​The Stevenson's interest in aviation and unique vehicles all started with Ollie Joe Stevenson. Growing up on a small Hermleigh, Texas farm during the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression, OJ's eyes turned upward at even the faintest sound of an airplane's engine. OJ recalls, "I'd search and search for the plane and stand there following it until it was out of sight." When the War broke out, Ollie quickly volunteered as a Flight Engineer on Consolidated B-24 Liberators and served as an instructor at Liberal Army Air Field, Liberal KS before being reassigned to the 529th Bomb Squadron of the 380th Bomb Group on Okinawa in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

 

​This love of aviation has now impacted two subsequent generations of Stevenson men. Gordon Stevenson purchased a NAA T-6G Texan in 1989 and started flying lessons two weeks later. The same year, Taylor was born and grew up going to airshows with Gordon, surrounded by the men of the Greatest Generation. At age 16, Taylor soloed a 1946 J3-C65 Cub and received his pilot license before being able to legally drive. Taylor now flies all of the collection's aircaft at airshows nationwide in honor of those, like OJ, who served an sacrificed preserving the freedom we enjoy today. 

 

Keep 'em Flying!