Mid-Missouri WWII veterans to take flight Saturday

Courtesy/Veterans United Home LoansDream Flights and Veterans United Home Loans are sponsoring "Flying into the '40s" on Saturday. The 1940s-themed event will feature World War II veterans flying in a Boeing Stearman biplane, the same plane used to train WWII pilots.
Courtesy/Veterans United Home LoansDream Flights and Veterans United Home Loans are sponsoring "Flying into the '40s" on Saturday. The 1940s-themed event will feature World War II veterans flying in a Boeing Stearman biplane, the same plane used to train WWII pilots.

Area World War II veterans will take flight Saturday in an all-day event for Mid-Missouri.

Veterans United Home Loans is sponsoring "Flying into the '40s" in partnership with Dream Flights, a non-profit organization honoring senior citizens and military veterans.

The 1940s-themed event will feature WWII veterans flying in a Boeing Stearman biplane, the same kind of plane used to train military pilots in WWII.

Other activities at the event will include a live musical performance by the Kapital Kicks, demonstrations with modern and historical parachutes, local food trucks and National Guard standing displays.

The free event which runs from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. is open to the public and will be hosted at Jefferson City Memorial Airport.

Only WWII veterans are allowed to take flights in the WWII plane, but the public can purchase flights in other aircraft at the event.

Pam Swan, Veterans United vice president of military relations and business development, said the event began as a concept in late spring, but community partners have made it a reality through their support.

Dream Flights launched Operation September Freedom on Aug. 1 with the goal of flying 1,000 WWII veterans in the planes they used to train in.

They've completed 572 flights so far.

As of Wednesday, Swan said just under 10 veterans, including a Jefferson City Tuskegee airman, were registered for the 15-20 minute flights.

With room for more, Swan encouraged interested WWII to register for a ride at the Dream Flights website, dreamflights.org/individual-flight-request.

"The only expectations that we really have is that those handful of WWII veterans have the best day of their lives and that their families see a side that the entire community wants to rally around them and support them," Swan said. "Let's get together and let's remember what's been done for us and the sacrifices that have been made for us."