy of WWII era military vehicles and folks in period clothing, including Rosie the Riveter re-creator, Vivian E. Hunoz-Halm.
The air show was a wonderful event to experience, particularly the salute to veterans.
