LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Tora! Tora! Tora!, an explosive aerial history lesson featuring a reenactment of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, will be among the headliners at Lackland AirFest 2010 Nov. 6-7 at the historic Kelly Field Annex flight line.
Performed by the Commemorative Air Force, the group began in 1972 after six replica Japanese aircraft were donated to the CAF. Thirty-eight years later, the pilots and ground crews perform 12 to 16 shows a year, bringing a little bit of history to every aerial performance.
"When I was a boy, my parents took me to an air show in Kansas. I'll never forget the first time I saw a B-17 flying low over the runway with one gear down, and the sound of many Zeros (Japanese fighter planes) attacking overhead. Dec. 7, 1941, is a day that will live in infamy, and I will always have an image of (the Pearl Harbor bombing) because of shows like Tora! Tora! Tora!," said Col. William H. Mott V, 37th Training Wing commander.
The group's motto is "least we forget," a reflection of why volunteers from all over the country give their time to ensure an accurate representation for generations born after World War II.
The group's mission is to tell a story that will forever be a part of our nation's history. A reenactment from Tora! Tora!! Tora! is not a typical history lesson. The show includes eight to 10 aircraft, a bomb squad, and 61 pyrotechnic effects. Every performance is a living museum that promises to be as fresh and exciting as their very first show.
With security being Lackland's No. 1 priority, visitors will be prohibited from bringing concealed weapons, ice chests, backpacks, large bags, alcohol, skates and skateboards. These items must be left in the vehicle. Pets, with the exception of assistance or guide dogs, will not be allowed at the event.
Gates for AirFest 2010 will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 6-7. For more information, visit
http://www.lackland.af.mil/airshow.