Fifth-Grade Students Make Memories at CAF Airbase Georgia
PEACHTREE CITY, GA., (April 11, 2025) – World War II studies were brought to life when Fayette County fifth-graders spent a day at CAF Airbase Georgia’s Warbird Museum in Peachtree City, Ga. Six classes from Sara Harp Minter Elementary School participated in a Science and Social Studies field trip that included guided tours of the WWII aircraft, with a lot of background stories from the museum’s docents.
One of the fifth-grade teachers, Shelby Garner, believes the field trip is memorable for the students. “Seeing the actual WWII planes and hearing the stories deepens their understanding of what we want to teach. After all, history is stories, and they go to hear a lot of stories.”
“We’re always looking for something to do that is local, because we want the students to know what is around them,” she said. “This strikes their interest, and because it’s in our backyard, many students get their parents to come back.”
In addition, Garner said the visit spurs a lot of students to learn about their family history and ancestors, and it builds their conversations at home. Seeing Airbase volunteers actually working on the planes means a lot, especially when the students realize how different these 80-year-old planes are from the modern aircraft they see today.
Melissa Shaddix, Social Studies Instructional Content Coach for Fayette County schools, encourages the field trips, and hopes that more elementary schools will take advantage of the opportunity the Airbase offers. She cites various elements the students pick up on, such as the Tuskegee Airmen and the rolesof men and women in aviation, then and now. WWII is part of the county’s fifth-grade curriculum.
Shaddix carries the story of WWII to all of the Fayette County fifth-grade classes during the school year, complete with a WWII trunk the airbase helped her fill a few years ago. She says the students enjoy trying on a helmet and parts of actual uniforms, and seeing other elements such as games from the 40s.“It’s an experience they really connect with,” she said.
The WWII trunk was one of three elements the teachers built into the field trip. They added a section on microbiology,focusing on the impact of penicillin during the war, and completed the rotation with tours of the Airbase hangar and museum.
“We welcome school groups like this throughout the year, because education is one of our primary missions,” said Airbase Leader Joel Perkins. “We also hope to generate interest in aviation careers among our younger guests.”
About the CAF Airbase Georgia Warbird Museum CAF Airbase Georgia, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was founded in 1987. The Airbase is one of the largest units of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The group maintains and flies seven vintage military aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, an FG-1D Corsair, an SBD Dauntless, a P-63A Kingcobra, a PT-19 Cornell, LT-6 Mosquito and a T-34 Mentor. The Airbase, composed of more than 300 volunteer members, is a founding partner of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail launched in 2021. The Airbase is part of the CAF, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that relies on contributions of time and funds to conduct its mission. For more information, go to https://airbasegeorgia.org/
