OUR VIEW: Planes provide a link to past at the airport

Culpeper County has a lot to offer visitors and locals alike, but one of its best-kept secrets may be garaged in a hangar at the Culpeper Regional Airport.

The National Capitol Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force opens the hangar once a month - on the second Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - to exhibit its restored World War II-era aircraft.

Best of all, it's free.

In addition to seeing the aircraft, visitors get a fascinating history lesson from manager Grover Amick and other squad-ron personnel.

For example, many of these planes, which helped the Allies defeat the Axis powers, were built by women, a human resource that had never been tapped for such purposes.
Squadron members also work hard to keep the old planes air-worthy.

Each plane undergoes a thorough and rigorous annual inspection.

Plus, each part - from the wires to the joints and panels - is assessed before a plane is taken up.

The planes are interesting, but they're not the only things on display.

A gas mask, Life magazines and military parachutes also are available for viewing.

The squadron is looking to expand its collection.

Many interesting World War II artifacts could be sitting in basements or closets throughout the region, so let the airport know if you've got something you'd like to share.

"A lot of people have stuff that belonged to their dad or granddad that they don't know what to do with.

Here's an opportunity to preserve what's left of World War II," Amick told the Star-Exponent in Sunday's article "Old warplanes soar despite rainy Saturday."

We applaud the squadron for working to preserve World War II history for generations to come.