2002 is the 60th Anniversary of the Canadian Airborne as well as the 82nd All American Airborne.  As a commemoration of this event the following groups have been invited.  

Airborne Contacts Made

 1)   Pathfinder UK & Canada. Their unit consists of British and Canadian former airborne troopers who jump static line with round parachutes. They have jumped at many ceremonies in Europe such as June 6 D-Day and Arnheim, Holland. All members are current jumpers, military trained. Their unit will bring about 40 members from the UK with another 20 from Canada.

Contact is Roy Mobsby  phone  011442380899369

7 The Glade

Blackfield

Southhampton

Hants

S0451ZP  UK

 2) Airborne Demonstration Team USA. This unit consists of former 82nd Airborne members throughout the USA with the groups headquarters based in Oklahoma City. Many members also reside in the Detroit area. Their members also jump World War Two style and have jumped many air shows and commemorations.

Contacts are Steve Mrozek  18102960009

Addison Woodard              14059487548

 3) Captain John  Hodgins  252-7615

     Current recruiting officer for the Windsor area with a former Canadian Airborne background. Will help getting current Canadian Armed Forces to help with the Airshow and bring aircraft and manpower.

      The idea would be for a 12:00pm airborne drop on the North side of the field. The airdrop would start with a fighter softening up an enemy force of military vehicles. Pyrotechnics  would be set of to give smoke for direction to the jumpers. After the softening up, as many as 5 DC3s would drop they sticks of paratroopers. On the ground re-enactors who would not be jumping will finish the attack off. The entire drop should take 1 hour.

DC3 / C47 Aircraft Already Contacted

Airborne Demonstration C47. Original D-Day aircraft in WWII colours

Warplane Heritage C47

Confederate Air Force C47    Chicago Ill    Jim Quick   219-977-0834

Confederate Air Force JU 52    Chicago Ill

Enterprise Air Oshawa Airport  2 current C47s used for forest fire fighting.  905-721-1109 

Hotest Ticket of The Summer, 2002

To top the Saturday evening a USO style big band dance could be held in a festival tent on a tarmac. Cost for a tent from Festival Tent big enough to hold 500 people with tables and chairs is between $2,500 and $3,000. range. Glen Bacarro represents a 300 member strong swing dance club that regularly brings 150 dancers to quarterly dances. The dance area would have WWII aircraft and vehicles surround the tent. People would be invited to dress up in period clothing. CKLW 580 which plays Big Band music should be invited to be a major participant which would culminate into free ads. Cost for the dance would be $10.00. The big band should be about  15 members and would be outfitted in WWII uniforms. Musicians will be arranged by Wes Paun 564-9600. The United Way would certainly like to get involved in this event, perhaps theme the 2002/2003 drive with the swing era.  Such an event as this airborne drop will generate much interest from the  Detroit side of the border because of the 82^nd Airborne Contingent.  We  have time to promote the idea and sell tickets for the dance etc. Sponsor seats should be sold on the DC3s for minimum $500.00 for the chance of a lifetime. This will offset the aircraft costs.  

Sponsorships

We should make contact with the following for sponsorship of both the Airborne Drop and the Big Band Dance.

1)     Esso Aviatate for donated fuel for DC3s

2)     VIP Seats for the DC3s during air drop. Seats will be sold for $500.00min to be onboard a DC3 during the drop.

3)     CKWW 580  With the Big Band Dance, CKWW could be invited with Wayne Stevens being M/C for the night. CKWW and its sister stations would give free advertising for both the air show and dance.

4)     Walkerville Brewery or (Labatts or Molsons) Walkerville Brewery has been know to give free beer for events. The dance could receive the donated beer which would obviously increase revenue.

5)     Any other sponsors with the United Ways approval should be approached.

Ground Displays 

Military Vehicles can be encouraged to come along with re-enactors. Ground displays that are available are the nose of a WACO glider. These gliders were used by the Allies through WWII. A convoy of  WWII military vehicles from Belgium will be travelling through Canada. They should be contacted and invited.

Volunteers 

Many volunteers will be needed.

1) Advertising   All the internet contacts and forums should be used. The following groups should be notified; Royal Cdn Legion, American Legion, Dutch Community Groups, Airborne Associations, Military Institute.

2) Set Up. The troopers will need things such as packing tables etc to set up.

3) Lodging. The troopers will lodge themselves but a group should be set up to find lodging for the different groups. Eg Dorms U of W.  Cantebury College.

4) Big Band Dance. Cash Bar, tables, advance tickets, stage and more.

5) Sponsorship. Volunteers will be needed to encourage sponsorships that will help offset costs.