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.
Many people request when they order a book that Cliff sign the book. His intention is to sign each book—paperback and hardcover—sitting uncharacteristically still for quite a while until a pile of books bears the autograph of Cliff “CB” Digre. Of course, when you read the book, you will discover Cliff’s childhood nickname, used by longtime chums from Hendricks, MN, when they order their books or send a note. Cliff is delighted to hear from friends, family, crew members, and their families! Please continue to write. Cliff thanks you.
The family and friends who helped Cliff with his book have a new take on the ancient African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The Norwegian, book-related interpretation is, “It takes a team to produce a book!”
While gathered for a party to celebrate the college graduation of Cliff’s second-oldest granddaughter, the team who helped Cliff with typing, research, editing, proofreading, photography, scanning photos and images, design, layout, coordination with the printer, inventory and distribution, web site development, and marketing, assembled for a photo of themselves. Cliff’s wife of 62 years, Bernice, is standing behind Cliff.
The “Into Life’s School” book team.
If you get a chance to wish Cliff a happy birthday, leave him a note in his guest book. His birthday is May 26, but he’ll be celebrating it for weeks. He spent the day before his birthday signing books and chatting it up with people at the Minnesota History Center. Not bad for 86. Gratulerer med dagen, C.B.!
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
Author Cliff Digre was interviewed May 15, 2009, by retired* TV anchor Steve Hemmingsen of KELO television, Sioux Falls, SD. You can see more at Hemmingsen’s blog: http://blogs.keloland.com/blog/?commentID=1510
*Hemmingsen wrote in an email that “…he is retired from broadcasting but still learning in life’s school.”
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.
B-17, Book events, Crew Member, Eighth Air Force, Military life, News | Sue | 
July 16, 2010 11:28 am | 
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