6th Annual Gathering of Warbirds
June 18-20, 2004

The thermometers registered in the high 80s for the week, but the hot glaring sun radiated heat from the black top pushed the temperature into the 90s.  Despite the heat, thousands of spectators witnessed a successful air show with an extended period for a string of unique aerial demonstrations.  

Aerial demonstrations, to name a few,  included Bud Granley in his Yak-55, the Frasier Blues in their North American Navions, Bill Shepherd in his Yak-11, the CAF FM-2 Wilcat,  and of course Bud Granley again in the Fouga and the OFM's very own P-51 Mustang.  The crowd seemed to appreciate the extended viewing area and the Vietnam LZ display.  They witnessed a USAF KIC-135R from Fairchild AFB make a "low & slow" pass over the runway.  The Green Beret jumpers unfurled the largest American flag in the world to ever be suspended from a canopy as they gently floated to earth. 

We had many visiting war birds (and we apologize for not listing them all) such as Bill Ander's F-51 Mustang, Rick Drake's AT-6 Texan, and an AN-2 "Colt".  Of course, we can't leave out the return of the Collings Foundation B-17 and B-24 bombers.  Again, as with last year's event, long lines of spectators were eager to tour the historical bombers that carried the war to enemy in WWII.

We were happy to see the "Friends of Wille & Joe" back this year along with the Puget Sound Military Vehicle Collectors Club and the Washing Museum of Military Technology.  Both WWII and Vietnam cantonment areas presented authentic military equipment, weapons, vehicles, and uniformed people.  The US Army displayed the Army's Stryker Light Armored Vehicle, a vehicle type currently deployed in Iraq. 

And most importantly, this gathering would have been impossible without the tenacity of our volunteers who endured sweltering heat and near dehydration for three days to pull off a successful event.  The orange shirts of our volunteers did everything possible and more to maintain the tempo of our air show.  They pushed, pulled, and launched aircraft in and out of the hot zone; they keep the PA system working despite burned out wires; they picked up garbage;  they assisted spectators; they assisted visiting pilots; and they did even more.  Yet, through three days of arduous work, they kept their cool.  

To our volunteers, a real big thanks and a round of applause.  Now, we have 10 months more to our next Gathering of Warbirds.

AWARDS

Grand Champion &
Preservation
Roger Kelsay's Mig 17

Reserve Grand
Champion
AN-2 "Colt"

President's Award
CAF FM-2 Wildcat

Preservation Award
Bill Anders F-51
"Val-Halla"

Best Bomber
Collings Foundation
B-24

Judge's Choice
Rick Drakee's AT-6
"Lucky Duck"