Eighty years ago with the world at war, the City of Mesa opened its arms to young men from Britain and forged a bond that continues today. Mesa's Falcon Field Airport is again welcoming friends from across the Atlantic for its 80th anniversary commemorative events this November.
On Sept. 14, 1941, the No. 4 British Flying Training School opened on an empty expanse of desert on the undeveloped northern edge of Mesa, one of six pilot training bases created in the United States to train Allied pilots for the war effort. The other bases carried the name Thunderbird, but the British boys wanted to name their base for a more familiar mascot. They chose the falcon. Today, we still honor that tradition as Falcon Field Airport.
The Wings of Flight Foundation (WOFF) pilot group is reuniting school members by researching and inviting them and their families to Mesa for the milestone anniversary. They have located 20 living pilots, 33 widows and over 95 families and will host some of them for a week of activities in November that includes the U.S. Veterans Day holiday. The reunion will culminate in a dinner gala on Nov. 13 in an original 1941 hangar surrounded by vintage military aircraft, including some used in Falcon Field training between 1941-1945.
British cadet descendant Kathryn Masters and RAF pilot descendant John Barber, a Tempe resident, have researched and contacted pilots and their descendants. In their research, they have also included U.S. citizens who supported the training mission at Falcon Field as aircraft mechanics, air traffic controllers, and administrative staff with the help of Carolyn Wischler McDaniel, daughter of Joe Wischler who was the Chief Mechanic at Falcon Field from 1941-1945.
Events and activities related to Falcon Field Airport's history and 80th Anniversary:
Wings of Flight Foundation has created an archive in partnership with the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England for the pictures and stories about the No. 4 British Flying Training School: https://americanairmuseum.com/unit/4175.
Documentary film producer Kelly Sallaway of Rushbrook Media is filming a series about each of the six British Training Flying Schools (BFTS) established in the U.S. to train British Royal Air Force and Allied pilots during World War II. Her film crew traveled to England to interview cadet families and collect their stories. A preview of her film will be a highlight of the Nov. 13 gala.
Wings of Flight Foundation has been working with local museum curator Steve Hoza to develop an educational display for the historic hangar at Falcon Field that includes pictures, first-hand stories and memorabilia depicting what it was like to be a pilot cadet training at Falcon Field during World War II.
Daryl F. Mallett, author of the Falcon Field book in the Images of America book series by Arcadia Publishing, has created a Facebook page where descendants of Royal Air Force pilot cadets can connect: https://www.facebook.com/FalconField/.
On Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport is offering FREE admission to anyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces. A Bells of Peace Observance will be held at the museum at 11 a.m. The museum is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Road, and it will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Members of the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field Airport also will provide a fly-over in historic warbird aircraft between 11:45 a.m.-12 p.m. noon during the East Valley Veterans Parade that is scheduled at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 in downtown Mesa.
The Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host Aviation Fascination at Heliponents, 4930 E. Falcon Dr. at Falcon Field Airport, 5-7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. The FREE public event will feature a display about Falcon Field history, information booths by aviation businesses and organizations, static aircraft displays, raffle prize drawings, music and food tastings by local restaurants.
Meet World War II B-17 pilot Fred Engstrom and hear about his experiences flying 25 missions over Germany at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. During your visit, see the museum's B-17 Sentimental Journey aircraft that served in World War II as well. The museum is located at 2017 N. Greenfield Road, and it will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call (480) 924-1940.
The Royal Air Force Cadet Memorial scheduled at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 14 will honor the 23 pilots of the No. 4 British Flying Training School who lost their lives while training from 1941-1945 at Mesa's Falcon Field. This FREE public service has been held for more than 30 years at the Mesa Cemetery. It is an opportunity for Mesa residents to welcome families who travel from Britain to attend. Wings of Flight Foundation pilots will perform a fly-over at the service. The event will also feature remarks by Mesa and British officials, music and a wreath laying at the grave sites.
The Commemorative Air Force Museum will host its popular themed event A Night in the 40s Big Band Dance 5-10 p.m. Dec. 4 in the museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road. Many guests wear period uniforms and costumes, and swing dance lessons are included. Specialty food trucks will offer food and beverages for sale. Tickets are available at https://www.azcaf.org/event/night-at-the-40s-dance/.
WORLD WAR II AVIATION HISTORY IN MESA, ARIZONA: Falcon Field opened as a World War II Royal Air Force (RAF) training base on September 14, 1941, and approximately 2,000 RAF cadets completed training there. Falcon Field was originally to be called Thunderbird Field III by its developers Jack Connelly and Leland Hayward, whose stockholders were some of Hayward's Hollywood friends, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, and Ginger Rogers. They had intended to launch a regional passenger air service, but like so many other plans of the era, the war changed that. England was under almost constant attack by Luftwaffe bombers and fighters in 1941, making it a dangerous place to train RAF pilots. An arrangement was made to train cadets at six U.S. bases, including Falcon Field.
Watch the video produced by Visit Mesa celebrating the No. 4 British Flying Training School in Mesa, Arizona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zZzoXdIEbk
Contact: Dee Anne Thomas
Marketing/Communications Specialist
(480) 644-4233
dee.anne.thomas@mesaaz.gov
Jocelyn Condon
Wings of Flight Foundation
(602) 418-6128
jocelyn.condon@gmail.com