Community Wow!

World War II planes to fly over Loudoun on Friday

The Arsenal of Democracy Flyover commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.

If all goes as planned, a veritable fighting force of vintage World War II airplanes will fly over Loudoun on Friday as they make their way from west of Leesburg, down the Potomac River and over DC. It’s all part of the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.

Approximately 70 World War II aircraft are scheduled to fly over the National Mall in two minute intervals Friday. The line-up includes T-6 Texans, P-51 Mustangs, B-29 Superfortresses, Avengers, Corsairs, a Spitfire and more. (Click here for the list of participating airplanes, which is subject to change.)

According to the flyover’s official website, the aircraft will rendezvous and stage about 10 miles west of Leesburg. They will then proceed to the Potomac where they will fly towards the Mall. While the official flyover takes place on the Mall, the aircraft should be visible prior to that along the route from the Leesburg area and along the river in Loudoun.

The official livestream of the event begins at 10 a.m. Friday, and the planes are scheduled to begin reaching the National Mall at around 11:30.

Images: Arsenal of Democracy

This is the second time the Arsenal of Democracy has flown over DC. The first was back in 2015. This year’s event was originally scheduled for May 8 and the anniversary of V-E Day, but the coronavirus pandemic led the organization to delay the event. For more information, check out the Arsenal of Democracy website here. Below is a video from the 2015 event.

Arsenal of Democracy WWII Victory Capitol Flyover

 

 

11 Comments
  1. Benita Barbiere 4 years ago

    My Dad was a radar operator on the B-29 Superfortress, Daring Donna. His crew went out ahead of the Enola Gay crew to check the weather conditions. They had an X on the tail. They also dropped supplies to the survivors following the bombings. I wish he was still alive to see this flyover. I did get him to the Udvar Hazy Center before he passed away. His name is on the plaque outside the Udvar Hazy Center honoring those who received Distinguished Flying Crosses. He received two.

    • Gary Moffatt 3 years ago

      Hi Benita;

      We were friends of your Mom and Dad in HH. We used to square dance with them. Once in a while your Dad used to talk about WWII
      and his experiences on Tinian. We were at his remembrance services. God bless his soul.

    • Gary Moffatt 3 years ago

      Hi Benita;

      We were friends of your Mom and Dad in HH. We used to square dance with them. Once in a while your Dad used to talk about WWII
      and his experiences on Tinian. We were at his remembrance services. God bless his soul.

    • Gary Moffatt 3 years ago

      Hi Benita;

      We were friends of your Mom and Dad in HH. We used to square dance with them. Once in a while your Dad used to talk about WWII
      and his experiences on Tinian. We were at his remembrance services. God bless his soul.

  2. El Vez 4 years ago

    So badass it’s not even funny. Just by luck I fell into all the WWII warbirds landing near Culpeper in 2015 before the victory flight over DC. Pulled up next to the runway and saw Corsairs, Mustangs, Lightnings…. landing 100 yards away for an hour. If you get a chance to watch them, do it.

  3. Ernesto de la rosa Espinosa 4 years ago

    Aviones legendarios que ayudaron a escribir la historia de la humanidad nunca serán olvidados esas personas que lucharon y murieron contra la tiranía

  4. Bebe Aker 4 years ago

    I have had the great fortune to experience flying in both a B-24 Liberator, ‘The Dragon and His Tail’, and B-17 ‘Alimunum Overcast’. Each was completely different.
    Ive toured all over to see many of these magnificent WW2 era planes. Its amazing to think they were designed by slide ruler geeks. No computer projections there.
    Thank you boys, for my freedoms: to speak, to act and to live in these United States.

  5. D. Tritus 4 years ago

    Meh. So not a single good or even interesting plane then? Couldn’t they come up with even one FW 190, Bf 109 or Me 262?

  6. Bebe Aker 4 years ago

    I have had the great fortune to experience flying in both a B-24 Liberator, ‘The Dragon and His Tail’, and B-17 ‘Alimunum Overcast’. Each was completely different.
    Ive toured all over to see many of these magnificent WW2 era planes. Its amazing to think they were designed by slide ruler geeks. No computer projections there.
    Thank you boys, for my freedoms: to speak, to act and to live in these United States.

  7. Chris kelleher 4 years ago

    So, with all this fog, were they able to fly?

    • Chris Wadsworth 3 years ago

      They were not able to fly and their permits for the airspace over DC have expired, so the event will not be held this year.

Comments are closed.