The Olive Branch Airport welcomes the first stop in the Commemorative Air Force AirPower History Tour next month, when several aircraft that have helped protect the nation will be in the air.
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and flying historic military aircraft, particularly those from World War II.
Founded in 1957 in Texas, the CAF operates a fleet of vintage warbirds, many of which are still airworthy and participate in airshows across the United States.
The mission is to honor American military aviation history by keeping these historic planes operational and educating the public about their significance.
The aircraft coming to Olive Branch next month will include a B-29, P-51 Mustang, T-6 Texan, PT-17 Stearman, and C-45. These aircraft will be on static display and aircraft rides will be available for a fee, with all proceeds supporting the aircraft.
Taylor said the B-29 in particular is a plane that has special significance.
“The B-29 that they’re bringing here is one of only two that are currently in flying condition,” Taylor said. “There are several that are in museums around, but this will be one of only two that are in flying condition. A B-29, Enola Gay, dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in World War II, so that’s the significance that it has.”
The P-51 Mustang, a premier fighter in World War II, and the T-6 Texan, used by the Army Air Corps and US Air Force, will also be present in Olive Branch.
“The P-51 Mustang was one of the premier fighters for World War II and also the same type of aircraft that the Tuskegee Airmen used,” Taylor noted.
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-American military pilots and support personnel who fought in World War II. They faced significant racial discrimination, both within the military and in society, but they overcame these obstacles to become highly skilled and respected aviators. They trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama.
Photos from commemorativeairforce.org
Taylor said the aircraft will all be on static display at the airport during the visit May 15-18.
The event is organized by volunteers. The airport, which has seen significant growth with four new hangars and upcoming improvements, is the ideal location due to its proximity to Memphis and Millington. The airport handled nearly 100,000 operations last year, making it the busiest in Mississippi.
Recent upgrades include a new runway, LED airfield lighting, and a high-powered LED beacon on the control tower, improving visibility and safety. Taylor said more improvements are planned over the next few years.
This is not the first time the CAF has visited with their airplanes to Olive Branch, which has an airport that was most convenient for this type of aircraft, Taylor said. The last visit here came about three years ago and CAF chose Olive Branch because it’s close enough to Memphis without being in Memphis. Another option in Millington, Tennessee is not as convenient as Olive Branch. “The runway here is plenty long enough and we’re the next most convenient airport for them here,” Taylor said, adding the Olive Branch airport is a good fueling stop for aircraft heading to special events such as the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
