Palm Springs Air Museum’s Memorial Day Air Fair & Flower Drop Features PB4Y Privateer and FDR / Truman Presidential Armored Limousine

PALM SPRINGS — The Renowned Palm Springs Air Museum Memorial Day Air Fair and Flower Drop returns Monday 30. Air Fair starts at 10 a.m. and the Flower Drop Ceremony starts at 1 p.m.

As in years past, the day includes music, food vendors, kids’ activities, and airplanes taking off and landing on the tarmac. The highlight of the day is the dropping of 3,000 red and white carnations from a vintage aircraft. The B-25 Mitchell Bomber will lead the processional from inside the hangar.

There will be the missing man flight formation, where 4 vintage planes fly in formation over the museum twice, and then during the 3rd pass, one of the planes veers off, with 3 remaining in formation. This symbolizes the loss of a pilot.  Vintage warbirds scheduled to fly are B-25 Mitchell Bomber, Two P-51 Mustangs, Two T-28 Trojans, F8F Bearcat, P-63 Kingcobra and the C-47 Skytrain.  The flowers this year will be dropped from a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter.

Returning after a few years’ absence is the PB4Y Privateer and NEW this year is the Franklin D. Roosevelt / Harry Truman Presidential Armored Limousine, courtesy of Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

The flower drop honors and memorializes all veterans who lost their lives defending the US.  The white carnations are in honor of those who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  The red carnations are in honor of those who died in more recent conflicts including the Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.   Along with the carnations, a dozen roses will be added in honor of local Gold Star Families – those local families who lost loved ones while serving our country.  The Hunter Lopez family is the most recent Gold Star Family.

Warbird rides are also on sale.  Although tickets will be sold at the door, it’s recommended to purchase online in advance on PSAirMuseum.org

The Palm Springs Air Museum contains more than 71 vintage airframes from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War contained in 86,000 square feet of open hangars and on the tarmac. Additional displays and memorabilia are located throughout the hangar facilities. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more info, click here or call 760-778-6262 during business hours.

Image Sources

  • Missing Man: Palm Springs Air Museum