I WINGS OVER CAMARILLO

By Charles N. Stevens

Photos by Dolores Seidman

Even though “Wings Over Camarillo” occurs only once a year, usually in mid-August, this spectacular airshow is well worth a two-hour drive to see it. If you can’t come on Saturday, the opening day, the program is repeated on Sunday. Many people attend both days as the show is so vast that they need the extra time to see it all. Hundreds of people pass through the entrance gates, but the show offers so much viewing space that it is rarely crowded. People of all ages gather to watch the planes, from old men in wheelchairs to kids being hauled by their fathers in wagons.

So, what is there to see? Parked on the extensive tarmac are airplanes of all sorts from small experimental planes to modern and past military aircraft, many made famous for their service in World War II. You will have a chance to view present day military cargo planes, so huge they look like great gray whales. When you tour the cargo planes you will astounded at the space inside of them, room enough for several tanks and other military vehicles that can be flown to wherever they are needed. You may have a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat. I might add that the pilot that flew that cargo  plane to Camarillo was a woman who must have weighed only a hundred pounds. One of these planes was a Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” and the other a Boeing C-17 “Globemaster.”

The flying part of the show begins at noon when a team of parachutists bail out of a C-47 flying at high altitude. It is deeply thrilling to see the men drift to earth with their colorful parachutes then land as softly as a feather. One of the parachutist carries a large American flag that he allows to ripple in the wind as he descends. It is interesting to see how these men guide their chutes to the right spot on the field.

The crowd is then treated to stunt flyers performing “impossible” gyrations. The sky roars with their twists and turns and loops, the plane issuing white smoke that traces the dizzying paths of its maneuvers.

We are then treated to formation flying and a parade of World War II planes like the P-38 “Lightning” and the B-25 “Mitchell” all lying low and at top speed. It’s quite a sight to see the famous P-51 “Mustang” zoom low over the field. We also watch some of the planes used by our one-time adversaries, the Japanese “Zero” and the German Focke-Wulf 190. The sky is full of planes.

Besides the planes, there is food of all kinds. Food stands and novelty booths extend for what seems a mile, so no one will go hungry. If you are more interested in cars, there is a display of vintage cars at one end of the field, all in tip top shape, gleaming in the sun.

If you would like to know more about what it was like to fly in World War II or the wars since then, you can talk to a veteran in the veterans’ hangar or tent. I, as a World War II bombardier on a B-17, have participated in this for a number of years. I enjoy talking to people and answering their many questions. I and several other veterans also offer our books for sale.

This past August I had the honor of being one of the show’s grand marshals. I was paraded in an open vintage car and waved to the crowds as we passed by. They honored me with their cheers and salutes. I was happy to have many of my family there also.

So, when August rolls around next year, plan to head out Highway 101 to Camarillo for a show you’ll never forget!

There are many planes of all types on the ground for the public to view.

One beautiful Lockheed Electra was on the display, the type of plane flown by Amelia Earhart.

Rescue helicopters are ready for your inspection.

The author, Norm Stevens, was one of the Grand Marshals paraded in a vintage car.

Norm's family including son and grandchildren with spouses and great grandchildren attended the air show in his honor.

MONTEREY PARK AUTHOR PUBLISHES 4th BOOK – Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s:

Charles “Norm” Stevens, a 43 year resident of Monterey Park has recently published his 4^th book: Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s. This is the story of a young boy growing up in Inglewood, California in the l930’s. This was a time during the depression when unemployment was affecting many and the banks were closed, while the clouds of war were gathering in Europe. But he was lucky enough to be raised in a loving family, the power of that love reflected throughout his stories.

Stevens is the author of three previous books about his experiences during WWII:

An Innocent at Polebrook: A Memoir of an 8th Air Force Bombardier (Story of his 34 bombing missions from his base at Polebrook, England over Germany and France)

The Innocent Cadet: Becoming A World War II Bombardier (A prequel to the first, telling of his training in the U.S. before going overseas into combat.)

Back from Combat: A WWII Bombardier Faces His Military Future from Combat: (This book details the time from when he returned from combat in England until the end of the war.)

He is known to the readers of The Citizen’s Voice as the author of Travel Log Articles including “Cruising the Rhine and Mosel”,” Best of the West”, “In Search of Snow” ,  “From Paris to Normandy on the Seine”, and “Exploring New York”.  He is retired, having taught for 32 years, primarily in the Montebello Unified School District.

Those interested in purchasing an autographed copy of any of his books, may contact the author at 323-721-8230 or  Normstevens24@gmail.com.