Women in Aviation Gala by the Palm Springs Air Museum

another famous plane to add to the collection. The Museum is a Flying Museum where some aircraft have actually flown.

Speakers Fred Bell, Fred Noble and Dick Shaloub spoke and told of the history of the Air Museum and how it has grown. The Museum is more than just planes from the wars. It shows so much history of our country and our brave heroes who kept us free. There is much to see with all the programs they host. They are now the proud owners of an EMMY for a movie on their 25th anniversary.

High School U.S. Marine Corps

Youth ROTC. Presentation of Colors by Edwards AFB Color Guard and a solo by Staff Sergeant Horace Miller. Such Pagentry was so fun to watch.

Stories and Photos by Pat Krause

The Palm Springs Air Museum held its annual gala on Sunday, February 19th. Over 800 guests came to honor Women in Aviation. These women have broken the glass ceiling and taken it into the stratosphere. Women in aviation have accomplished much, including becoming generals, flying into space, creating new planes by becoming test pilots and training future aviation recruits.

Guests arrived, servicemen, lining the red carpet and younger cadets inside the Museum. Cocktail hour was held in the giant hangar where drinks and appetizers were served, as pizzas and tacos by Lulu’s Catering and events. Guests got their photos taken in front of a plane, while others took iPhone photos of the aircraft on the runway in front of the hangar. Artist Stan Stokes had his paintings for each of the honorees on display.

There was an awe-inspiring display of uniforms worn by famous people. Uniforms are worn by celebrities like actors Steve Martin and Carl Reiner, Sports figures like Jack Dempsey and Stan Musial and Astronauts like Pete Conrad. Uniforms by women Arlene Duerk and Carol Mutter and more, to name just a few. The many uniforms were from all wars. They were on loan just for this gala. Each uniform came with an explanation of who wore it and when. So many different ones were exciting.

Actor Joe Montega was the Master of Ceremonies again this year. He wore his favorite jacket. His friend Colonel Bob Friend, a famous Tuskegee Airman, gave him the jacket. The friend lived to age 99, and his plane is at the Air Museum; named Bunny, his wife’s name. A video was shown of each honoree and her accomplishments, which was very impressive. They also acquired the Walt Disney Plane,

The Air Museum is now Number 1 in all of California. They are a teaching facility by bringing students in for a first flight, paying for bussing and lunch for school children. They also allow children 12 and under free admittance. There was a color guard appearance with the Mountain Fifes and Drum group and the Desert Hot Springs

Fred Bell hosted the raise the paddle to raise funds to keep the programs alive. Thousands of money were raised. Bell announced the new children’s learning center to honor Ronald M. Auen. He made a surprise announcement of $500,000 by the Huston and a Million by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundations to help build the new center. He said that there is a grave shortage of pilots. Airlines are paying big money to pilots. He said he heard some are making over a million dollars a year. Guests were treated to music by the Cathedral High School Chorus. The Elite Show Band played before and after the program. Dancing followed.