Wings Over Whiteman draws 75,000 spectators

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Torey Griffith
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Monday morning found Whiteman back to business as usual after two-days of hustle and bustle at the 2010 Wings Over Whiteman Air Show and Open House, Sept. 18 and 19.

The 2010 WOW is the first for Whiteman under Air Force Global Strike Command, attracting approximately 75,000 people.

Entertaining acts in the air, from a barnstorming Stearman bi-plane to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds; combined with a variety of static aircraft, cars, trucks and motorcycles represented a broad spectrum of military and civilian aviation.

"Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the planning team and the lineup of performers we all expected to have a solid weekend," said Lt. Col. Michael Wittrock, WOW director. "The show exceeded our expectations. The performances were fantastic, and for the most part, the weather was beautiful."

Storms in the area Saturday afternoon cut the Thunderbird performance short, and 300-foot ceilings prevented the Golden Knights opening ceremony jump Sunday morning, but the weather was generally fair, with temperatures in the 80s.

"Sunday morning I watched a young boy about three years old jump up and down as he pointed at the B-52 parked near the entry control point he and his father had come through," said Maj. Catherine Roberts, assistant director of WOW 2010. "'Daddy, Daddy, look! Planes, planes!' he exclaimed. That boy's excitement, along with the gratitude of many civilians, especially veterans, made the long hours worthwhile. That was the highlight of the air show for me."

Both Colonel Wittrock and Major Roberts attributed the success of the event not only to the performers, but to the planning committee, support personnel and volunteers who poured their efforts into the event, from setup to tear down.

"The success of the show was directly related to the amount of planning, effort and teamwork that was put into it from all of the air show staff as well as the volunteers that worked through the weekend to make it happen," Colonel Wittrock said. "To all who helped put it together, thank you!"