Veterans Day at LBJ Ranch to feature “Birddog” plane fly-in and no fees for Texas White House Tours

News Release Date: November 6, 2014

Contact: Dave Schafer, 830-868-7128 x 235

The "Birddog" fly-in has been canceled. Please join us for fee-free tours of the Texas White House.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park will commemorate Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11 with a fly-in of Vietnam era "Birddog" aircraft and a fee-free day for Texas White House tours. From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm several L-19 Birddog aircraft will be on display on the south apron of the LBJ Ranch airstrip. The planes are privately owned and are part of the Hill Country Chapter of the International Birddog Association. The Birddog fly-in is weather-dependent;rain or heavy wind will cause the event to be cancelled. If there is inclement weather on November 11, please call the park at 830-644-2396 to verify if the fly-in will occur.

The 30-minute Texas White Tours are normally $3.00 per person, but to honor Veterans Day the park is waiving the tour fees. Park visitors will still need to obtain their free tickets in the LBJ Ranch hangar visitor center. 

The L-19 Birddog single-engine observational aircraft came into active service during the Korean War in 1951 and remained in service for 20 years. Cessna built 3,400 of the rugged spotter planes, which carried a crew of two. During the Vietnam War 1,700 Birddogs were sent into service and were usually outfitted with smoke rockets to mark targets for fighter-bombers. Today, more than 150 Birddogs are still flying. Birddog owners have lovingly restored their aircraft and on November 11 they will be happy to share with park visitors information about the aircraft. James Mulvihill, a spokesperson for the group, said that their goal is to "keep alive the proud tradition of this aircraft that flew so many missions for this country."

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information on this and other park activities call 830-868-7128, ext. 231 or 244, or visit www.nps.gov/lyjo and www.facebook.com/pages/Lyndon-B-Johnson-National-Historical-Park.