But the Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show was also a chance to remember World War II and the people who fought it.

On Saturday, the crowd heard firsthand accounts of the war from fighter pilots Donald McPherson, Jim Tyler and Huie Lamb.

“These guys have got some wonderful stories,” said retired Brig. Gen. Edward McIlheny, who led a panel discussion with the three pilots before the show.

The air show themed “Pride of the Pacific,” showcased aircraft used in the Pacific theater of WWII, like the Grumman F6F Hellcat, which McPherson flew in the Navy. McPherson is an ace, meaning he shot down five enemy planes during his service.

Photo by Deb Gau A Japanese airplane from the Tora! Tora! Tora! air show group flies into smoke from a pyrotechnic effect Fagen Memorial Air Show on Saturday.

“I would have to say the most difficult ones were the last three I shot down,” McPherson said.

That happened during the fighting for the island of Okinawa in 1945, when a Japanese kamikaze raid attacked U.S. ships.

“At that point, the Japanese were using everything that could fly,” and carrying out suicide attacks, McPherson said.

McPherson said he and other fighter pilots were told to split up and take down as many enemy planes as they could. But it wasn’t easy, because the Japanese planes were flying very low, he said.

Tyler and Lamb served in the European theater of WWII, and also shared some of their stories Saturday.

Lamb spoke about the time he ended up having to ditch his P-51 Mustang in the English Channel after a mechanical failure.

“It was my first mission in the P-51 that this happened,” Lamb said.

His wingman’s radio had gone out, and Lamb was ordered to escort him back to base.

“On the way back, my temperature, my coolant, started going into the red,” he said.

Lamb’s plane went down into the ocean. He was able to escape, but the water was bitterly cold.

“It was 38 degrees, I found out later,” he said.

Lamb’s wingman was able to get help from a British Walrus seaplane to rescue him.

Tyler talked about his experiences flying the P-38 Lightning. He flew on attack and bomber escort missions in the European theater, out of an air base in Italy.

“It was a wonderful experience,” he said of flying the Lightning. “I love the P-38.”

Tyler said it was an honor to be part of the panel discussion.

“I’m happy to be up here with these three gentlemen,” he said.

Lots of the other attractions at the air show and the Fagen Fighters WWII museum also had the purpose of educating people about WWII. The final part of the air show featured the Tora! Tora! Tora! Group, which taught about how U.S. history was changed by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

On the ground, historical reenactors portrayed members of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, which took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Casey Sill, who was portraying the group’s platoon leader, said this weekend was their first public event in more than three years, because of the COVID pandemic.

“It’s really nice to teach people again,” Sill said.

Kathy Raymond, one of the air show visitors checking out the reenactors’ camp, said it was good to see hands-on learning about WWII and the soldiers’ experiences.

“I think our young people need to know,” she said.

At least one young visitor at the show was already interested in WWII history and planes. Brady Antony, of Shakopee, said it was exciting to be at the air show.

“Seeing these World War II aircraft in real life is mind-blowing,” Antony said.