Commemorative Air Force's Aviation Discovery Fest" begins at Dallas Executive Airport

Crowds started arriving and vintage planes landed at Dallas Executive Airport for the Commemorative Air Force's "Aviation Discovery Fest." The event includes planes on display and flying.

Displays include the B-29 Superfortress, B-24 Liberator and P-51 Mustang. New this year is the AC47.

"It is a really cool, multigenerational event," says the Commemorative Air Force's Leah Block. "Any age can come and find fascinating things to do. We've seen very young children, and a World War II veteran is about to be 100, so there is literally something for everyone."

The World War II veteran is John Boswell, who turns 100 in ten days.

"I enlisted when Pearl Harbor was bombed," he says. "The next Monday, seven of us boys in the senior class went to the recruiting station and enlisted."

Boswell served as a medic in the Navy. He was at Normandy on D-Day.

"I was one of the last out of the ship. We traveled in a pair, two corpsmen, two medical guys together," he says. "We had our own assignment when we got ashore. We had a suitcase filled with medical supplies we needed to back up the men."

Boswell says he had learned in basic training to keep moving.

"Don't stay too long because if they get your spot, they'll shoot you," he says.

Boswell says his partner carrying the other end of the supply case wanted to stay behind a truck, so he just started walking and "kind of drug him." He says they moved about 30 feet away.

"About that time, a shell hits. There was all kinds of crap in the air, debris falling. When that all cleared, we looked back at where the shell was. It was right exactly where we came off the ship. They spotted us, so we got out of there quick enough," he says. "That saved his life and my life."

Eight months later, Boswell says he spent 33 days at Iwo Jima. He was there when Marines raised the U.S. flag on the island.

"That meant a lot to just see that flag flying," he says. "That gave us confidence."

Boswell spent a total of 20 years in the service and became a hotel manager when he returned to civilian life.

"Little bit easier than Iwo Jima, a better decision," he says.

He says he hopes his story and air shows like this weekend can show kids the importance of working together to serve the country.

"You've got to be ready. You never know," he says. "When we left Guam and were going to Iwo, we didn't know where we were going until we got out."

Aviation Discovery Fest runs through Sunday. Family passes cost $40, tickets for adults are $20 and $15 for seniors. Veterans and students can enter for $10. More information is available at https://aviationdiscoveryfest.org/ .

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