City’s Aviation Era Recalled: Ground Will Be Broken For DC3 Park – Saturday Ceremonies To Include Flyby

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first flight of Douglas Aircraft’s most enduring airplane, DC3, and break ground for the “Spirit of Santa Monica” Park, whose centerpiece will be a DC3, the Museum of Flying and the plane’s restoration team will hold a ‘40s theme party on Saturday, December 17 at the Santa Monica Airport. The groundbreaking for the park will take place at 1:45 p.m. at the Donald Douglas Plaza, Airport Avenue and Donald Douglas Loop South on the south side of Santa Monica Airport. A formation flyover of seven DC3s will take place during the groundbreaking. After the flyover, the seven DC3s will land at the airport and park near Barker Hangar, the site of the party, and a display of World War II equipment and planes, including the restored DC-3, which has been dubbed “The Spirit of Santa Monica.” A USO style holiday party in the hangar with entertainment and dancing to a big band, Gregg Elliott orchestra, will get underway at 3 p.m. The program will include comments by actor Cliff Robertson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Seats will be auctioned off on a special sunset flight in “The Rose” a DC-3 aircraft. David Price of the Museum of Flying donated the DC3 and $50,000 toward the cost of its restoration. The party will also kick off a sponsorship and donation campaign for development of “The Spirit of Santa Monica” Monument Park. The Spirit of Santa Monica first took flight from Santa Monica in February, 1942. After a short run as a commercial airliner, it served both the Army and Navy in World War II. After the war, it returned to service as an airline and then went into corporate service. In the last two years, volunteers have spent more than 3000 weekend hours to rebuild, repair, scrape, prime and paint the “Spirit.” For reservations to the party, visit the event website at www.santamonicadc3.com or call (310) 398-8883 ext. 12 See second story on page 10