‘Wings of Hope’ Air Show At Pocono Raceway Sun.

Final preparations for the Wings of Hope Air Show 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pocono International Raceway, Mt. Pocono, are progressing smoothly, according to the Rev. Philip DeRea, MSC, director of the project, whose office in Nazareth, has become a beehive of activity as showtime approaches.

“Without the help of many individuals and groups who are volunteering their services,” Father DeRea said “my publicity director, Father Robert Cell, and I would have been swamped with work. Through the sponsorship of Wings of Hope, Inc., and the cooperation we are receiving from many businessmen and residents in a wide area this year’s air show promises to be a far greater success than last year’s.”

Charitable Organization

Wings of Hope, Inc., is a charitable, non-sectarian organization of businessmen headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It is largely supported by persons in various phases of aviation and all funds and equipment donated to it are used to provide airplanes and their support services to any worthy missionary enterprise, regardless of church affiliation.

Missionaries are often the only persons in remote and poverty stricken areas of the world who are interested enough in the health care and life improvement of the people there to make use of the services offered by Wings of Hope.

Missionaries Seek Planes

By sponsoring this year’s air show for the flying Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in New Guinea, Wings of Hope hopes to obtain two new airplanes to replace the mission’s well-used planes and to provide extra funds for fuel and spare parts.

Since 1968, the advantages of fast air travel have been a reality in northern wilds of New Guinea due to persistent efforts of one priest, Father Tony Gendusa, MSC, who was once a pilot himself but now uses the services of younger pilots because twenty-six years of foreign mission work have taken their toll of his health and strength.

Through fund-raising efforts in the U.S., including two air shows he inspired, he has obtained two planes for his Catholic mission diocese of Kavieng, New Ireland, which covers an island-dotted area of over 85,000 square miles in the northern part of New Guinea.

George E. Haddaway, board chairman of Wings of Hope, enlisted for the air show an advisory board of several men in aviation industry and operations.

Many other individuals and organizations, such as Jaycees, Chambers of Commerce, pilots’ clubs, advertising agencies and news media in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York have volunteered to help the cause.