NJN’s Thunderbolts of Millville Premieres at Cumberland County College

Special Screening of New NJN Production in High Definition on Friday, June 4 at 1:30 pm

WHAT – Special premiere in high definition of NJN’s newest production, The Thunderbolts of Millville, which tells the story of the Millville Army Air Field and the impact of the Second World War on the civilians of Millville, New Jersey.

WHEN – Friday, June 4. Reception at 1:30; screening of production at 2:30 pm .

WHERE – The Performing Arts Center at Cumberland County College , Vineland , NJ .

BACKGROUND – From 1942 to 1945, the Millville Army Air Field trained P-47 pilots, teaching them to fly and attack with their aircraft. The Millville Airport was dedicated "America 's First Defense Airport" on August 2, 1941 . In less than a year, construction of military base facilities began and, in January 1943, the Millville Army Air Field opened as a gunnery school for fighter pilots. Gunnery training began with Curtiss P-40F Warhawk aircraft, but after a few weeks, the P-40s were gone, and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt ruled the skies over Cumberland County . During its three-year existence, more than 10,000 men and women served there with 1,500 pilots receiving advanced fighter training. Several pilots, support staff and Millville residents are interviewed in the documentary, their words adding poignancy to the filming.

The half-hour documentary was produced by NJN’s Emmy award-winning team of Lou Presti, producer; Jeff Reisly, video editor; and Bob Szuter, screen writer. Guy Robbins, executive director of Millville Army Air Field Museum , is the co-producer. The narrator is Barrett Clark; the original music was created by Robert Sands. Thunderbolts of Millville airs on NJN on Sunday, June 6, 2004 , at 9 pm , and is rebroadcast on Tuesday, June 8, at 6:30 pm .