Mesa airfield event gives opportunity to swing through time

 by Tye Rabens
 published on Monday, March 17, 2008

Kaitlin Ochenrider / THE STATE PRESS

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY: Event attendees dance the night away at a ’40s-style charity dance at the Commemorative Air Field Arizona Wing on Saturday evening.

For 21 years now, Mesa's Commemorative Air Field has relived America's glory days and raised money to preserve its aviation history. The airfield continued its tradition Saturday night with "A Night in the '40s," a 1943-themed fundraiser modeled after WWII-era hangar dances.

The Air Museum, located on Greenfield Road and McKinley Street, is an attraction in itself. It features mostly 1930s and '40s-era historic warplanes, expertly restored and on display for general viewing. All efforts are volunteered and only money raised through donations is used to fund the projects.

Even still, the range of aircraft is varied and historically impressive, from the Vietnam-era F4N Phantom II to The Sentimental Journey, a masterfully renovated 1944 B-17 Flying Fortress is the airfield's main attraction. The PX Gift Shop offers aviation memorabilia, but for a steep gift-shop price. Both the gift shop and air museum are open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

But from 4:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Saturday night, the focus was on fundraising and dancing. Two dance troupes, a jazz ensemble and a big band, along with all vendors, volunteered their efforts to put on an authentic WWII-style canteen show, with the dual purpose of supporting the airfield and honoring the many veterans in attendance.

"This is an outstanding event, and we're honored to be associated with the [Commemorative Air Field]," said retired Lt. Col. Bob Ashby of the legendary Tuskegee "Buffalo Soldiers," America's first African-American air unit. His 21 years of service with the U.S. Army Air Corps include time in a WWII Japan occupation army, as well as on active duty through the Korean War.

Most guests and volunteers, though, weren't war veterans themselves. They simply wanted to honor the sacrifices of those in uniform.

"Besides raising money and awareness [for the airfield], it's a way of showing appreciation of what [the veterans] went through for our country, regardless of whether they were drafted or enlisted voluntarily, saw active duty, served in a publicly-supported war or not," said Sally Lockhart, a troupe member.

"My favorite part [of the event] is just to get here, to get to meet and chat with other vets, catch up on old times," said Lt. Col. Ashby, who was also the first black pilot employed by Frontier airlines, and helped write the training program for 737 aircraft.

Performers in the dance show seemed to reciprocally enjoy providing vintage-style entertainment.

"It's a true joy to be able to use and share my gifts, talents, and abilities with an audience that's receptive to and appreciative of this great, clean, nostalgic entertainment," said head choreographer Mindy Hubbard, whose troupe volunteered for its second year. "I like to pass my passion on."

Other attractions aside from the show included a silent auction, canteen-style barbeque dinner and drinks, live music, costume and dance contests and a free ride for one lucky guest on a fighter plane, courtesy of Comerica Bank. All proceeds went directly to the airfield and its plane-restoration efforts.

Overall, though, the night was about old-fashioned music, dancing and fun. In fact, some people didn't come for the airplanes at all.

"I'm from the WWII era, the era of the big bands," said Peter Favretto, who's been attending the event with his wife since 1992 for the swing music. "I participated in the Big Band movement as a youth, and I'm just a big band aficionado. So anytime I get a chance to listen to some good swing music, I do."

Reach the reporter at: "mailto:trabens@asu.edu">trabens@asu.edu.