Celebrating Aviation: Heroes on Deck
On March 19, Air Force Museum Foundation to present a special screening of the film Heroes on Deck with guest speaker Harvey Moshman, the film’s executive producer, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™.
Dayton, Ohio – Mar 5, 2025 — The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., kicks off the 2025 Celebrating Aviation series on Wednesday, March 19, with a special screening of the film Heroes on Deck on the large screen Air Force Museum Theatre at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation will begin at 6:00. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at https://airforcemuseum.centeredgeonline.com/movie/buyticketswithdate/121.
Narrated by CBS and A&E anchorman Bill Kurtis, Heroes on Deck tells the story of efforts to recover World War II fighter planes from the bottom of Lake Michigan. During World War II, with enemy submarines patrolling both coasts, the U.S. Navy came up with a bold and innovative plan to use two former coal-fired side-wheel passenger steamers transformed into “flattops” to train aviators in carrier operations in the safety of Lake Michigan. More than 15,000 naval aviation cadets trained on the lake, including future President George H.W. Bush. But not every flight or practice landing ended successfully. Serious injuries and death often resulted, and more than 100 aircraft wound up on the bottom. The film highlights the ingenious training operation, and the modern-day efforts to recover the rare warbirds lost in the lake to accidents.
The presentation will feature Harvey Moshman, multi-Emmy Award winning executive producer of the film, who will introduce the film and give a presentation and take questions following the showing. Moshman was also the director of recovery photography for the film and will share his unique perspective on the project.
This event is being presented in combination with the special exhibits OceanXperience and Drop in the Ocean the Foundation is hosting at the Museum through April 27. Attendees will be able to experience both in the 4th building at no charge following the Heroes on Deck presentation.
Tickets are $20 per person and can be ordered online at https://airforcemuseum.centeredgeonline.com/movie/buyticketswithdate/121.
OceanXperience is a traveling exhibition produced and toured internationally by Flying Fish, based on the National Geographic series OceanXplorers, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and OceanX in association with Lightship Earth Productions and made possible through the generous support of the Air Force Museum Foundation.
About the Air Force Museum Foundation
The Air Force Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds and awareness in support of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™. Since 1960, the Foundation has provided nearly $100 million for expansions, special exhibits, restorations, enhancements, educational programs, and more. The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components, and it has no government status. The use of the Roundel image in the Foundation’s logo is with the permission of the United States Air Force; endorsement by the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force in fundraising activities of the Foundation is not intended nor implied pursuant to DoDI 5535.12. For more information on the Air Force Museum Foundation, visit AirForceMuseumFoundation.org.
About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
