Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force’s Aviation Open House honored veterans and brought education

MADISON, Miss. (WLBT) – History on full display is what you experienced on Saturday if you went to the annual aviation open house hosted by the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

This event continues its efforts in honoring veterans and bringing more education to the youth.

People made their way to the Bruce Campbell Airfield to see different airplanes throughout history.

Pilots even brought in different World War II war birds, allowing people to learn more about these aircrafts.

Frank Garletts, the Wing Leader of the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, believes this is what aviation open houses are all about.

“We try to educate, I mean, that’s one of our big things is to educate. We do a lot of educational programs. We meet here [on] the third Saturday of every month, and we, like, you know, it’s open to people to come,” he said. “We try to have a program or event like you’re seeing here today, and we’re just out here to share our knowledge and other people’s knowledge of what’s going on in the World War II events.”

Other educational opportunities included a flight simulator for kids to test their skills, plane rides, and multiple World War II veteran speakers.

This allowed those in attendance to honor these veterans, which F4U Corsair owner and pilot Frank Kimmel loved to see.

Kimmel, who has brought his plane to events like this before, recalls one memory that makes these events so special.

“Every time I’m at an event like this, it seems to mean a great amount, a great deal to these veterans. I had the opportunity to meet the family of a veteran who I never got to meet who actually flew Corsairs in this squadron in Korea, but I did get the honor to meet his children [and] his grandchildren. They were able to get into the airplane and sit where their father and grandfather sat, and it was an emotional event for me. It was real cathartic to be able to give that back to that family.”

Their next event will be a car and aviation show on September 7.

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