Explore WWII History at EWM’s ‘Warbird Weekend’ in Evansville

UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled due to weather.

Experience living WWII history September 28-29 during the Evansville Wartime Museum's annual "Warbird Weekend."

READ MORE: Evansville Wartime Museum’s Huey Ride Highlights

The Evansville Wartime Museum (EWM) is preparing to host its biggest event of the year, featuring an abundance of activities for all ages. "Warbird Weekend" is set for Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29. I spoke with Dona Bone, Chairperson of Events for the museum, who said guests will be treated to appearances by local World War II veterans, reenactor living history encampments, kids' learning stations, and food from the EWM grill. Of course, the main attraction will be rides on not one, but two vintage WWII aircraft.

Grumman TBM Avenger Rides

Warbird Weekend will welcome an authentic WWII-era Grumman TBM Avenger, which will be available for tours when not in flight during the festivities. The cost is $925 per seat, and tickets can be reserved HERE. Due to the limited number of seats, only a certain number of tickets will be sold.

"They're a big piece of World War II history," Bone said. "It's not every day you get to ride in planes like this."

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During the Second World War, Avenger planes were responsible for sinking many enemy warships in the Pacific, as well as protecting supply convoys in the Atlantic. In fact, when President George H. W. Bush served in the Pacific theater, he even flew a Grumman Avenger. According to History.com, Bush was shot down from one such aircraft during the war. He parachuted into the Pacific Ocean, where he floated for hours on a life raft before being rescued.

B-25 Mitchell Bomber Rides

The second plane to be featured during Warbird Weekend is a B-25 Mitchell Bomber, which served multiple roles on all fronts during WWII. The cost per seat will be $425, and tickets are available HERE for September 28 and HERE for September 29. These flights will also be limited, but there will be plenty of time to check out the plane while it’s grounded.

The B-25 bomber is likely one of America's most recognized airplanes of WWII. According to the National Museum of World War II Aviation, the B-25 became most famous for its use in the Pacific Theater. Modified aircraft serving on that front carried eight or more machine guns that fired forward, attacking Japanese shipping and airfields.

Warbird Weekend in Evansville: What You Need to Know

The EWM grill will be up and running both days from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Central Time, serving up hamburgers, brats, chips, and drinks. Kids' learning stations will also be set up for the event, and WWII reenactors will be camped inside the hangar. Bone added that the reenactors are very knowledgeable and will be ready to chat about all things wartime history.

"They have all kinds of pieces, like chairs, desks, cots, a lot of different types of guns, and they're there to answer questions," she said. "They know their stuff."

The museum will be open for special hours that Saturday and Sunday, with gates open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time on both days. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for veterans, seniors, or museum members. The cost for kids ages 6–17 is $10, and kids five and under get in free. Additionally, a family of four may enter the event for $50. You can learn more about the event by clicking HERE.