Wings On Display WWII Airport Day In Dayton Is Sept. 6

This year's Wings On Display event at the Mark Anton Municipal Airport in Dayton will highlight the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, Sept. 2, 1945. The free event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This is an all static aircraft shoe with 20+ WWII Warbirds and 40+ Show Aircraft, live music, food trucks and a kids zone.

The grand marshal for the event will be WWII Navy Veteran Joe Wilson. Mr. Wilson, 98, is a resident of the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Cleveland.

He was a radio/communications third class, and joined the Navy at the age of 17 in 1944. He will be accompanied by 10 of his fellow veterans from the Veterans Home, along with staff. 

Organizers said, "We have over 20 WWII warbirds to include: C-47, which was directly involved in the D-Day invasion; B-25 Mitchell bomber; P-51 “Old Crow” Mustang, which was once flown by triple ace Bud Anderson; F-4 Wildcat, that is the only one in existence that is still flying; F-4U Corsair; and many more. 

"This is only a third of our program. We have nine other sections of aviation to include our “Show Stoppers” in which the T-33 Red Knight 'MAGA' jet will be on display. Beechcraft section, flight schools, sporting aircraft, amphibious, show aircraft, Cirrus aircraft sales team from the Knoxville Cirrus delivery center, and a special section highlighting the non-traditional aviation activities- hot air balloon, gliders and paragliders. 

"We will also have 'Chopper Hill', which will showcase our nation's military, with helicopters, military vehicles and the Kelly’s Zeros (a WWII reenacting group who dress in the uniforms and bring memorabilia from the era), as well as other WWII historians. 

"Finally, we will showcase the CAF Rise Above Tuskegee Airman and W.A.S.P. (Women AirForce Service Pilots). This is a tractor trailer museum which displays memorabilia on the Tuskegee Airmen and the women who delivered aircraft to the front lines of WWII. Inside the trailer they show a presentation on their panoramic screen, and at one point in the video, it makes you feel what it was like to fly in the P-51 Mustang.

"Outside of aviation we have live local musicians on our stage sponsored by Kubota of Chattanooga, over 10 food trucks and a huge kids zone, sponsored by Food City. The kids’ zone will have attractions and carnival games alongside educational booths and delicious snacks. 

"Why do this? In a world where the average family spends $150 to just go to see a movie, we wanted to create an event for everyone to enjoy and to make it free. Family togetherness, a young child’s eyes lit up with excitement or inspiring a young person to get into aviation is all the payment we need here at Mark Anton Municipal Airport. After all our goal and motto is 'To inspire the youth of today to be the aviators of tomorrow'. 

"We also wish to honor all the brave service men and women from the greatest generation America ever had.

"What can the public do to get involved? We will have a Jumbo-Tron screen in the center of the tarmac, and we will host a memorial video in which we will have pictures of your families WWII veterans displayed in a very nice video. You can upload the photo through email at airshow2025@daytontn.net. It will also be displayed on our Facebook group page. The cutoff date for submissions is Aug. 25.

"This event has been made possible by dozens of local area sponsors and without the love and generosity of our business community leaders, this event could not take place."

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/DaytonTNAirport.