Millville, NJ — The fall season attempted to encroach on the small city of Millville, New Jersey this past weekend but this effort was stymied by summer as it imposed itself and offered aviation enthusiasts one last hurrah.
The Millville Airport was the stage for the Millville Army Air Field Museum’s 7th Annual Aviation Celebration. This event pays tribute to America’s First Defense Airport and the role it played training P-47 pilots during WWII.
As the aircraft arrived and were towed into place, vehicles participating in the classic car show (presented by the Garden State 50s Auto Club) also lined up on the tarmac. With the atmosphere taking shape, the fans trickled in and the morning sun began to do its magic.
Although one was greeted by an ultra-modern CH-47 Chinook Helicopter, one could not help but notice that this twin bladed beast was not the star of the show. The Chinook’s thunder dissipated as one walked down the flight line and faced the Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s B-25 “Briefing Time” and the TBF Avenger.
If the Chinook’s thunder hadn’t yet vanished, it did upon encountering Tom Duffy’s, jaw dropping, mouth-watering, I have died and gone to heaven, collection of WWII aircraft. The Millville based collection features the beautifully restored P-47D Thunderbolt “No Guts – No Glory”, FG-1D Corsair “Marine’s Dream”, P-40K Tomahawk, Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.IXc, B-25N Mitchell Bomber “Take Off Time” and the ever so gorgeous P-51D Mustang. If the Duffy birds were the protagonists’, then the T-28 Trojan was the special guest star, supported by an entourage of vintage liaison and training aircraft.
The fact that there was limited flying action should not be construed as a bad thing. Remember, this wasn’t an air show; it was a “Celebration”. This is an event where family and friend (old and young), as well as veterans got an opportunity to get up close and personal with the old flying machines. This is an event where strangers stand side by side and admire these beauties as if they were looking at the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
A Yak-52 and a Nanchang CJ6 of the Raiders Flight Demonstration Team flew several sorties to warm up the crowd. Jason Flood’s Pitts Special buzzed the field with several passes, giving fans a little taste of his impressive aerobatic routine.
As the day came to an end and the very manageable crowd dwindled, the aircraft began to depart. This was the moment photographers were waiting for. As each aircraft began to take to the skies, those who remained were saluted with a tilt of the wing or a pass over the airfield.
Since the curtain had not yet fallen, a small band of photographers were about to experience the aviation equivalent of Pavarotti singing Il Pagliacci. When the B-25 “Briefing Time” rolled down the runway, all lenses were aimed at her. As the front landing gear left the ground and the aircraft gained altitude, the sound of shutter salvos could be heard. In what was perhaps an unexpected move, the pilot banked left and positioned the bomber for the photo opportunity of the day.
Having performed its magic all day, the sun moved west for some much needed rest. With the last diehard fans leaving the airport, the sound of crowds and engines were replaced by silence… but only until next year.
Click on thumbnails below to view larger images.
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