"Around the Field" at the 1998 Oshkosh Fly-in, AirVenture 012
Here is an excerpt from Volume One of "Around the Field: The stories of the people places and planes of the Oshkosh Fly-in". Excerpt from August 1998.
You could call it "Fly-In Row". In the southwest corner of the EAA Action Pavilion are the booths of four smaller EAA fly-ins. For those of you who can't get enough this week you can stop by and talk with representatives from these exciting regional events.
The Golden West Regional EAA Fly-In is held September 25-27, 1998 at Castle Airport in Merced, California. "We're in the geographical center of 25% of all registered aircraft and pilots in the U.S."
The Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In is held October 8-11, 1998 at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona. "We're the 4th largest EAA fly-in after Oshkosh, Sun 'n Fun, and Arlington."
The EAA Southwest Regional Fly-In is held October 15-18, 1998 at Abilene Regional Airport in Abilene, Texas. "We're the 'Big Country' fly-in, we'll have 500 aircraft of all kinds, fly-bys, forums, exhibits and much more."
The Virginia State EAA Fly-In held June 26-27, 1999 at Petersburg Municipal Airport in Dinwiddie, Virginia. "In addition to conventional general aviation airplanes, we feature ultralight, powered parachute, and radio controlled aircraft throughout the entire fly-in."
"He would have loved EAA and the fly-in," said Marge Bong Drucker, widow of WWII Medal of Honor winner Major Richard I. Bong. But he never had a chance because, soon after the war's end, the Wisconsin born hero of World War II was killed while test-piloting a Lockheed P-80 "Shooting Star".
"He would have been thrilled by all the airplanes and activity," said Mrs. Drucker.
By the fall of 1943 Major Bong was an American "Ace of Aces", having shot down 21 enemy planes, and by the war's end he had shot down 40 enemy planes, a record that still stands today.
Now Major Bong is being remembered in a new Museum that is being built in Superior, Wisconsin. Here at the fly-in you can learn more about the "Richard Ira Bong Heritage Center," and talk with Marge Bong Drucker, at Booth #4115 in Exhibit Hangar D.
"With his P-38 he would have been up there in the skies with the rest of them showing off." Who knows, maybe he is.
Learn more about Volume One of "Around the Field: The stories of the people places and planes of the Oshkosh Fly-in" and other books by Jack Hodgson here.
General Aviation, Flying, Airplanes, EAA, Experimental Aircraft Association, Wittman Field
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