Oldest WWII Ace honored at Palm Springs Air Museum

The Palm Springs Air Museum hosted their annual flower drop to honor fallen soldiers, and this year they had a special guest.

General Fredrick ‘Fritz’ Payne is the oldest living World War II fighter ace in America. Due to his health he couldn’t make the trip to Washington D.C. to receive his Congressional Gold Medal, so they held the ceremony right here in his home town.

“There are 76 fighter aces living out of the 1447 and we are so honored to do this for him and his family today,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz who presented Payne with the medal.

Payne was thankful to be apart of the celebration.

“You need to recognize the efforts of the earlier generations,” said Payne.

As main part of the Memorial Day event, a vintage B-25 bomber dropped 3000 red and white carnations on to the crowd.

“It was fun because we go to catch flowers from the B-25 but the engines are really loud when they are all put together,” said Irene Marsiscao.

In addition to the B-25 four fighter planes, a P-38, a P-51, a P-63 and a Spitfire flew overhead and made the missing man formation..

This years ceremony commemorates the 70th anniversary of the ending of World War II. The Palm Spring Air Museum also paid special honor to 27 local families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice. Banners with their names and the date of their sacrifice lined the parking lot.