JOIN US FOR THE DOUGLAS WARBIRD EXPO
The Douglas Municipal Gene Chambers Airport is excited to host the Douglas Warbird Expo featuring the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) from May 31 through June 2, 2022. Douglas is the last stop on the CAF’s journey along the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail. The public is invited to enjoy onboard tours and warbird flights with the aircraft crews at Douglas Municipal – Gene Chambers Airport, 440 Elton D Brooks Blvd, Douglas, Georgia 31535.
Admission to the event is FREE which includes access to the viewing area, vendors, WWII Flight Training Museum, and Barracks #5 Open House. Drop in the Barracks #5 open house or the WWII Flight Training Museum and receive more information about the 63rd Air Base Preservation and Development Committee’s efforts to restore the historic buildings. The WWII Flight Training Museum, located on the grounds of the historic Raymond-Richardson Flight Training Air Base at the Douglas Municipal Airport, is part of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail. Visitors will also enjoy displays of WWII tent camps, equipment, weapons, uniforms, and varieties of other memorabilia provided by the WWII living history reenactors of the Company C 63rd Signal Battalion.
The restored aircraft will be led by the B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders, which is one of only three remaining that are actively flying in the U.S. today. Accompanying the big bomber will be an SNJ/T6 Texan advanced trainer in which thousands of airmen learned to fly for combat and a twin-engine C-45 Expeditor transport in which the whole family can fly together. All three warbirds are notable for their historic importance and level of restoration and will offer cockpit tours and flights to the public beginning Tuesday afternoon May 31st. Tours of the aircraft and cockpits will be provided for an admission fee of $20 for a family of up to five $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12and includes access to all the aircraft for cockpit tours. Warbird flights start as low as $100 for the Navy transport and $380 for the advanced trainer. Seats on the B-17 start at $495. Ground tours will be conducted from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday, and from 10:00 to 4:00 on Wednesday and Thursday, excluding flying times.
Those who wish to fly should call 855-FLY-A-B17 (1-855-359-2217) or reserve online at B17TexasRaiders.org or see more on Facebook.com/B17TexasRaiders.
Photos below: B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-17 with the SNJ/T6 Texan and C-45 Expeditor.
