The Inland Empire Wing proudly participated in the Wings Over Camarillo Airshow, held August 15–17. It was a memorable weekend filled with exciting demonstrations, great camaraderie, and powerful tributes to military history.
Opening Ceremonies & Airshow Highlights
We kicked off the show with D-Day Doll dropping the Wings of Blue Skydiving Team from the U.S. Air Force Academy, proudly streaming the flags of each U.S. military branch. Although weather prevented us from dropping the American flag on the second pass due to low overcast, we adapted as always.
Later in the show, D-Day Doll returned to drop the Round Canopy Parachuting Team as part of the WWII European theater reenactment. Our entrance was preceded by a dynamic air support display from a P-51 Mustang, a Spitfire, and a P-63 Kingcobra, simulating strafing and bombing runs. Unfortunately, one of our paratroopers sustained a broken ankle upon landing—our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Sunday Success & A WWII Hero
Sunday brought clear skies and a perfect run. We were finally able to complete the American flag drop in front of an appreciative crowd.
One of the most humbling moments came during the pilot briefing, where Ben Clerx and I had the honor of meeting Colonel Pete Burs. Colonel Burs flew 49 combat missions in a P-51 Mustang during WWII, shooting down a German ME-262 jet—the world’s first operational jet fighter. He was later shot down himself, escaped a German POW camp, and continued fighting alongside a Russian tank unit. He went on to fly 79 combat missions in Korea, retiring as a full bird colonel. Meeting him was a profound reminder of the legacy we work to preserve.
Gratitude to Our Volunteers & Team
Our success at Camarillo wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team:
- PX Team: Led by Brandy Stone, who once again delivered a fantastic merchandise presence.
- Support Crew: Mike Rothmeier, Pat McCollam, James Stone, and photographer Tom O’Keefe kept operations running smoothly.
- Flight Crew: Ben Clerx, Dave Mihelich, Howie Ramshorn, and Dennis King—professional, precise, and always ready.
A Note on Hangar Security
Upon returning to Riverside, we discovered a hangar door had been pulled beyond its stop, leaving the building unsecured. Please remember: If you see something unusual, say something. As our ops officer often reminds us—we don’t have a firing squad anymore, so don’t be afraid to report an incident. Let’s avoid surprises and keep our facility safe.
