Welcome to Wings of the North!

Wings of the North Air Museum on Flying Cloud Airport will host an appearance by Twin Cities’ attorney Richard Snyder. In 1969 Mr. Snyder was an 11 year boy who took a wild, unplanned hot air balloon ride out of Metropolitan Stadium during a Minnesota Vikings game.

The half-time show during the December 14, 1969, Vikings game against the San Francisco 49ers featured promotions for the St. Paul Winter Carnival.  One promotion was for the hot air balloon races.  The Snyder family, local hot air balloon enthusiasts, planned to fly their balloon with Mrs. Snyder aboard up to a height of 200 feet on a rope tether while she waved at the fans and then she would be pulled back down to the field.

When the balloon refused to get airborne, Mrs. Snyder got out of the basket and her son, 11 year old Rick, who had done tethered flights before, got in.  With the lighter load the balloon started to rise but to everyone’s surprised it just kept going up.  The tether had not been secured and young Rick logged his first unlicensed solo flight by going out of the stadium, into the clouds, and eventually coming down in the icy Minnesota River!  Everyone in the stands thought this was a planned flight but a frantic search for the wayward balloonist ensued.  Due to some good piloting by Rick, and some good luck, the story has a happy ending.  The museum is the current owner of the actual balloon in which Mr. Snyder took his wild ride.

The Wings of the North Air Museum islocated at 14893 Sierra Lane on Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. Access to Flying Cloud Airport is through Gate H, one mile west ofFlying Cloud Drive just south of Pioneer Trail. Museum volunteerswill assist with directions to parking. The presentation will startat 6:30PM; doors will open at 6:00PM. The event is free butdonations are appreciated. Reservations are not required.

Want to find out what is happening at Wings of the North? Then join us the 3rd Thursday of every month as we meet to discuss WOTN activities, future plans and volunteer needs. The meetings are open to anyone interested in learning about WOTN as well as to our many fabulous volunteers!

Acclaimed historian Mark S. Copelandwill present the story of the American pilots who volunteered to flyand fight in defense of England during World War II even before theUnited States became officially involved in the war. Mr. Copeland isthe past National President of the Eighth Air Force HistoricalSociety and is currently with the National Museum of the MightyEighth Air Force in Savannah, Georgia. This presentation is part ofthe Wings of the North Air Museum’s Speaker Series that offers afree presentation on the first Thursday of each month.

Background: Before the United Statesentered World War II, some Americans stepped up and volunteered toserve in the British Royal Air Force, even though this technicallyviolated our country’s own neutrality laws. They served as pilots,navigators, bombardiers, and gunners in both the Fighter Command andthe Bomber Command.

Mr. Copeland will speak about how manyof these brave Americans were formed into the RAF’s Eagle Squadronsmade up of volunteers from the US. They flew both Spitfires andHawker Hurricanes helping to defend the British homeland from Germanattacks. In late 1942, as the US Army Air Force finally establishedbases in England, these American squadrons became the 4^thFighter Group, although other Americans continued to fight as part ofRAF units for the rest of the war.

The Wings of the North Air Museum islocated at 14893 Sierra Lane on Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. Access to Flying Cloud Airport is through Gate H, one mile west ofFlying Cloud Drive just south of Pioneer Trail. Museum volunteerswill assist with directions to parking. The presentation will startat 6:30PM; doors will open at 6:00PM. The event is free butdonations are appreciated. Reservations are not required.