Aviation Day 2007

On a beautiful weekend in January, Witham Field's colorful aviation history came to life for more than 2,000 people who participated in "The History of Aviation at Witham Field." The event was the first annual Aviation Day at Witham Field Airport, say Susan Palmeri, Airport Operations Manager.

From aircraft displays to historical photographs to aviation memorabilia and more, the variety of activities and exhibits at the airport appealed to all age groups.

Aviation Day became a kind of homecoming for those who had worked on the airfield in the 1950s and 1960s when Grumman and Northrop Grumman manufactured and flight-tested military aircraft on the property.

At least eight busloads of very excited children came to the airport for Aviation Day and were thrilled by all that they could see and touch. Susan Palmeri rented a bear costume, made a felt helmet for the bear, and added goggles and a scarf. At one point "Air Bear" was surrounded by so many excited children that "they almost took the bear to the ground," says Susan.

The Aviation Day committee received more than $ 600 in donations that will fund future programs or possibly pay for building a monument at the entrance to the airport honoring local war hero Homer Witham. The committee also received donations of aviation memorabilia including a photograph of Homer Witham, four of his log books, and three models of Grumman aircraft.

Local Aviators Featured

Bert Krueger began a mail route in the 1920s that stretched from Jacksonville through Miami to Havana. He set up a grass landing strip in Martin County before Witham Field was established in the 1940s. Bert Krueger flew the route himself.

Zack Mosley created the nationally syndicated aviation comic strip "Smilin' Jack." It ran for 40 years beginning in 1936 and was printed in hundreds of newspapers in the U.S. and in other countries. Zack Mosley was also one of the founders of the Civil Air Patrol in 1942.

Hugh Willoughby was an early Stuart aviator and aviation inventor whose pilot's license was signed by Orville Wright. He was famous for flying his aircraft along the St. Lucie River.

Homer Witham was the first aviator from Stuart to die in World War II. "Aviation was his dream," says Homer Witham's sister-in-law Mabel, who was a special guest at Aviation Day. Witham Field Airport was renamed in 1943 in honor of Homer Witham.

Aviation Day Highlights

• Aircraft displays attracted a great deal of attention. Of particular interest were the older aircraft such as the older Mohawks that were manufactured at Witham Filed at one time and the PBY Catalina that local aviator Homer Witham flew when he was killed in World War II.
  
  
• The Aviation Day committee put together a slideshow from old photographs loaned by several Martin County residents.
  
  
• Many visitors toured the Road to Victory Military Museum and Dr. Luis Villar's private aviation museum in his hangar.
  
  
• Displays and presentations highlighted the lives of well-known local aviators Bert Krueger, Zack Mosley, Hugh Willoughby, and Homer Witham.
  
  
• Special guests included Mabel Witham, sister-in-law of Homer Witham, and Jill Mosley, daughter of Zack Mosley.
  
  
• Children enjoyed the special children's area filled with crayons, pictures to color and bulletin boards for displaying their work. They were also allowed to sit in a real Mohawk cockpit that was borrowed from a museum in Titusville.