In the footsteps of the Wright Brothers, this guided historical walking tour of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Santa Ana Cemetery featured costumed actors portraying residents of the Santa Ana and Orange County area who made their mark on aviation history.

Those magnificent men—and women!—and their flying machines made great contributions to flight in America. Glenn Martin built his first “pusher” bi-plane in a rented Santa Ana church in 1909, a fledgling start to the Martin Aviation Company that later produced the exotic China Clipper, the B-26 bomber, and the Enola Gay of atomic bomb fame. Dr. Bessica Raiche was the first woman to intentionally pilot a plane in the United States. From Martin Field (later OC Airport), the flying family of Eddie Martin and his brothers gave lessons over the orange groves to local boys, including the famous Flying Hamaker Brothers of WW-II. Daring “barnstormers”, crop dusters, military flyers—Orange County had them all!

An original members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the heroic black fliers who fought in World War II, shared stories of the Airmen's groundbreaking contributions to military aviation during the war at lectures throughout the day. Also, the majestic Buffalo Soldiers mounted color guard performed.

This event was produced in partnership with Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre (MYART) and the Orange County High School of the Arts, and sponsored through the generosity of Fairhaven Memorial Park

A DVD of the event is available from our Store.