Air Force Week at Hill Air Force Base gave me the opportunity to become immersed in my Dad’s occupation. He was an electrician and he wired first, B-1’s and then B-16’s laying on his back in their needle noses.
This was my very first official air show. What a treat. The weather was cool, the sun was hot. There was just the right mix of official Air Force performances and professional air skill demonstrations. The Heritage Flights, dedicated to our troops from all 20th-21st century wars, were especially moving: MiG’s, and Gliders, Biplanes and Phantoms, Mustangs and F-16’s.
And I could look into the planes and see exactly where he worked. It was an amazing experience.
Of course, the highlight of the day was the hour-long show by the Thunderbirds: 6 F-16’s in sinc! Their show was preceded by the swearing in of 100 new Thunderbird trainees.
We all got emotional chills. And a good dose of sun-burn. More than 400,000 people attended over two days. It took us over 2 hours to get out of the parking lot–and that was a full hour after the show ended.
An experience I will long remember. My father did not serve in the Armed Forces. He was always in a protected occupation: First, working for the D&RGW Railroad as a Car Inspector. Then, as an civilian electrician wiring airplane wings for the 34th Bomber Wing at Hill Air Force Base.
What did your daddy do in the War? Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://www.arleneeakle.com
PS Count-down to the Colorado Family History Expo–12-13 June 2009. There is still time to register and get in on all the fun. Register at http://www.fhexpos.com–even if you don’t attend, you can access all the syllabus handouts online and follow the Twitter trails.