Labor Day air show puts WWII history on display

Gary Lewi told the crowd gathered at Republic Airport on Monday to direct their eyes toward the sky.

Chins perked up, hands shielded eyes from the sun and bodies swiveled as above them a a pair of World War II fighter aircraft, an F4U Corsair and a P-51 Mustang, flew in tandem.

“That’s quite a sight,” Lewi said over a loudspeaker.

For Bob Blickley, 89, of Seaford, it was a familiar one, and not just as a licensed pilot and a World War II veteran who worked on the Avenger, a fighter plane on display at the museum.

“When I was a kid, if a plane went over my house, it would happen every one or two months and everyone would run outside to see it,” said Blickley, who grew up in the Bronx.

Though no longer a rarity, the fascination with seeing a massive piece of machinery lift itself into the air and gracefully glide and dip through the sky has not changed.

“These things are living time machines into American history,” said Lewi, vice president of the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale, which puts on the air show and related events every Labor Day weekend.

Events included a tribute to naval aviation and the Tuskegee Airmen and a parade of armory cars. The museum was also open and many of the planes were brought out of the hangars for visitors to wander into. About 1,500 people attended this weekend’s festivities.

Lewi said the goal for events at the museum is to connect generations and keep alive the rich history of aviation and Long Islanders’ connection to it.

“What’s wonderful about this place is that when grandfathers come with their grandchildren, they will often for the first time in decades relate stories of their experiences as G.I.s,” he said. “That’s part of our function here is to open those doors so that families see the heroes among them.”

Jim Guastavino, of Massapequa, came to the museum on Monday with his two sons. He said he comes to the museum as often as he can and called the planes “history in front of your eyes.”

He said that, several times before, when he has stood on line to get onto one of the planes, the man in front of him had once flown the same plane.

“It’s a privilege to meet these guys and to talk to them,” he said. “It’s an incredible resource to have here on Long Island.”’