This weekend, Cliff will join other WWII veteran VIPs at the Air Expo, Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie, MN. This family-friendly, educational, fascinating event celebrates airplanes and the people who fly them, love them, and are just plain enchanted by the miracle of flight.
The annual Air Expo is presented by Wings of the North—along with many generous sponsors and volunteers—“to preserve and present aviation history.”
Stop by to greet Cliff and his buddies at the 8th Air Force table in the exhibition tent. Ask questions of the vets and listen to their stories. They are the living history of our country. And Cliff will have with him signed copies of his book—both hardcover and paperback.
Cliff is looking forward to participating in the monthly meeting of The Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War II History Round Table. The meeting takes place on Thursday, February 11, 2010. Cliff will be one of four Air Corps/Air Force members on a panel.
On the weekend of July 10-12, Cliff and his wife will participate in the first-ever Flying Fortress event at the St. Cloud airport. The attraction is a B-17 historic World War II bomber built by the Boeing Company in 1945. Cliff will visit with guests about the B-17, the position each crew member occupied, the nature of some of the missions he flew, and of course answer questions. He’ll have copies of his book on hand to purchase.
The airport’s address is: 1550 45th Avenue, St. Cloud, MN, 56304. Daily ground tours cost $15 per family. Children under age 8 who are accompanied by a paying adult and WWII veterans are admitted at no charge. Flights in the restored bomber are also available.
The plane—EAA B-17G Flying Fortress “Aluminum Overcast”—was donated in 1983 to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). “Since that time, an extensive program of restoration and preservation was undertaken to ensure Aluminum Overcast would be a living reminder of World War II aviation for many years to come. The restoration took more than 10 years and thousands of hours by dedicated staff and volunteers at EAA Oshkosh, Wisconsin, headquarters. Much more information about the B-17 is available at the web site b17.org” (quoted from the eaa.org web site).
Above is the poster for the Flying Fortress event July 10-12 in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Cliff was a busy man at the Minnesota History Center on Monday, Memorial Day. He was one of 6 authors participating in the book festival at the opening weekend of the exhibit, Minnesota’s Greatest Generation. He had a chance to visit with both fellow veterans and World War II history buffs as well. By the way, if you have an opportunity to attend the Minnesota History Center’s exhibit, it is well worth it. In fact, the entire museum is a gem of history.
Cliff and a fellow Veteran
Cliff and Sue make quite a team.
Sharing stories with other Vets
Cliff is pleased and honored to be one of six authors invited by the Minnesota History Center to participate in a book festival on Memorial Day at the history center in St. Paul. The authors will be on the second floor (John Ireland corridor) from 1 to 4 P.M. to talk with visitors and have their books available as part of the exhibit Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom. The link (below) is to the page on the Minnesota History Center web site related to this exhibit that opens Saturday, May 23, 2009, and will run indefinitely.
Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom and Related Events
Gerard Devlin, program presenter and author of Silent Wings: Veterans of the Glider Units of the 82nd and 101st AB Divisions, acknowledged that the Round Table has a national reputation for presenting excellent programs. You may go to the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch Round Table web site to see the upcoming meeting schedule that resumes in September 2009.
The Round Table meetings are held in the auditorium at the Ft. Snelling visitors’ center.
Cliff really enjoyed visiting with people who were interested in his book, and he gave a copy of his book to Doug Bekke, curator, Minnesota Military Museum, Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN.
www.minnesotanationalguard.org/campripley/SpecFeatures/muse1.htm
Author Cliff Digre (right) is ready to answer questions, or talk with people about the experiences he describes in his book as a ball turret gunner in the 8th Air Force.
By the way, because Cliff doesn’t use a computer and his eyesight is compromised by macular degeneration, posts to this blog are made by his family and friends.
Cliff is looking forward to attending the May 14 meeting of the World War II History Round Table. The presentation will be The Glider Operations in World War II by Gerard Devlin, author of Silent Wings: Veterans of the Glider Units of the 82nd and 101st AB Divisions. The meeting begins at 7 P.M., but long-time attendees arrive around 6 to be sure to get a seat. Cliff plans to arrive around 5:30 to visit with other history enthusiasts. He’ll also be bearing books to sell at the counter in the lobby. He looks forward to seeing you there. Stop by and say “Hello!”
The Dr. Harold C. Deutsch Round Table is committed to preserving the factual history of World War II.
The World War II History Round Table meets in the visitors’ center at Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, MN.
The first hardcover book was purchased online April 10, 2009 by David, an amateur WW II historian who lives in Sparks, NV. Thanks, David!
The photo below shows Cliff proudly handing the book to the friendly UPS driver. Off goes the book!
Cliff hands off his first book purchased through the internet to the UPS shipper.
B-17, Book events, Crew Member, Eighth Air Force, Military life, News | Sue | 
July 16, 2010 11:28 am | 
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