Dave Hamilton to Attend EAA AirVenture 2023

Oshkosh, Wis., July 21, 2023- The Commemorative Air Force and D-Day Squadron proudly host Dave Hamilton at EAA AirVenture for his birthday. Dave is a World War II Pathfinder pilot who flew many missions including D-Day. Dave celebrated his 101 birthday on July 20 and we're celebrating all next week. If you would like to send a belated birthday card for Dave for the D-Day Squadron to deliver on-site, please email media@cafhq.org for that address and consider expediting shipping/mailing to arrive by July 26.

For those attending EAA AirVenture 2023, there are a few opportunities to see Dave Hamilton at the show! His public appearance schedule is as follows:

• July 27 at 9:30 a.m. – WWII Encampment in the Warbirds area.
• July 28 at 9 a.m. – CAF Tent in the Warbirds area.
• July 28 at 1 p.m. – Salute to Veterans parade.

Dave Hamilton Bio Lt. Col. Dave Hamilton enlisted in the Army Air Force and trained as a C-47 pilot, then became a Pathfinder pilot assigned to the 9th Air Force, 2nd Pathfinder Group. He participated in many missions during the War, including dropping paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day. He later led C-47s in for a supply drop to the 101st Airborne at Bastogne in December of 1944, was the airline for Eisenhower between England and France, and delivered fuel to General Patton, even evacuating wounded from battle. Hamilton has received many medals, ribbons, and even two Presidential Unit Citations for his incredible service. After the War, Hamilton flew C-47s and C-54s for Trans Air and Constellations for American Overseas. He later went back on duty to serve in the Korean War, flying RB-26s and 51 more missions. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1963, Hamilton moved to California, worked as an executive for a food and drink distribution company, then later settled in Arizona, where he currently resides.