Why British cars at an American air show? Published Aug. 24, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Peter R.O. Danielson 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Thousands of people will pour onto the Offutt flightline Aug. 29 and 30 to view performers from all over the United States at the 2009 Offutt Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show. As their necks crane upwards to watch the aerial acrobatics, displays on the ground will allow a chance for open house attendees to get up close and personal with Air Force history. Nestled between fighters, bombers, transport aircraft and other Air Force equipment, 20 highly-polished British sports cars from Her Majesty's Royal Nebraska Patrol and The Flatwater Austin-Healey Club will regally wait for curious visitors. Most likely, those visitors have questions. Chief among them, why are there so many cars and Union Jacks here? The answer, Jerry Needham, a British car enthusiast and collector explained, lies in the last years of World War II. As American Soliders, Sailors, Marines and Airmen spent time in the United Kingdom preparing for the European invasion, many grew to enjoy the reliable MGs, Triumphs, Austin-Healeys, Jaguars and other automobiles England offered, said Mr. Needham. He added that when the military members were finally released to return to the United States, several thousand purchased vehicles to return with them. One of the Airmen enchanted by British engineering was then Army Air Corps Col. Curtis E. LeMay, a B-17 pilot with the 305th Bomb Group during WW II. Stationed in English ports, Colonel LeMay's appreciation for two-seat sports cars grew. After earning several promotions for his actions during WW II and the Berlin Airlift, General LeMay was restationed to a small base in eastern Nebraska. Here at Offutt, the Strategic Air Command offered the general an opportunity to build a small, underplanned organization into a globally recognized powerhouse. However, the Omaha area lacked one thing: the speedways that would satisfy his need for speed. As commander-in-charge of SAC, General LeMay brought his affinity for fast cars to the masses. He invited racing organizations to Offutt's two-mile long runway, allowing them to use the pavement for free. "The races General LeMay organized here and at other SAC bases around the country were so popular that as many as 65,000 fans lined SAC flightlines to watch these sleek racing machines scream around curving road courses and long runway straightways," said Mr. Needham. General LeMay was so committed to his race hobby that he purchased an Allard JR, one of only seven automobiles of its kind, shipped to him from England's Allard Motor Company for an upcoming race. This car was delivered to Offutt, where LeMay personally installed a Cadillac V-8 engine with little time to spare. Although forbidden to race by officials at Air Force headquarters, General LeMay claims he was never told anything about pre-race trial runs, said Mr. Needham. This intentional misunderstanding meant that the general always took the opportunity to test-drive his vehicle up and down Offutt's runway before a new race. The joy of racing seemed to be beneficial to all of Offutt's Airmen. Winnings not spent on the Allard's maintenance, nearly $335,000 by 1954, were used to improve barrack living conditions for single Airmen, purchasing mattresses, fans, televisions, pool tables and other necessities. General LeMay's famous Allard still exists today, having been completely restored. This classic reminder of Offutt's SAC raceway still continues to compete in historic races against others of its kind at racetracks such as LeMans, Sebring and Silverstone. "With many of these cars in near-showroom condition, you'll quickly realize the owners' investment of countless hours and dollars in their cars' restorations," said Mr. Needham. While the original Allard may not be visiting Offutt any time soon, several classic British cars from the same era will be occupying a space on the runway. These cars, owned by active-duty, guard and retired servicemembers as well as civilians from the Omaha-Lincoln area, will be one small part of the air show that shouldn't be overlooked.