Sky Soldiers preserve Army aviation history Published Aug. 19, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Torey Griffith 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- A full spectrum of military aviation will be on hand to inspire, educate and entertain show goers at the Wings Over Whiteman air show and open house, Sept. 18 and 19. The Sky Soldiers, part of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, will perform a combat scenario called "Rescue at Dawn" with five aircraft from the Vietnam era. "The significance of this program is that we are keeping Army aviation history alive," said Shanda Elkins, vice president of operations and retired Marine Corps sergeant major. "These aircraft are no longer in service. Most of them are from the Vietnam era." The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation uses volunteer veteran aviators and veteran aircraft to inspire Americans of all generations and ensuring our Nation's military legacy and heritage of service are never forgotten, according to the group's website. The foundation has 37 aircraft, of which 17 are airworthy. Examples range from the 'beans, band-aids and bullets' hauling UH-1 Iroquois, an icon of the Vietnam conflict often referred to as a 'Huey,' to the OV-1B Mohawk, a high-performance reconnaissance and attack airplane that served from the 1960s through the mid '90s. The Rescue at Dawn scenario the team will perform at WOW is a low-altitude, 17-minute presentation of an intensive air and ground search and rescue mission revolving around an aircraft that goes down behind enemy lines in Vietnam. The presentation "engages the audience in its story and grips their attention with exciting radio calls, special effects and interactive ground troops," according to the AAHF website. Sgt. Maj. Elkins assures there will be plenty of action, as the pyrotechnics, smoke and blank ammunition fired will provide a life-like peek into the history of Army aviation. For more information on WOW, go to www.wingsoverwhiteman.com, or become a friend on Facebook.