If you looked into the Houston skies on the afternoon of Sunday, May 10, you may have witnessed the Fight to the Finish Flyover presented by the Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM). The historic flyover featured almost 30 rare and historic warbirds and commemorated the 75th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), which signaled the end of World War II in Europe.  

The event took off from Ellington Airport (EFD) and flew a 120-mile flight plan over the skies of the Greater Houston area. This historic flight took just over one hour, landing back at Ellington Airport later in the afternoon.  

Flyover partners included the Commemorative Air Force Houston, Gulf Coast and Highland Lakes Wings; Wings Over Houston Airshow; Signature Flight Support; Houston First Corporation; IHeart Media-Houston and many individual warbird plane owners, pilots and volunteers. All partners volunteered their time and resources to make this event possible.   

In articulating his thoughts about the event, LSFM President and CEO Douglas H. Owens, Lt. Gen. (ret.) said the flyover was an invitation for Houstonians to acknowledge the VE Day anniversary and to “step outside and enjoy a moment of patriotic distraction and marvel at the rare warbirds flying overhead, all from the safety of their own front yards.” 

Arturo Machuca, General Manager of  EFD and the Houston Spaceport, was elated about the one-of-a-kind event. 

“The museum and its partners created a fantastic WWII airbird review,” Machuca said. “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was an opportunity for Houstonians to celebrate an historic achievement. Ellington was proud to serve as a starting point for some spectacular, vintage aircraft.” 

Flight Plan 
This unprecedented flyover roared over Pasadena, the San Jacinto Monument, University of Houston-Main Campus, Downtown Houston, Memorial Park, Acres Homes, Houston National Cemetery, Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Mission Bend, the Energy Corridor, West University Place, Bellaire, Missouri City, Alvin, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, Kemah and other  communities underneath the flight path.  The flight ended back at EFD.  

This aviation event was part of a summer-long program at the LSFM to observe the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII called Fight To The Finish.  The LSFM and its partners felt compelled to lift the spirits of the Houston community during the ongoing fight against COVID-19.  The program name, Fight to the Finish, was originally a nod to the efforts of those that fought in World War II, but today, in light of the pandemic, has even more significance.