The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, will hold its annual Veterans Day program Nov. 11. Visitors can meet and talk with local aviation combat veterans from World War II, the Cold War era, the Vietnam Conflict, and Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many of these veterans have had experience with the aircraft in the museum’s collection as either air or ground crew and include: James Samar, Gunner/Radio, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver; Bruce Hayes: Pilot, Grumman F6F Hellcat; Mark Josel; Pilot, Vought F4U Corsair; James Farrell; Pilot, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt; Paul Giguere, Navigator, Boeing B-29 Superfortress; Ken Benson, Pilot, McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom; Jim Skiff, Pilot, McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom; William Guenon, Jr., Aircraft Commander, Lockheed C-130E; Carl Stidsen, Combat Crew Commander, Martin Titan II Missile; Sam Boit, Pilot, Lockheed P-3 Orion; SGM Tony Savino, Flight Engineer/Instructor (CTARNG), CH-47 Chinook & UH-60 Blackhawk &TSgt Joshua Read, Aircrew Flight Equipment Technician (104th Fighter Wing)
Additionally, a number of the museum’s military aircraft will be open for visitor entry, including the Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, the P-47 Thunderbolt, the Vought F4U Corsair, the F-100 SuperSabre, and the Kaman SH-2F Seasprite helicopter.
All veterans and active military personnel will receive half off the museum’s regular admission prices between Nov. 1-30, 2012. The museum will donate the difference to the Friends of Fisher House Connecticut. The Fisher House Foundation builds and maintains long term residential facilities near military hospitals nationwide where families of seriously injured soldiers can reside during the long rehabilitation process. The Friends of Fisher House Connecticut are raising funds to build a Fisher House in West Haven, Connecticut.
The New England Air Museum is open 10am-5pm Monday through Sunday and is located in Windsor Locks, Conn. adjacent to Bradley International Airport.
For more information: NEAM.org
