Flyover Of Historic Warbirds Above U.s. Air Force Memorial

April 3, 2008 - PRLog -- FLYOVER OF HISTORIC WARBIRDS ABOVE
U.S. AIR FORCE MEMORIAL CELEBRATING
AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM IN BRITAIN TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY

***Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major – Guest of Honor***

Airspace Above Reagan National Airport to Close for Flyover Celebration – First Ever Historic WWII Aircraft Collection Allowed to Over Fly Washington, DC

   Arlington, VA – The American Air Museum in Britain (AAM) in Duxford, England is celebrating its ten year anniversary and the special relationship between our two countries with a spectacular Flyover event of historic warbirds soaring above the U.S. Air Force Memorial on Thursday, April 10 at 1:15 p.m. For ten minutes, Reagan National Airport and the airspace between Andrews Air Force Base and the Pentagon will be temporarily closed for the Flyover event to honor the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases in defense of liberty during WWII and those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq and other conflicts of the 20th and 21st Century.
   Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, President of the AAM and Chairman of the Imperial War Museum, England, will keynote the event and kickoff the Flyover ceremony highlighting miraculous stories of ordinary people’s efforts and sacrifices in extraordinary times. His dedication will acknowledge the AAM’s duty of protecting history, paying tribute to all U.S. Airmen past and present and educating museum visitors in the subjects war, aeronautics, technology and, above all, human sacrifice. The general public is invited to look out for four historic warbirds as they circle above the U.S. Air Force Memorial, including a Spitfire (Duxford received the first operational Spitfires to enter Royal Air Force (RAF) service in 1938), a B-17 (the iconic bomber that was the mainstay of the 8th  US Army Air Force based in the UK during WWII), a P-51 Mustang (Mustangs flew from Duxford during WWII on bomber escort duties), and a P-40 Kittyhawk. The April 10 AAM Flyover will be the first time such a collection of historic aircraft has been allowed to over fly Washington, DC.

WHAT:  Flyover of Historic Warbirds Above U.S. Air Force Memorial
      Tenth Anniversary Celebration of American Air Museum in Britain
      Featuring Spitfire, B-17, Mustang and Kittyhawk Military Aircraft

WHO:      Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major – Guest of Honor
      Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, President of AAM
              Richard Ashton, Executive Vice President of AAM

WHEN:   Thursday, April 10 at 1:15 p.m.    

***Photo Op: Aircraft will be on display at Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m.***

WHERE:  Air Force Memorial
         One Air Force Memorial Drive
         Arlington, VA 22204 (off Columbia Pike on I-395)
                 Directions: www.airforcememorial.org

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About The American Air Museum in Britain
The American Air Museum in Britain (AAM) is situated at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford and stands as a memorial to the 30,000 airmen who lost their lives flying from bases in the UK during World War II.

The first American servicemen were based at Duxford in 1918 and Duxford was home to the 78th Fighter Group from 1943-1945.  A strong relationship has always existed between Duxford and the USAF and this continues today.

The AAM pays tribute to all US Airmen, past and present, and highlights the role of US air power in the First and Second World Wars, and subsequent conflicts – Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm, as well as NATO and the Cold War.