The Gathering of Mustangs & Legends
The Final Roundup
At
At Rickenbacker
International Airport
September 27-30, 2007
COPAMA Report
Though the first day of the show was wet and marked with intermittent showers, people came by the tens of thousands to Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. By early afternoon, the showers gave way to sunshine reminiscent of those days in England during World War II when aircrews and aircraft waited for frontal passage to start their missions over the Channel and the European Continent. The blue skies remained for the next three days to set the stage with almost perfect Airshow conditions for The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends!
More than 150,000 visitors came to honor the men and women who flew and tended to the P-51 Mustangs and the other War Birds that assembled there on the ramp of Rickenbacker. Those honorees showing the effects of time cast upon them by the turbulent world of the 40's. They stood on both sides of the flight line barriers, those who came to perform, those who came to be honored, those who were honored because they came and those who came to witness this once in a lifetime event. The Veterans of many generations attended, wearing their jackets, hats and uniforms indicating their squadrons, ships, divisions and services. Some walked or rode in golf carts, some used canes or wheelchairs but all came to, once more, hear the roar of a Merlin V12 come to life and watch the sleek streamlined shape of the P-51 climb up to dance with the sun in the blue autumn sky.
This September weekend was a stage set for remembering. The local PBS affiliate WOSU-TV featured the documentary "The War", a collection of personal accounts about World War II from a handful of men and women from four American towns. Also on television that week, The History Channel replayed the HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers" and the TNT Channel aired the 1998 Academy Award winning movie "Saving Private Ryan". In the latter movie, the closing battle scenes portray a mortally wounded Captain John H Miller (Tom Hanks) and Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) attempting to destroy a bridge as German Armor is advancing on their position. The sound of heavy armor is muted by the site and sound of P-51 "Tank Busters" attacking overhead, stopping the armor and infantry forces before they could reach the bridge. All these presentations from the World War II era were fitting topics for the weeks Gathering and the men and women that lived and now relive that experience.
Around 80 Mustangs made their way across our country and the world followed by the many visitors that traveled from all corners of the earth to attend GML2007. Here they helped celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen and Rickenbacker International Airport, the 60th Anniversary of the United State Air Force and honored the W.A.S.P.s who also attended the event. The Air Force flew some of the aircraft from it's current arsenal with demonstration flights of the F-15, F-16 and F-22 Raptor. Throughout each day of the Airshow, they performed "Heritage Flights" where current fighters flew in formation with the Mustangs to be photographed by the crowds below. The other performers and airshow acts kept the action going and the attendees looking skyward throughout the day. Let's not forget the 994** volunteers, both individuals and groups, who gave their time to perform the necessary functions that made the airshow possible. (** Official Total Count)
GML 2007 Website P51 Photos Page 1
EAA News - GML2007 P51 Photos Page 2
The Columbus Dispatch P51 Photos Page 3
Here are but a few of the photos capturing the event. Enjoy the memories!
