Planes of Fame - Veteran's History Project

07/08/2021

07/08/2021

2021 Planes of Fame Air Show
Planes of Fame Airshow Scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021 - Save the Dates!

Our annual tradition returns to Southern California – although a few months later than we’re all accustomed.

With Fall in the air, we’ll take to the skies – historic aircraft from our past will be joined by the technology of today. With a touch of magic and mystery that is Halloween, look forward to some special “tricks” by some of the best aerobatic acts in the business as well as plenty of “treats” as warbirds flock to Chino Airport for the Planes of Fame Airshow.

We’re pulling together what we believe will be one of our best shows ever and you won’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars now and plan on being here in the Fall!

For updates on the Airshow as it comes together, bookmark this page or sign up to receive our Newsletter.

See you in October 2021!

07/08/2021

SATURDAY SPECIAL EVENT AT THE PLANES OF FAME

This Saturday, Planes of Fame Air Museum is honored to host the 100th Birthday Party of former United States Marine aviator and World War II combat veteran Major John Tashjian.

The public is invited to join in the festivities! Museum doors open at 10:00am. The party runs from 10:30am until 12:30pm. A special flight of the Museum's F4U-1A "Corsair" will begin at noon. The aircraft will fly over the Museum for about twenty minutes.

SATURDAY SPECIAL EVENT AT THE PLANES OF FAME

This Saturday, Planes of Fame Air Museum is honored to host the 100th Birthday Party of former United States Marine aviator and World War II combat veteran Major John Tashjian.

The public is invited to join in the festivities! Museum doors open at 10:00am. The party runs from 10:30am until 12:30pm. A special flight of the Museum's F4U-1A "Corsair" will begin at noon. The aircraft will fly over the Museum for about twenty minutes.

01/30/2021

Planes of Fame Air Museum

Get ready to look skyward, the Planes of Fame Airshow returns Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st! More details will be released in the future, but make sure to set those calendars for this not-to-miss show!
Help us spread the word by sharing this image!

01/29/2021

It’s happening!

03/31/2020

Since the air show is cancelled, we can’t go out, how about if you post a story about the favorite Veteran that you met, and or the best or favorite story they told, at our past air shows. Post a photo too.
Stay safe!

03/20/2020

Planes of Fame Air Museum

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we regret to inform you that the 2020 Planes of Fame Airshow has been canceled. We are deeply saddened that we have to cancel our favorite program of the year, but want to reiterate that safety is our number one priority. We are looking forward to a fantastic Airshow in 2021! All 2020 Airshow tickets can be transferred to our VintageFest Celebration in September 2020, donated to the Museum or refunded back to you. VintageFest will include aircraft fly-bys, many of which were scheduled for our 2020 Airshow. We appreciate your understanding and support during these challenging times.
For more information and FAQ, please visit: https://planesoffame.org/news/186/154/Planes-of-Fame-Air-Museum-Coronavirus-COVID-19-Statement

For those who have already purchased airshow tickets, upgraded seating, parking, etc. you may transfer your ticket to our VintageFest event September 26, 2020, donate the price of the ticket to the museum, or request a refund in full. Please use our refund/transfer form here: https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/8fqI458B5d4U7m8jT to request a transfer, donation or refund. Once we have received your request it will take approximately 72 hours to process. If you request a refund you can expect to see the credit within 5-10 business days once we process your submitted form.

03/19/2020

Planes of Fame announced, March 17, the temporary closure of the museum until at least Monday, April 6 in an effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus. Moreover, we have canceled all public events through the end of April in an effort to respond to the need for social distancing. The safety of our staff, volunteers, members, and visitors is of paramount concern.

As of today, the May 2 & 3 Airshow will continue as scheduled. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will continue to closely monitor the latest information and evaluate if our plans need to change based on the latest guidance from local health authorities.

Though it would be a shame if we had to cancel, our utmost concern is the health of our Veterans and our guests. We will post updates as we get them. Stay healthy!

03/06/2020

Planes of Fame Air Museum

TOMORROW!
Our March Living HIstory Flying Day Event featuring the P-38 Lightning!
Join us at 10am for this event with special guest Francis Gary Powers, Jr. Join us also for The 3rd annual Planes of Fame Volunteer Maloney Model Contest! Doors open at 9am with a flight demo by the P-38 at around noon!

02/26/2020

Planes of Fame Air Museum

2020 AIRSHOW PERFORMER
Gregory W Colyer/Ace Maker Airshows
Planes of Fame Airshow 2020 - May 2-3
Get your tickets today: http://bit.ly/POFAirshow2020

Planes of Fame is proud to announce the return of Greg 'Wired' Colyer and his T-33 Shooting Star! Greg Colyer puts his T-33 through its paces in a breath-taking display of aerobatic flying that provides thrills to all who watch.

A native Californian, Gregory "Wired" Colyer took his first flight at age 7 in a Cessna 172 with Dr. Lee Schaller out of the Schellville airport in Sonoma, California. Hooked ever since, Greg has been flying for almost 3 decades after earning his license in 1982 while serving in the US Army from 1982-1987.

After leaving the service he served 27 years for the FAA keeping the skies safe as an Air Traffic Controller at Oakland ARTCC from 1988-2015. His passion for the cockpit never left him as he continued to fly as a hobby and an occasional airshow flying a Beech T-34 Mentor until he imported a Russian L-29 Delfin Jet in 2003.

