Gathering of Mustangs and Legends 2007 | Airshows

The old adage that “history sometimes repeats itself” did not apply to the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends. History was met head-on!

The Gathering, held from September 27th to 30th, 2007, was the second event of its kind. The first Gathering was held in April 1999 in Kissimmee, Florida, with 65 P-51 Mustangs and 12 World War Two (WWII) Legends in attendance. The second Gathering, held in Columbus, Ohio, drew 80 Mustangs, 49 Legends, 47 Tuskegee Airmen, and much more. The United States Air Force chose the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends to be one of the Air Force Heritage Weeks commemorating its 60th Anniversary. In addition to Mustangs and other warbirds, modern-day jet fighters were on hand to demonstrate their awesome power.

The specialness of the Gathering lay in how few Mustangs and legends remain. All in all, 15,868 P-51 Mustangs were built and approximately one percent endure today. A majority of the Mustangs in attendance were parked where people could get close enough to touch them. Of the US’s 1279 WWII Aces, close to 80 are still alive and many were in attendance at the Gathering. To have the Tuskegee Airmen join the event and be recognized only added to the extraordinary weekend.

The Gathering allowed attendees to honor the men and women of WWII, thank them for their service, and listen to their stories one last time. It is sad to think that due to human frailty, a reunion such as this may never happen again.

The Mustang was born when the British sought a fighter to outperform then-current types such as the P-38 Lightning, P-40 Warhawk, and P-47 Thunderbolt. North American Aviation had not previously designed a fighter aircraft, but that didn’t stop them from creating the NA-73 prototype in 120 days. Two of the fighters went to the United States Army Air Forces for testing. The American version was designated XP-51. They used Allison engines, which caused performance issues past 17,000 feet. To remedy the situation, the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine replaced the Allison and the Mustang we celebrate today was born.

Even more special than the Mustangs are the men and women who built, flew, and maintained them. So many of these people went on to live full lives and earn new titles such as chairman, CEO, grandpa, or great-grandma. While their everyday conversations now revolve around family, work, and current affairs, the memories of flight remain close to the surface. The Gathering provided a venue for these stories to be documented via more modern methods than black letters on a white page. No words can truly describe the experience of watching these people’s eyes sparkle when retelling the stories, watching the planes fly, holding a baby’s hand, or sitting again in the cockpit of a Mustang. I sat at a nearby table in the Legends tent and watched a younger gentleman sit with one of the Legends. They paged through a thick book of WWII history. Each man took turns speaking, one asking questions, one bringing the pages to life.

Another equally special group is the Tuskegee Airmen. At a time when black men were considered to lack intelligence, skill, courage, and patriotism, the first blacks entered the military to prove how wrong the theory was. They proudly showed their dedication and determination. From 1942 through 1946, 994 pilots graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, giving the group its name. Many more served on the ground, in positions such as aircraft and engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, parachute riggers, and control tower operators. These men too touched lives in different ways over the years. At the Gathering, many eyes could not hold back tears when the original Tuskegee singer, Ezra M. Hill, joyfully sang, “God Bless the USA.”

The choice of Rickenbacker International Airport as site of the Gathering was based on Ohio’s central location and fair weather, the airport’s parallel runways and large ramp, and Columbus’ lodging system. To learn about the airport’s rich history makes on wonder if it too contributed to the decision. Rickenbacker began as Lockbourne Army Air Base and opened in 1942, the same year the Mustang was first built. After WWII, the primary unit based at Lockbourne was the all-black 447th Composite Group, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Each day of the Gathering opened with the United States flag being jumped into the show while circled by the Red Baron Squadron. Just before the jumper touched down, a four-ship of Mustangs flew behind the flag. The sweet sounding Merlin engines echoed and took the crowd back in time. Visitors were treated to that sound throughout each day. Lee Lauderback and Patty Wagstaff performed solo Mustang routines commemorating the Mustang and the Women Airforce Service Pilots, better known as WASPs. Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley flew their Horseman routine, consisting of two Mustangs in formation. The highlight for aviation enthusiasts was seeing 20 flying in trail formation and then in the shape of “51.” Each day ended with four Mustangs in the Missing Man formation, reminding us of those who have given their lives to protect our freedoms.

Other vintage aircraft kept the crowd back in time. An Allied Comparison Flight included Mustangs, a P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolts, a P-63 Kingcobra, and a P-38 Lightning in mock strafing runs. Each pass caused visitors to jump with pyrotechnics. Explosions continued with the Bomber Escort Mission. Mustangs flew cover for B-25 Mitchells, a B-17 Flying Fortress, and one of only two remaining Lancaster Bombers. Sunday’s crowd was treated to a wall of fire on the last bombing run.

The United States Air Force brought the crowd back to the modern day with lightning speed. The skies thundered with demonstrations by F-16 Viper East from Shaw Air Force Base, the F-15C Eagle from Eglin Air Force Base, and the USAF’s newest fighter, the F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base. Each performance was followed by a Heritage Flight, a unique visual representation of the Air Force’s history from the days of the Army Air Corps to the present. A single Mustang flew with the Viper, two flew with the Eagle, and three flew with the Raptor. Sunday’s single Heritage Flight was termed, “flying the patch.” In the ten-year history of the Heritage Flight Program, it was the first time each of the modern fighter teams and the Mustang had flown together. The thunder continued each day with the USAF Thunderbirds from Nellis Air Force Base. Saturday’s crowd caught a glimpse of the B-2 Spirit, better known as the Stealth Bomber.

Somewhere between days gone by and modern day, several civilian performers danced their aircraft before the crowds. Large biplanes flown by John Mohr and the Red Barons captivated the visitors’ attention with their size and the loudness of their props. Ed Hamill flew a smaller Pitts biplane with endless energy. AT-6 Texans also called the “Pilot Makers” flown by Eric Frasier and Aeroshell Team provided a glimpse into the past. The Texan and its more modern version, the T-6 Texan II, have trained more pilots since 1937 than any other aircraft. The small sleek aerobatic planes flown by Patty Wagstaff, John Klatt, and Mike Goulian entertained everyone with masterful coordination and skill.

Memories that will stay with us for years to come include seeing so many Mustangs parked together; being able to meet Legends of WWII, chat with them, and have them willingly autograph books, posters, blueprints, toys, and more; listening to pilots share stories of their Mustangs in the war; learning about Mustangs, Tuskegee Airmen, Rickenbacker Airport, and how they intertwined; and, knowing that this may have been the last time such an even will ever occur.

To learn more about the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends, please visit www.gml2007.com

All photos were taken using Canon EOS 20D cameras, and the following lenses:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3
Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
Canon Extender EF 2.0 II