The Republican and MassLive.com and show organizers will send the winner aboard the vintage World War II-era bomber.
A B-25 Mitchell bomber flies over a recent Westfield International Air Show. The Republican and MassLive.com and show organizers are sponsoring the "Come Fly Away" contest, offering a trip aboard the B-25 during next month's show.WESTFIELD - Wanna get away?
Really far away?
The Republican and MassLive.com are teaming up with organizers of the Westfield International Air Show to offer one lucky reader a ride in a World War II-vintage B-25 Mitchell bomber which will be among the war birds visiting the skies over Western Massachusetts during the Aug. 21 and 22 show.
From the U.S. Air Force’s aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, to the U.S. Army’s Golden Knight parachute team, there will be scores of aircraft, both military and privately owned, as well as exhibits on the ground to draw visitors to the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing base at Barnes Municipal Airport. As many as 250,000 to 350,000 people are expected to attend the show over its two-day run.
The airplane ride, plus four VIP passes to the Sunday show and programs signed by performers, will be top prize in the “Come Fly Away” sweepstakes which begins today. Entries are due by Aug. 10. The contest is being offered in cooperation with the Thunderbolt Council, which is organizing the air show.
The second-place winner will get an equally exciting - but land-based - opportunity during the air show, a ride in a jet-powered school bus that will catapult down one of Barnes’ runways as one of the featured events.
“From our perspective, The Republican and MassLive, we always want to partner with great community events that drive the economic development of the region,” said Paul E. Fritz, general manager of MassLive.com, The Republican’s online home. According to a recent study by Urban & Associates, The Republican and MassLive.com reach 71 percent of adults in Hampden and Hampshire counties.
“Air shows have a great tradition for the 104th and at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. They are a great opportunity for the public to learn more about the military in our region and also enjoy some high-flying fun,” said Cynthia G. Simison, managing editor of The Republican. “As in past years, we hope our readers - both online and in print - take advantage of this very special opportunity made possible by air show organizers. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience a ride in a historic aircraft.”
The B-25 Mitchells, manufactured by North American, played a key role in World War II for the allied air forces. Among their most well-known missions was Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s historic raid over Toyko in 1942. The raid was immortalized in the film, “Thirty Seconds over Tokyo, and one of the aircraft navigators among those chosen as “Doolittle Raiders” was a Holyoke native, the late Carl Wildner.
The second-place winner in the “Come Fly Away” contest will also include four Sunday VIP passes to the show along with signed programs.
Ten runner-up winners will each receive an autographed air show poster and program.
To enter the contest, participants must correctly match three aircraft with their names in photos found in print advertisements published in The Republican or online at MassLive.com/contests. The contest begins today and runs through Aug. 10.
Admission to the show is free with a $10 donation requested for parking. The VIP passes include food, shaded private viewing areas and programs.
Fritz said he expects anywhere from 600 to 1,000 entries. Completed forms can be mailed to: Come Fly Away Contest, The Republican, P.O. Box 9026, Springfield, MA 01102-9026.