After flying with his friend Kay Eckhart, in one of Kay's Lockheed T-33s in 2007, Greg set his sights on an upgrade to the U.S. Air Force's first operational jet and a real piece of U.S. aviation history. Acquiring a T-33 and naming it Ace Maker in 2008. Then founding the nonprofit (501c-3) T-33 Heritage Foundation to help in the preservation of the type.

02/23/2020

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Booked for the air show, Navajo Code Talker, Mr. Peter MacDonald. If you don’t know about the Code Talkers and what they did, watch this video.
If you know about them, you’re saying WOW right now lol. There are only four left. Don’t miss meeting this man!. This is a very rare opportunity.
He fought on Guam and Okinawa.

Peter MacDonald Sr. is one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers. On the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, he explains what made the “unbreakable” code so effective, and how it helped save lives and secure victory in the Pacific. An Unbreakable Code

02/23/2020

BOOKED! Come see Mr. MacDonald at the VHP tent.

Peter MacDonald Sr. is one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers. On the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, he explains what made the “unbreakable” code so effective, and how it helped save lives and secure victory in the Pacific. An Unbreakable Code

02/21/2020

Starting to book our Vets for this year's airshow! Stay Tuned...

12/13/2019

Planes of Fame Air Museum

HANGAR DANCE 2020!
Save the date for March 21, 2020, for our next Hangar Dance! Tickets go on sale on January 1st. Check out our page Planes of Fame Hangar Dance & WWII Party for more information!

12/11/2019

Planes of Fame Air Museum

PLANES OF FAME AIRSHOW 2020
A little early Christmas present to you all! Save the date for May 2-3 for the 2020 Planes of Fame Airshow at Chino Airport, California! More details on performers, vendors, guest veterans, and more will be revealed at a later date. We look forward to having you join us for another amazing show!

06/07/2019

Veteran returns to Omaha Beach for first time in 75 years

Veteran returns to Omaha Beach for first time in 75 years

Seventy-five years ago Thursday, 96-year-old Army veteran Jake Larson stormed Omaha Beach. He is the last living member of his unit. D-Day was a moment that changed his life forever and yesterday was the first time he stepped back onto Omaha Beach. Anthony Mason reports.

06/05/2019

97-year-old US veteran parachutes in D-Day ceremony

97-year-old US veteran parachutes in D-Day ceremony

Raw video: 97-year-old veteran paratrooper Tom Rice, who jumped with the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day, leaps from a plane in France to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

05/14/2018

Make the Connection

Make the Connection

I had a hard time keeping my mind out of the jungle." Sarge served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War - and came back with symptoms of PTSD. Hear how he found relief in his poetry and blues music.

05/09/2018

Thank you Michele Spry for the wonderful photos. Thank you for these and all your help.

05/06/2018

05/06/2018

Thank you Chris Wolfe for these great photos of a greats event.

04/20/2018

Planes of Fame - Veteran's History Project

Ed Tessien flew 25 missions as a bombardier as part of the 96th Bomb Group, flying “Big Dick” a B-17, named after the pilot.

He participated in largest air battle of the war: Second Schweinfurt. 260 planes deployed; over 200 planes struck the target; 65 were shot down. On that mission, he personally shot down a JU 88 as it flew directly at their plane. This was captured on tape. They crashlanded in southern England with only one engine, as the other three had been shot out during combat. The plane was so full of bullet holes it never flew again. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for “destruction of an enemy plane.”

He was also awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 25 missions. Only one crew member was injured during all those bombing runs.

04/20/2018

Ed Tessien flew 25 missions as a bombardier as part of the 96th Bomb Group, flying “Big Dick” a B-17, named after the pilot.

He participated in largest air battle of the war: Second Schweinfurt. 260 planes deployed; over 200 planes struck the target; 65 were shot down. On that mission, he personally shot down a JU 88 as it flew directly at their plane. This was captured on tape. They crashlanded in southern England with only one engine, as the other three had been shot out during combat. The plane was so full of bullet holes it never flew again. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for “destruction of an enemy plane.”

He was also awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 25 missions. Only one crew member was injured during all those bombing runs.

04/10/2018

03/25/2018

Planes of Fame Air Show, May 5 and 6.

On April 18, 1942, just four months after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, 16 B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier positioned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on a top-secret mission. Their destination: Tokyo.
Colonel Richard “Dick” Cole, was Doolittle’s co-pilot during the momentous raid that bears his name, and is the sole surviving veteran of a group forever known to history as the Doolittle Raiders.
Confirmed: Col. Dick Cole will be in the Veterans Tent both days of the air show May 5 & 6.
He will also be selling his book.
Come out and meet him!

03/23/2018

03/22/2018

On April 18, 1942, just four months after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, 16 B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier positioned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on a top-secret mission. Their destination: Tokyo.
Colonel Richard “Dick” Cole, was Doolittle’s co-pilot during the momentous raid that bears his name, and is the sole surviving veteran of a group forever known to history as the Doolittle Raiders.
Confirmed: Col. Dick Cole will be in the Veterans Tent both days of the air show May 5 & 6.
He will also be selling his book.
Come out and meet him!