Robert Hale, dressed as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, gives the thumbs up for the start of
the St. Petersburg Airfest.
The traveling exhibit continues to expand thanks to our donors and volunteers.
The outdoor display.
Patch display set up by Al Richmond.  Back row from left to right, patches representing assorted Troop
Carrier Units; patches representing ghost units from Operation Fortitude, the D-Day Deception Campaign;
and assorted Airborne and Glider cap patches.
Display inside the M1934 tent.
St. Petersburg Airfest:  October 21 & 22, 2006
Display inside the command tent.
A member of the U.S. Coast Guard examines a bazooka.
Jonathan flashes the "V" for Victory.  The "V" sign has an interesting history.  The manner in which it is
shown below, palm in, would have been recognized as an insult by citizens of the U.K., Ireland, New
Zealand, and Australia.  Oddly enough, early in the war, Winston Churchill was often seen giving the "V"
sign with the palm in.  After it was explained that the "other classes" viewed this particular manner
insulting, his use of the "V" sign changed to palm out.  It seems the Yanks never paid much attention to
the dual purpose of this symbol.  A number of photographs shot during the war show Americans
displaying the "V" sign with the palm in.
Jonathan, dressed as an American volunteer serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, chats with one of
the spectators.  Before the U.S. officially entered the war in 1941, many Americans had already volunteered
for service in either the Royal Canadian Air Force or British Royal Air Force.
A few images with the public.
Boy Scouts take a close look at the Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.)
A paratrooper signals the start of the St. Petersburg Airfest.
A boy writes to someone stationed overseas.  We met a lot of really good kids who sincerely appreciate the
men and women currently serving in the Armed Forces.  Each was more than eager to sit down and write a
"thank you".
The command tent provided a good venue for parents and children to write letters for soldiers currently
stationed in the Middle East.
The Red Baron Pizza Squadron performs aerial maneuvers.  We need to give a special "thank you" to the
folks at Red Baron Pizza for supplying us with a free pizza during the weekend festivities.  That was a
special treat.
A Piper L-4 Grasshopper with invasion stripes.  This particular plane would have been used as an artillery
spotter in World War II.
A North American AT-6/SNJ Texan
A row of North American AT-6/SNJ Texan trainers prepare to taxi.
Once airborne, the rotors move forward to the horizontal position.  
Once the rotors go horizontal, the V-22 flies off, but not before buzzing the tower.
This Marine offers details on the MK 19 Grenade Machine Gun and M2 Machine Gun.  The M2 or Browning
.50 Caliber Machine Gun is known by U.S. troops as the "Ma Deuce" or "Fifty-Cal" and has been used by
the U.S. Armed Forces in all conflicts since World War II.
The U.S. Coast Guard demonstrates helicopter rescue maneuvers.  A USCG diver is lowered into Tampa
Bay and retrieved by helicopter.  
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps show two AAVP7A1 Assault Amphibian Vehicles.
The V-22 Tilt-Rotor Aircraft takes off with the rotors in the vertical position.  
V-22 Osprey Medium-Lift, Multi-Mission, Tilt Rotor Aircraft.