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Trail Partners Bring Historic Warbirds To Community Event

The WWII Flight Training Museum and CAF Airbase Georgia, proud partners on the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail, joined with the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce to bring two historic trainer aircraft to the third annual Wings & Things Festival and Fly in. Wings & Things is held at the Douglas Municipal Airport (KDQH) and the WWII Flight Training Base - Douglas, Georgia. This year’s event is March 22, 2025, from 9a to 4p. CAF Airbase Georgia’s Fairchild PT-19 Cornell and Beechcraft T-34 Mentor will be on display and available for rides. Both aircraft have been meticulously restored. To book your ride on either aircraft, go to https://airbasegeorgia.org/event/wings-and-things-douglas-ga/ or at the event.

The PT-19A, Serial Number 42-83551, was manufactured in Hagerstown, Maryland and delivered to Moton Field, Tuskegee Alabama on November 11, 1943. It was one of the primary trainer aircraft used to train the “Tuskegee Airman” to fly. T-34, N687HV, was used to train many thousands of Naval and Marine Corps aviators. Some went on to fly with the Navy’s Aerial Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. It also had a second military career in the Dominican Republic Air Force prior to restoration by CAF Airbase Georgia in 2016. Are you ready to soar in the skies over South Georgia in these historic aircraft?

 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Charles J. Loring Memorial and Cadet Park

On Friday 22 November 2024, the World War II Flight Training Museum, the 63rd Preservation Society, the WWII Flight Training Base Committee, and the City of Douglas held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-named Cadet Park and the Charles J. Loring Memorial. This event commemorated the 72nd anniversary of Major Charles J. Loring Jr.'s heroic actions and included the dedication of a memorial in his honor. Many family members of Charles Loring, along with several distinguished guests, were present at the well-attended event.

The aircraft on display at the Cadet Park was acquired by the Douglas 63rd Preservation Society, Inc., for use in this memorial. It is painted as Lockheed F-80C, S/N49-1830 (FT-830) as flown by Maj. Charles J. Loring, Jr. Local volunteers and U.S. Air Force Maintainers from Moody AFB dedicated many hours of their time and skills to the restoration of the F-80 Shooting Star, the centerpiece of the memorial.

Thank you to Al Thomas and his crew at Al’s Paint & Body Shop for the beautiful paint job; Jimmy Kitchens, American Truck Parts, for transporting and positioning the F-80 on the display platform; and a special thank you to Sue and Hugh Harrington for their generous gift to help with this restoration. And a big thank you to Don Brooks who made all of this happen!

To see the special newsletter describing the event, click here: Cadet Flyer: Special Edition December 2024.