And the winner is...

Captain William Fields! Whoop Whoop! Bill submitted an entry for Keesler AFB's next air show - and won out of 220 contestants! As a result, he won a couple of fun items and our entire family will receive "DV treatment" at the show next April. What fun!!! Here's a recent article from the local paper:

Sun Herald, Friday, 28 Nov 08
'Thunder on the Bay' air show flies in April
By MARY PEREZ

The first air show since Hurricane Katrina returns to Keesler Air Force Base on April 5-6.

"Thunder on the Bay" will bring all the sights and sounds of vintage and modern fighter jets overhead and static displays that let adults and children go into the cockpits of some of the airplanes.

"We have organized a dedicated air show committee who is working diligently to solidify two days of amazing aerial acrobatics as well as impressive static display aircraft," said Brig. Gen. Greg Touhill.

Justin Cooper, a civilian employee at Keesler who is helping coordinate the event, said they are working to bring a variety of planes to the show. The skies over Biloxi will roar with vintage models like the T-28 Trojan and other planes stationed at Keesler over the years, along with modern planes flying over from nearby bases and some surprises.

"I love air shows," said Cooper, who recalls his grandfather taking him to one at Hiller Air Force Base in Utah when he was about 10 years old.

"We want to give not just Keesler Air Force Base but the Gulf Coast the best air show we've ever had," he said.

The last show at Keesler in April 2004 brought about 30,000 spectators who watched aerial dogfights, parachutists trailing red smoke and a stealth fighter. It was the first show held since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The annual air show was canceled in 2002 because of Hurricane Lili and in 2003 because of the war in Iraq.

"We did have one planned for 2005," said Cooper, but Katrina canceled that show.

To get the base excited about the upcoming show, a contest was held to name the event. "Thunder on the Bay" was submitted by Capt. William Fields of the 45th Airlift Squadron.

The show will also give the community the chance to see the reconstruction that has taken place on the base since Katrina.

"We have a lot to celebrate," said Touhill, "and we welcome our neighbors to come and celebrate with us."