KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon — On the evening of June 6, 2026, friends and supporters of the David R. Kingsley Foundation gathered at the Running Y Resort to kick off the community campaign for the return of the Wings & Eagles Air Show, set to bring the skies over Klamath Falls and Kingsley Field roaring back to life on July 10 and 11, 2027.
The kickoff was as much a beginning as a celebration. It marked the start of more than a year of planning, and an open invitation for the community and local businesses to be part of an event that has become one of the signature moments on the Klamath Basin calendar. The dinner brought together a remarkable cross-section of Klamath Falls, from local businesses and community organizations to members of the David R. Kingsley Foundation board and Colonel Adam J. Gaudinski, commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. Dinner for the evening was provided by Woodsy Kitchen of Klamath Falls.
A 2025 Show That Exceeded Every Expectation
If the July 2025 Wings & Eagles Air Show was any indication, the 2027 return is worth rallying behind. Organizers initially projected around 20,000 attendees. By showtime, the crowd had swelled to an estimated 50,000, making it one of the largest events Klamath Falls has ever hosted.
The ripple effect was felt all over town. Restaurants ran out of food, shops scrambled to keep shelves stocked, and businesses across the area reported sales jumps of up to 75 percent during the event. For organizers and local leaders alike, it was a powerful reminder of what the community can do when it comes together, and of the real economic lift an event of this scale brings to local business.
The Heart of the Event: The Story of David R. Kingsley
Colonel Gaudinski delivered the evening's keynote, speaking to the heart and soul of the gathering, the legacy of 2nd Lt. David R. Kingsley, the namesake of Kingsley Field and the inspiration behind the foundation that bears his name.
Kingsley's story has moved Klamath Falls for generations. On June 23, 1944, Kingsley was serving as a bombardier aboard a B-17 during a bombing raid near Ploesti, Romania. His aircraft was badly damaged by enemy fire but pressed on to complete its bomb run before falling out of formation and coming under attack from German fighters. In that assault, the plane's tail gunner, Michael Sullivan, was severely wounded.
Kingsley made his way back through the aircraft, administered first aid, and managed to stop the bleeding. When the order came to bail out, the crew discovered that Sullivan's parachute harness, believed damaged in the attack, could not be found. Without hesitation, Kingsley removed his own harness, secured it onto the wounded gunner, and helped the injured airmen bail out to safety. Then he stayed with the plane. Kingsley went down with the aircraft, and his body was later found in the wreckage. Sullivan survived.
For that act of selflessness and courage, Kingsley was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. It is that same spirit, service, sacrifice, and care for one's own, that fuels the David R. Kingsley Foundation today, providing funding and resources to support service men and women after their time in the military.
A Community Behind the Show
What stood out most about the evening was the breadth of support in the room. The Wings & Eagles Air Show has always been a free, community-built celebration of the men and women of Kingsley Field and the 173rd Fighter Wing, the United States Air Force's sole F-15 Eagle training base, now preparing to train the next generation of pilots on the F-35A Lightning II. It is created and funded by community sponsors and local donations, and the people who fill a room like this one are the reason it happens at all.
That community includes Klamath Living magazine, which was on hand in support of the campaign and stands firmly behind the David R. Kingsley Foundation and the 2027 show. Alongside the businesses, organizations, and neighbors who turned out, the leadership of Kingsley Field and the Foundation made clear that the path to a successful 2027 runs straight through the community itself.
How to Be Part of It
The Foundation is now accepting sponsorships for the July 10–11 air show, with packages ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. To learn about sponsorship levels or other ways to give, supporters can reach Foundation Treasurer Joe McKenzie Jr. at (541) 891-1994 or DRKfoundation173@gmail.com. There are also plenty of ways to get involved at a smaller scale, through individual contributions, volunteering, or simply showing up to support the event.
One of the first opportunities to pitch in is the Wings & Eagles 2027 Fundraiser Golf Tournament, set for Friday, August 14, 2026, at Shield Crest Golf Course, with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. The four-man scramble runs $80 per player or $300 per team and features a 50/50 raffle, cash prizes for the top three teams, and a silent auction, with all proceeds supporting the airshow. Registration is open through the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce at (541) 884-5193 or reception@klamath.org.
With more than a year to go, the message from the kickoff was simple: get involved early, and be part of something that celebrates the Basin, honors its heroes, and lifts up local business along the way. To learn more or to support the campaign, visit the David R. Kingsley Foundation at wingsandeagles.com.
