Learn what NAHA and its partners have accomplished over the past year what what exciting things we'll be doing next year! Celebrate the winners of NAHA's Ivonette Wright Miller, Wick Wright and PROPS awards. NAHA's annual meeting is free and open to the public.

When: 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26

Where: Center for Regional Cooperation, 1100 W. Third St.

Mackensie Wittmer has joined NAHA's staff as partner relations/program manager. Her first day in the part-time position was Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Wittmer is a graduate of Wright State University's masters degree program in public history and brings volunteer and professional experience in nonprofit organization management.
She looks forward to working closely with NAHA's partners. Please say hello to her at our annual meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26. 

Nearly every U.S. aviator in World War II learned to fly in the Stearman PT-13D Kaydet. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force has put a pristine example of the plane on display after a meticulous restoration project.

The PT-13 is on display in the World War II Gallery, where it will be part of an expanded Tuskegee Airmen exhibit scheduled to open in February 2015. For more information, read the museum's news release and watch a video about the airplane's history and the restoration project.

The Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio has completed an exhibit about the Douglas C-47 Skytrain cargo aircraft in World War II.

The exhibit is located under the nose of the museum's C-47, which was used in Europe during the war.
 
Information about Springfield, Ohio native and World War II C-47 pilot Robert Bayley is part of the exhibit.

The annual Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-in at Grimes Field in Urbana is adding its first cruise-in car show, a hog roast and live music.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, with a fish fry, beer garden and live music. Saturday's schedule includes a pancake breakfast, air race, cruise-in car show and live music throughout the day. It wraps up Sunday morning with a pancake breakfast.

Admission is $5 per person. Admission is free for children under age 12. Visit www.merfiurbana.com for more details.

Bill Albers, a Champaign Aviation Museum volunteer who survived Nazi Germany's occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 at the WACO Air Museum about U.S. B-17 crews and the severe conditions and deadly combat they endured on missions over Germany. The museum is located at 1865 South County Road 25A in Troy, Ohio. The lecture is free; donations are welcome. Visit www.wacoairmuseum.org for more information.

NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

www.leaderinflight.org

Hear Dan Patterson's latest aviation history commentary on WYSO 91.3 FM.

Cleveland Evans: Orville soared, but it was a brief flight (Omaha.com)

 

WWII veteran flew in gliders; awarded French Legion of Honor (Chambersburg (Pa.) Public Opinion)

 

Newly restored WWII flight trainer on display (Fairborn Herald)

 

Dayton business seeks lift from Wright bros. name (Associated Press via DailyFinance)

 

Lofty goal: Replica of Whitehead aircraft promotes local 'first in flight' legacy (Fairfield Citizen)

 

Town launches campaign to recognize 'first flight' by Whitehead (Fairfield Citizen)