by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Brendan Kownacki
Friday May 8th, 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the end of World War II. On this momentous occasion it did not go unmarked. Veterans from across the US flocked to Washington, DC and the productivity of workdays across the city seemed to halt as dozens of World War II aircraft flying in 15 historically sequenced war-bird formations painted the sky over the Nation’s Capitol with a tribute dubbed the Arsenal of Democracy.
The formations each represented the War’s major battles from Pearl Harbor through the final air assault on Japan, and concluded with a missing man formation to “Taps.” The planes streaked across the Potomac River, over the Lincoln Memorial, past the Washington Monument and over the historic World War II Memorial to the skyward gazes of thousands. Groups gathered on rooftops, on lawns and stopped on street corners all to take part in the toast to victory. In the end, a picture speaks a thousand words on this occasion though, so take a look at the planes that made the day. Photo location courtesy of the Newseum rooftop.
Video courtesy of Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover:
Video courtesy of Rememberthewar.com:
