The stories I receive from Owen Hughes, of Newark, New York, give a personal touch to the World War II history I have read and learned about from books.
I met Hughes through a mutual friend and have since received many stories of his wartime experiences via e-mail. Perhaps the one that I liked the most was that of living under the Eiffel Tower in Paris on a C-47.
Hughes was housed on the plane during an exhibit that the Army Air Corps sponsored under the Eiffel Tower. It was his job to paint the signs and any necessary artwork for the exhibit; he kept busy between 8 a.m. and noon. After getting a shower and shave a block away from the tower at MP headquarters, he would be on his own.
“My off time, I was free to do whatever I wished, so I did a lot of sightseeing. Paris is full of art wherever you go,” Hughes said “I did a lot of observing and mentally recording what I saw. Most of Paris, I was told, was laid out by artists.”
After the three months on display, the 15 aircraft under the tower were dismantled by the French military and hauled away.
“The purpose of the exhibit was to show the French what planes we used to win the war and free the French,” Hughes explained.
From painting noseart on aircraft to painting anything else that commanding officers required, Hughes painted it. Now at just shy of 96 years of age, he still paints.
When the restored B-29 “Doc” takes to the skies later this year, the art on the nose of the aircraft will be seen all over the United States. That dwarf is a Hughes piece of art.

Women in Aviation topic at library
Mentor Library will celebrate women in aviation with a program at 6:30 p.m. March 2 at the Main Branch, 8215 Mentor Ave. in Mentor.
The International Women’s Air & Space Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland has stories, photos, memorabilia and artifacts from more than 6,000 women who have done some amazing things. IWASM Board President Connie Luhta, who is both a pilot and a flight instructor, will share some of these stories at the library on Monday.
She will talk about some of the women who have soared — both locally and internationally, including a hot-air balloonist who performed at Napoleon Bonaparte’s wedding and Marge Hurlburt, an English teacher at Harvey High School in Painesville who set a speed record for women before dying during an air show in Iowa. Hurlburt also served as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) in World War II.
Luhta’s talk is free and open to everyone. Register by calling the library at 440-255-8811, ext. 216, or register online at www.mentorpl.org.

Polish Legion Auxiliary hosts ‘Think Spring’ bash
The Polish Legion of American Veterans Auxiliary will host a “Think Spring, Think Indians” Bash beginning at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at the post, 850 E. 200th St. in Cleveland.
Admission is $8 and food being served will be just like going to an Indians game. A cash bar will be available with music and sideboards. Indians attire is requested, but not necessary. For tickets call Theresa at 216-337-8997 or Linda at 216-383-9016.

Junior Girls host dinner
Veterans of Foreign Wars Junior Girls Unit 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a chicken alfredo dinner from 1 to 3 p.m. March 8 at the post home. Dinners will be $7 per person. For details, call 440-354-9090.

Sauerkraut and kielbasa 
at Painesville VFW
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a sauerkraut, kielbasa and potatoes dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the post home. For details, call 440-354-9090.

Lucky shoots every Saturday 
at Madison Post
Sons of the American Legion of Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison, will host lucky shoots every Saturday through March 14 at the post home.
Doors open at 9 a.m. to sign up and shoots begin at 10 a.m. Full shoots will be $30. A breakfast also will be available.
For details, call the post home at 440-428-7893.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.