Commemorative Air Force hosts hangar dance at Fleming Field

As Glen Newton leads the Roseville Big Band through tunes like "Little Brown Jug" and "Two O'Clock Jump," people will start to dance at Fleming Field in South St. Paul, home of the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and the site of the group's biannual hangar dance.

"It's not just a dance," said Newton. "It's kind of an event."

The Commemorative Air Force, a nonprofit focused on history and education, will host its spring dance on Saturday. Many attendees will show up in World War II-era attire, some in authentic uniforms, some with their hair done up in victory rolls. During a break in dancing, weather permitting, a pilot will roll out "Miss Mitchell," the organization's B-25 bomber, and rev the engine.

"That's quite a spectacle," Newton said. "It gives you an idea of what it was like to be on the ground when these things were taking off during World War II."

The night also includes swing dance lessons, a swing dance exhibition, a bagpipe performance and a tribute to veterans.

The dances generally draw a crowd of 800 to 1,000, said Amy Lauria, marketing manager for the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. She attributes their popularity to the area's large swing-dancing community and interest in WWII and re-enactments.

"It's a step back in history," said Jerry Hahn, a former member of the Minnesota and North Dakota Air National Guard who has been to every dance since they started about 35 years ago.

Hahn, who used to emcee the events, said that from the beginning, attendees have been encouraged to wear WWII-era uniforms and civilian dress. "It's held pretty good," he said.

When the dances started, the Commemorative Air Force asked for donations at the door, Hahn said. Now, there's an entrance fee — $12.50 in advance or $15 at the door — and the dances have become the organization's biggest fund­raiser.

Most of the planes the Commemorative Air Force owns have been donated, Hahn said. "It takes a lot of money to rebuild them and get them back into flying condition."

One plane in particular will benefit from the dance: a North American L-17 Navion, a four-seat aircraft donated about three years ago.

"She's a long way away from actually being fully restored," said Lauria. "We took the whole airplane, tore it apart piece by piece, and … now we're starting to put it back together from the ground up."

That type of plane, manufactured from 1946 to the mid-1960s, was designed after WWII with former military pilots in mind.

"The postwar idea was to try to get an airplane in every home," said Jim Lauria, Amy Lauria's husband and a longtime volunteer at the museum. "They tried to kind of make it the new car."

"Think of it as one like one of the old Buicks or a Studebaker, just very large and comfortable with very comfy seats," said Amy Lauria.

The plane will require about $50,000 more to be refurbished. Once it's fixed, the groups hope to paint it military colors, modeled after versions that existed in Minnesota military units.

The plane will eventually join others that the Commemorative Air Force uses for living history flight experiences, a program that gives people a chance to ride in the historic aircraft for a fee. The Navion will have cushy seats and heat, which will make it the first of the Commemorative Air Force's planes they can fly during winter months.

The dance will feature swing from the 1930s, '40s and '50s, and a vocal quartet will accompany the band for some numbers.

Newton, the band leader, said they like to sometimes bring in audience members to play percussion instruments.

During one break in dancing, the Minnesota State Fire Service Memorial Pipe Band will play pieces like "Amazing Grace" and join the big band for "Highland Cathedral."

"People always enjoy seeing and hearing the bagpipes in this context," said Newton.

During another break, military veterans will be honored by emcee Stan Turner, a longtime Twin Cities media personality.

Newton said he likes the event because it recreates what it was like to be part of a USO dance and brings new people in to see the hangar and museum, with its aircraft, vehicles and artifacts.

"We're helping to preserve a lot of history," he said.

Liz Rolfsmeier is a Twin Cities-based freelance writer. Her e-mail is lizannrolfsmeier@gmail.com.