Each year in October the skies over Daniel Field in Augusta come alive with planes, parachutes and pilots. The Boshears Skyfest brings together some of the most exciting stunt flying, vintage airplanes and daredevil parachutists that can be found anywhere.

The 2009 version of the show was a little different. The Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, from Atlanta, staged a reenactment of the Battle of Midway, the pivotal battle between American and Japanese Naval forces in the early days of WWII.

But more about that later.

Here's another twist to the show this year, a decidedly 4 wheel twist. The CSRA Mustang club brought out about 50 classic Mustangs, ranging from the early 60's to the latest in the line of this automotive icon. In addition, cars of all makes and models were on display for car buffs to drool over.

There were supposed to be Karting races, one of the fastest growing forms of racing in all of motorsports, but Saturday's weather put a damper on the competition. Too bad, those guys and gals are a lot of fun to watch.

I would have to say, however, one of the more unique and entertaining aspects of Boshears was a race between Neal Darnell's Flash Fire Jet Truck and Gary Wards MX2 unlimited aerobatic aircraft. The two raced at speeds approaching 350 mph on the runway. Evidently quite a rivalry has developed between the two as they go head to head. Airplane vs. truck-which is faster. Well, I guess we will have to wait until next year as the score was one to one - with Ward's plane winning on Sunday and Darnell's truck winning on Sunday. In any event it was great fun as the two entertained the crowd with low flying passes and jet blasting exhaust.

Although Saturday was somewhat of a rainout, Sunday broke to a beautiful crisp fall day, perfect for the high flying antics of these amazing men in their flying machines.
First up was the Paratainment Parachute Team which parachuted a big beautiful American Flag down to earth as a presentation of colors that thrilled the crowd.

As the show started, recognition was given to all involved, but none was more special than the Wounded Warriors - heroes that have served their country most gallantly - simply the best.

Then came team RV. Their precision flying in experimental aircraft is truly a work of art and science. Nine aircraft performing geometric shaped aerobatics that blew my mind.
Red Eagle Air Sports performed The Torque Eagle, The Favrvel Loop and The Truck Under. Don McClury and Buck Robinson flew the Talon Eagle and the Red Eagle to all Kinds of crazy stuff that just made me go "WOW-they gotta be crazy"
What a great day. But the best was yet to come -The Warbirds.

Alan Armstong is an attorney from Atlanta, you should see his business card - or all three of them. One says Attorney At Law, another says Pilot/Writer and the third simply says Japanese Bomber. Armstrong and his associates are a special group of Americans. They are members of the Commemorative Air Force, The Dixie Wing from Atlanta, Georgia.

This group has a membership of 8500 strong. Known as the "Ghost Squadron", they are dedicated to the preservation of a fleet of 160 warbirds, 60 of them American, from WWII on up. They recreate, remind and reinforce the lessons learned from moments in our nations military aviation history.

This year the Commemorative Air Force brought nine historical aircraft to Boshears to reenact the Battle of Midway. The planes were beautiful specimens of an era gone by when the skill of the pilots was at a paramount, no computers, no radar. Just tenacity and courage of the highest order.

The Japanese were represented by Alan Armstrong and his Kate Bomber, which is actually an AT-6 built in 1941 transformed into the fearsome Japanese plane that ravaged Pearl Harbor on DEC. 7th, 1941. There was also a recreation of the fabled Zero fighter aircraft that was the mainstay of the Japanese Air Fleet during the war. Both these planes were in incredible condition. They have appeared in such movies and shows as Tora Tora Tora, the Misfits and Baa Baa Blacksheep.

The American side was represented by an incredible example of the Mitchell B-25 Bomber the plane that flew in the famous Doolittle raid in the early days of WWII when a group of 16 of these planes took off from the deck of an American carrier and made the first strike against the Japanese homeland in early 1942.

Equally impressive was an example of the SBD-5 Douglas Dauntless Dive bomber that sank 4 front line Japanese carriers in the battle of Midway, effectively breaking the back of the Japanese Navy. The plane was piloted by Jimmy 'Rip Van' Winkle and Keith Wood from Locust Grove, Ga. Their love and respect for this icon of American aviation history was evident as they spoke to me about the history of this particular plane. Also in attendance were several versions of the SNJ5 dive bomber, a trainer of 1944 vintage.

The reeactment of The Battle of Midway was a spectacular event filled with mock combat scenes complete with explosions of the highest order.

But probably the best part of the reenactment was the narraration of the story. The script was written by Alan Armstrong, the pilot of the Japanese Kate bomber. The crowd was treated to a thrilling story of the dark days of WWII, as the Japanese forces rolled from victory to victory over a poorly armed and prepared American military in the Pacific. The story develops as the Americans intercept and decode the plans of the Japanese invasion of Midway Island.

The three American carriers and their small escort force positioned themselves in a so as to spring a trap on the approaching Japanese. After initial strikes on Midway Island, the Japanese were caught flat footed by American dive bombers, as their fighter cover was drawn down to the deck to fend off attacks by American torpedo planes. Four front line carriers went to the bottom of the Pacific that day which paved the way for the victory in the Pacific.

It was a great show. But I hope the lesson that people took away from the experience was one of remembrance. These brave men and women of our armed forces during WWII made it possible for us to live our lives with the freedoms we enjoy today. We are loosing them at an alarming rate. Living icons of our history that the members of the Commemorative Air Force are proud to represent. I can only hope that the parents of the many children that were watching the airshow reminded their children of the sacrifices that were made by the "Greatest Generation".

Our heritage and history is a very special part of the greatness of America. We need never forget.