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Celebrate 250 years of Independence at the Commemorative Air Force Museum

Welcome to our July 4th Celebration!

Join us on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for a patriotic afternoon at the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing, located at Camarillo Airport. Celebrate Independence Day with family and friends while creating lasting memories surrounded by aviation history.

Enjoy a Hot Dog, Ice Cream, and some Apple Pie, while exploring our remarkable collection of historically significant World War II military aircraft, learn about our warbird ride program, and discover the CAF mission to Educate, Inspire, and Honor.

Come experience a unique Fourth of July celebration where history takes flight.

Tickets are only $5* per person, kids under 12 are FREE!
(* Transaction fees not included)

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Thank you, Visit Camarillo, for sponsoring our July 4th celebration!

American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is a book detailing his experiences flying Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters in the USAF’s secret “Constant Peg” program during the Cold War.

On Saturday July 11th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host “Z-Man” as he recalls his first-person, cockpit-level account of the risks and realities of training against these adversary aircraft, providing an insider’s view of the top-secret unit that trained U.S. fighter pilots to fight the MiGs they would face in combat.  

Weather, operations, and maintenance permitting, CAF SoCal will fly one of our warbirds for you. So, come join us on July 11th to hear author Rob Zettel share his “I was there” story of his intimate involvement in this highly classified (at the time) fighter pilot training program. Recently published in February 2026, “Z-Man” will have copies of his book available for sale.

Date: July 11th, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: CAF Museum, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, CA 93010

The Commemorative Air Force of Southern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and while admission to the museum is always free, donations help us preserve aviation history.

You don’t want to miss this one! On Saturday, May 30th, the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host Royal Navy pilots Commander Stephen ‘Lothar’ Collins, Officer Commanding the 17th Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) at Edwards Air Force Base, and Lieutenant Commander Mark ‘Hux’ Huxtable, 17 TES Test Pilot. Lothar and Hux will regale us with stories of modern UK F-35B carrier ops, the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group ‘21 cruise, and an F-35B ejection off the carrier (by one of our presenters). They’ll probably also discuss F-35B Test activities. Weather, operations, and maintenance permitting, CAF SoCal will fly one of its warbirds for you. So, mark your calendars to hear two Royal Navy pilots talk about Royal Navy F-35B operations and test activities at the summit of high-performance military aircraft.

Date: May 30th, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: CAF Museum, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, CA 93010

The Commemorative Air Force of Southern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and while admission to the museum is always free, donations help us preserve aviation history.

They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses – all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the WWII. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone – even Americans, even women-transport warplanes.  On Saturday February 28th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted author Becky Aikman as she followed the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life in her vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women.  Becky Aikman shared the heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the most dangerous aircraft of World War II through the treacherous skies of Britain.

Below is a link to the presentation’s program.

‘Spitfires’ Program 02/28/2026

We regrettably had to postpone this event until 2026. Please check back next year when we post our Living History event schedule.

In 2018, the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport began a comprehensive ground-up restoration on its Grumman F8F Bearcat. Stalled due to COVID, the restoration team resumed the project in 2021. The group is meticulously restoring this aircraft to ensure it meets historical accuracy and airworthiness standards. Now, in the critical phase of reassembly and painting, they are nearing the end of their restoration project. On Saturday, September 13th, CAF SoCal will conduct a presentation updating attendees on the progress of the intensive restoration and the road to returning the Bearcat to airshows and flyovers, where it has always been a crowd favorite due to its impressive speed, powerful engine noise, and aerobatic maneuvers.

CAF SoCal’s other iconic, flyable aircraft will also be on display, like the venerable Supermarine Spitfire, the agile Mitsubishi A6M Zero, and the Zero’s nemesis, the F6F Hellcat.  For the adventurous, rides for hire will be available in several different vintage military aircraft.  Light snacks will also be available for those seeking a quick bite.

So, mark your calendars to hear (and see!) the progress of this remarkable restoration in anticipation of soon seeing the Bearcat in flight alongside CAF SoCal’s F6F Hellcat, A6M3 Zero, and PBJ (B-25) Mitchell, a breathtaking tribute to Naval aviation history.

This event will take place on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, starting at 11:00 AM at the Commemorative Air Force aviation museum located at the Camarillo Airport, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, California.  Come and experience living history firsthand!

A suggested donation of $15 per adult will be requested at the door.  Thank you for supporting our nonprofit museum.