For the second year, Veterans United Home Loans will host a Fly Into the 40s event at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport to honor veterans and celebrate Operation September Freedom.
The 1940s-era themed event lifts off at 10 a.m. Sept. 24. It runs until 7 p.m. and is free to the public.
Numerous vintage military vehicles and aircraft will be on display for viewing, and live parachuting demonstrations will be at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Food trucks and drink stations will be available for purchase all day for those in attendance, with free parking and shuttle transportation available across Missouri 94 at the Hitachi (formerly ABB) plant.
VUHL is again partnering with Dream Flights during the day to honor veterans of all generations by taking them on free flights in World War II-era Stearman biplanes. Those interested are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible due to limited space. Advance registrations will be given preference, with day-of-event walk-ups accepted on a space-available basis. Veterans of WWII will also be given preference for the flights.
To sign up for the veteran flights, please send an email to the VU Military Relations team at [email protected].
Dream Flights is a nonprofit organization honoring military veterans and seniors with flights in historic WWII-era Stearman biplanes.
From its founding in 2011 to today, the organization has honored more than 4,500 veterans and seniors with free Dream Flights.
CORRECTION: This article was edited at 11:34 a.m. Sept. 13, 2022, to change the email address to sign up for a veteran flight. The email address originally reported in the article has not been accepting email.
Ethan Weston/News Tribune file photo: Laith Hilderman, 3, pulls up on the throttle of a UH72A Lakota helicopter on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the Jefferson City airport. “I want to fly it!” Hilderman said.
Ethan Weston/News Tribune file photo: Guests explore the interior of the C47 transport plane after it landed on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the Jefferson City airport.