Earlier this year, the Mid-South Chapter of the MVPA accepted an
invitation to do a vehicle display and living history in Walnut Ridge, Ark.
This is the first airshow that has been held at this immaculately maintained
WWII training base, which in addition to being used as a USAAF training
facility, was also used as a Marine Corps air station, then after the war was
the site of the destruction of thousands of WWII aircraft, and was later a
cold war radar station. The Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum, Inc, the
sponsor of this event, is hoping to raise money to preserve this airfield, as
well as erect a museum. Our chapters participation is a major part of this
event, sharing the headlines in their advertising with aircraft, as well as
having a display area set up for us directly in front of the main gate to the
airshow. Our vehicles and tents will be set up on grass, arranged by era.
The organizers of this event have literally agreed to everything Ron or I
could think to ask of them.
Walnut Ridge is located about 86 miles North West of Memphis (and NW of
Jonesboro, AR). the airbase is off of US Hwy 67.
Getting there...I will be leaving my house (Rosemark) at 9:00 AM Friday
June 4 traveling a route to Walnut Ridge that Ron Grasso and I took a few
days ago. Actual driving time from West Memphis to the air show site at 45
MPH is 2 hours. Several of my friends who don’t know the way will be
following me.
If you would like to follow me rather than finding your own route, be at
my house (Rosemark, Tn area), fed, fueled and READY TO LEAVE Friday the 4th
at 9:00AM! We will stop at exit 280 off I-40 in West Memphis at 10:15AM to
meet more friends at the Williams (formerly Mapco) truckstop/Perkins
Restaurant. We will NOT being eating here, please eat breakfast before
leaving home! We will leave this truck stop about 10:30. Overall from my
house to the airshow site, we will drive about 30 miles on 2 lane road,
probably with police escort, about 6 miles on Interstate (From the TN Hwy 14
entrance to Exit 280 in West Memphis) and all the rest will be on a four lane
US highway. There is one stop sign, and only 2 traffic lights until we get
to Walnut Ridge.
We will stop in the Trumann, Ark area for a 1 hour lunch break at about
noon. Then continue to Walnut Ridge, arriving on site about 2:00PM. After
setup, we will take one vehicle to the motel where we will check in and have
supper.
Saturday morning, we will get up, eat breakfast, and be at the site by
8:00am. The airshow is scheduled to end Saturday between 3:30 and 4:30pm.
We will return Sunday at a time to be announced at the airshow.
If you would like to go with us, please call me at home 901-829-3473.
If I’m not in, please leave a message. You can also call me at work
901-682-9402, but if I’m not there, it is hard to leave a message at work.
If you would like a room for Friday or Saturday night, and have not
talked to Ron or I already about this, I recommend the Alamo Court (phone
870-886-2441); this is where I will be staying. If you’ve already talked to
Ron or I about this, we’ve taken care of it. If not, contact the motel
directly.
A limited number of vendor spaces are available at the airshow for a nominal
fee. If you need a vendor spot, DO NOT CONTACT ME!! Call Harold Johnson,
airshow chairman at ********. You probably will have to leave a message, but
he WILL call you back.
Harold can also provide you with information about the airshow.
If you let me know you are going by May 25, I will have a vehicle pass,
as well as tickets for participants at no charge. Admission is $5.00 for
adults, K-12 students $3.00, which you will have to pay if you don’t get in
touch with me by May 25.
It is POSSIBLE that we will be given fuel (not money) to help with our
expenses. This is not definite, but if you don’t let me know you are
interested in this by May 25, you will not be eligible for this.
A secure parking area will be provided for tow vehicles. No civilian
vehicles will be allowed into the display area after 8:00 AM Saturday morning.
Since we may make last minute changes the morning we leave, please
don’t try to join up at points other than my house or the Williams/Mapco
truckstop. If you intend to join us in West Memphis, PLEASE call Ron or I
before Thursday June 3, so we will be expecting you. We may miss each other.
If your vehicle has an unrefueled range of less than 100 miles, please let
us know in advance. If you get to the airfield before we do, please wait
until we arrive to set up! The air show people have turned this part of the
operation over to us entirely, so they cannot assist or direct you to our
area.
If you are not able to go with us Friday morning, you may consider
coming over with David Waring Saturday morning. He will be at a different
truck stop in West Memphis Saturday about 6:00 AM. Please contact him at
901-876-3244 in advance if you’d like to follow him.
KEY POINTS
NO ALCOHOL, LIVE WEAPONS OR AMMUNITION
HELP PRESERVE HISTORY/MAKE HISTORY
LEAVE MY HOUSE AT 9:00 AM
STOP IN WEST MEMPHIS AT 10:15
EAT AT TRUMANN AT NOON
ARRIVE AT AIRFIELD 2:00PM
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CALL DAVID DOYLE 901-829-3473 OR RON GRASSO
901-755-8672
Keep’em rollin’
Sincerely,
David Doyle
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