The annual Wings Over Gillespie Air Show was held this past weekend Friday through Sunday. This year's theme was "Salute to D-Day," to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. The event at Gillespie Field in El Cajon featured static displays of various types of planes and helicopters from the very small sport aircraft to WWII-era cargo planes and bombers, as well as classic cars and other military vehicles (one complete with a really life-like soldier mannequin in front of a Willys Jeep). Other attractions this year included aerial fire fighting and rescue demonstrations, and re-enactments including a live parachute drop from “D-Day Doll.” One of the featured planes at the show was a meticulously restored C-53 that actually launched gliders and then dropped paratroopers over Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1945.
There were various booths with everything from hats to WWII-era placards to flying lessons.
On Friday school children from area schools got a preview of the show. Accompanied by parents and teachers, the kids toured various aircraft, sat in a cockpit simulator, and got briefings from Cal Fire fire fighters aboard a static helicopter. Pictured are children from B-13 class of Longfellow Elementary in Clairemont.
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