Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Celebrates 10th Anniversary
"Pride of the Pacific" was this year's theme for the Granite Falls airshow which included Fagen Fighters' own former U.S. Navy aircraft. Pictured on the taxiway is Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat "Death 'N Destruction."
Fagen Fighters' Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero arrived at the museum in late April. The 1942-vintage aircraft was placed on static display status and did not fly June 18.
The Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow at Lenzen-Roe-Fagen Memorial Airport was well-attended, despite windy conditions and a high heat index. (Photo by Tim Hennagir)
Tora Tora Tora Airshows provided a show-stopping ending to this year's Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow. The Commemorative Air Force replicas were created in the late 1960s from AT-6 Texan airframes and heavily modified.
The Fagen Fighters' FM-2 Wildcat makes a show pass. This aircraft is essentially an improved version of the famous Grumman F4F-4.
The Tora Tora Tora Airshows' replica of a Curtiss P-36 "Hawk" in action against aggressor Japanese aircraft during the Fagen Fighters airshow recreation of the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack. Five P-36's took off during on the "Day of Infamy" and were credited with shooting down two A6M2 Zeros.
The Tora Tora Tora Airshow Mitsubishi A6M Zero replicas started life as T-6 Texans before becoming World War II airshow warbirds.
The Tora Tora Tora Airshow Japanese A6M Zero fighters and "Kate" torpedo bombers or "Val" dive bombers are heavily modified Royal Canadian Air Force Harvard (T-6 Texan) and BT-13 Valiant trainers.
The Nakajima B5N "Kate" was the standard carrier-based torpedo bomber for the Imperial Japanese Navy for much of World War II. Several of the replica aircraft participate in the Tora Tora Tora Airshows performance.
his year's Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow at Lenzen-Roe-Fagen Memorial Airport in Granite Falls was action-packed, spectacular, and filled with U.S. Navy aviation blue.
"Pride of the Pacific" featured more than 40 vintage and period-specific warbirds on the ramp, said Diane Fagen, director of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum.
"We are not sure of total numbers yet, but attendance was in the thousands," Fagen reported in a day-later event recap. "The weather certainly was hot, but we do not feel it significantly impacted attendance." The entire Fagen family is involved with the event, as well as many volunteers and staff who contribute time and talent.
The Granite Falls museum showcases significant aircraft and ground equipment used during the war that shaped America's "Greatest Generation." The museum's mission is preserving the memory of WWII heroes, promoting patriotism in today's Americans, and inspiring tomorrow's leaders to study and apply history's lessons.
"We had 25 pilots participate in the show," she added. "It was great to have Younkin Airshows as well Tora Tora Tora Airshows perform." Pilots and modified planes of the Commemorative Air Force recreated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that signaled the beginning of the American involvement in World War II.
The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Facebook page contained daily updates, and the day prior to the June 18 event, a post announced the construction of a new hangar.
The Trainer, Fighter, and Bomber Hangars had their large hangar doors closed with the air conditioning running so people could go inside and beat the high heat index.
Onsite parking was expanded this year, with shuttles transporting event attendees. Another change at this year's airshow was a marked pathway running through the main seating area. This path was used by emergency medical, and water sales staff.
"We diverted general aviation traffic to surrounding airports, including our own, due to lack of ramp space. Only WWII warbirds were on the field," Fagen said.
Fagen Fighters' Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero arrived at the museum in late April. The 1942-vintage aircraft was placed on static display status and did not fly June 18.
Diane Fagen said the 2022 Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow "Pride of the Pacific" was a great success. In a Facebook post, she thanked the airshow performers, all the veterans in attendance, family members, volunteers, staff, emergency teams, police and the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's department, and evening performer Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry for their efforts to support the day's events.
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