(Ages 14 - Adult)
Don't miss this fascinating World War I presentation performed by Gary Whitaker, AKA "The Storyman"!
Open Cockpit is a program based on the books by Arthur Gould Lee titled “No Parachute’ and ‘Open Cockpit.”
Lee flew for the RAF (Royal Air Force), Squadron #46, WW 1. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain during his tour in 1917.

Gary delves into the background of flight training and combat flying based on Lee’s own personal stories. This is more than just a program about dog fights. Lee’s squadron was pitted against the German ‘Flying Circus’, the Red Barons Squadron. The Flying Circus had the best trained pilots with the best planes. Lee’s squadron flew an inferior aircraft against the Flying Circus and had to face them on a daily basis sometimes 3 or 4 times a day.
This is a story about survival.
Gary will also demonstrate how the pilots dressed and explain why they had to wear so many clothes during flight. I will also explain the physical challenges that these pilots faced in flight in WW1.