Warbirds Over Hondo Ready to Take Flight

On May 16, 2015, Armed Forces Day, Warbirds Over Hondo will commence!

Each year, the Tex Hill Wing of the Commemorative Air Force hosts this event, bringing World War II aircraft to Hondo for the public to see, hear, and touch.

Featuring Aerial Acts by Kyle Franklin, among others, the airshow will begin at 10:30am, and will run until approximately 2:30pm. There will be Bombers and Fighter Planes and a Huey, oh my!

Not enough excitement for you? On the ground, there will be hot rods, race cars, and motorcycles, alongside various aircraft, for you to see up close and personal!

Kids, ages 8-18 will be able to have a free plane ride, with their parent's consent, of course! Rides will be available for the adults, as well, but there will be a charge for that.

The fun begins when the gates open at 9am. There will be food and drinks available all day, and there will be a variety of vendors and exhibitors open to visitors throughout the day. Only water is allowed on the ramp, by order of the City of Hondo. Gates will close at 5pm.

Why Hondo?

Well, Hondo is home to the Hondo Army Airfield, which was a training facility for pilots in the United States Army Air Force, beginning in 1942. It served as an active United States Air Force base during World War II and the early years of the Cold War as a training airfield. It was closed in October of 1958, however it was still used as for pilot screening by the Air Force from 1973 until 2000.

The base began operations on July 4, 1942, graduating its first class of pilots that November. By that time, there were 5,300 military personnel stationed at the base. The school was the largest USAF navigation school in the world at that time; aircraft included B-24s, B-18s, AT-7s and AT-11s.

In November of 1943, the Women's Airforce Service Pilots were assigned the base, including two notable female pilots, Betty Henrich and Hollywood stunt actress Mary Wiggins.

In less than three years, from July 1942 and August 1945, approximately 14,158 navigators were trained at Hondo.

There have been various schools utilize the base to train pilots, and it currently serves as a municipal airport, with four runways, and associated taxiways, a modern, 4,000 square foot terminal building, with visitor's waiting area, pilot lounge, flight planning area, restrooms with showers, free WI-FI and a private conference room. The building is available to pilots 24 hours a day.

Saturday, May 16, 9am-5pm. Tickets: $10 per person, 5 and under free. 700 Vandenberg Rd. Hondo, TX 78861. For more information, visit www.warbirdsoverhondo.com.