Memorial Day Flower Drop

Palm Springs Air Museums’ Memorial Day Air Fair & Flower Drop
Features World’s Only Flying PB4Y-2 Privateer and Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Release and Return Home of American Vietnam War Prisoners of War (POW’s)

The renowned Palm Springs Air Museum Memorial Day Flower Drop & Air Fair returns Monday, May 29, 2023. Air Fair starts at 10 am, and Flower Drop Ceremony starts at 1 pm. As in years past, the day includes music, food vendors, kids’ activities, and airplanes taking off and landing on the tarmac.
Returning also this year is FREE offsite parking with shuttle service from the parking lot at PS Unified School District!

The emotional highlight of the day is the dropping of 3,000 red and white carnations from a vintage aircraft. The B-25 Mitchell Bomber will lead the processional from inside the hangar. There will be the missing man flight formation, where 4 vintage planes fly in formation over the museum twice, and then during the 3rd pass, one of the planes veers off, with 3 remaining in formation. This symbolizes the loss of a pilot.

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Release and Return Home of American Vietnam War POW’s. Vietnam War POWs will be honored, along with Gold Star Families of the Desert. Gold Star Families are the Coachella Valley families of those killed in action, such as Hunter Lopez.

Vintage warbirds scheduled to fly are B-25 Mitchell Bomber, Two P-51 Mustangs, T-28 Trojan, F8F Bearcat, P-63 Kingcobra, PT-17 Stearman and the C-47 Skytrain. Returning after again this year is the World’s Only Flying PB4Y-2 Privateer and NEW this year will be the OV-10.

The flower drop honors and memorializes all veterans who lost their lives defending the US. The white carnations are in honor of those who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The red carnations are in honor of those who died in more recent conflicts including the Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with the carnations, a dozen roses will be added in honor of local Gold Star Families – those local families who lost loved ones while serving our country. Hunter Lopez’ family is the most recent Gold Star Family.