WWII planes head toward the National Mall, Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2015 to honor WWII veterans on the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945/Photo by Patricia Leslie
In the far distance to the right of the Washington Monument in the picture above, beyond the piles of dirt on the National Mall (groundskeeping maintenance) come the first of 56 vintage World War II planes which flew over the Mall on May 8, 2015 to honor veterans and those who built the tanks, ships, and aircraft for the U.S. war effort. It was the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945.
Pilots flew the aircraft in historically sequenced formation, representing the war's major battles: Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, and Iwo Jima. The sounds and rumbles of the engines in the distance which preceded the planes' appearances in the sky, heightened expectations among the crowd and were some of the exhibition's best effects, bringing back memories of yesterday when the nation was more united and focused on a common enemy.
Joining thousands who came to watch the 40 minute show, which began at 12:10 p.m., were more than 400 WWII veterans, according to an afternoon statement from the offices of the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover which coordinated the event with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Capitol Police. Late television news reports said a fire caused one plane to drop out of formation during the flight (pictured below), but the Arsenal office said it was only a precaution.
About 20 of the planes will be on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, at Chantilly, VA near the Dulles International Airport on Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is free, but parking is $15.
If you can identify any of the planes below, write soon. The pictures were taken from the west side of the Mall, near the Smithsonian Metro station.
WWII planes head toward the National Mall, Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2015 to honor WWII veterans on the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes head toward the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015 to honor WWII veterans on the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane (Lockheed P-38 Lightning?) over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015 /Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015 /Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015 /Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
While flying over the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2015, one of the WWII planes falls out of formation and heads towards National Airport for repair/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie 
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie 
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
A WWII plane over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
In the distance is one of the really big (!) planes flying back to its base after flying over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
The mission is completed, and it's time to return to base after flying over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie 
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015/Photo by Patricia Leslie
WWII planes over the National Mall, Washington, D.C. May 8, 2015 with the "Missing Man" formation which ended the show/Photo by Patricia Leslie
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