River Rats Museum exhibit opens in the Aviation Heritage Park

BOWLING GREEN Ky. – Today the Aviation Heritage Park welcomed the addition of memorabilia from the River Rats, a group of retired military aviators from multiple eras who continue to meet and tell their stories. This is all part of the overall mission of the Heritage Park to tell the stories of Southern Kentucky Aviation and to bring the public closer to these stories.

River Rats members listened to multiple speakers from their group and local officials including mayor Todd Alcott of Bowling Green and Warren County deputy judge executive Bryan Downing.

The event featured multiple flyovers and a fast roping exercise from a Kentucky State Patrol helicopter.

“Essentially, this is trying to honor the legacy of the men and women who fought during the Vietnam War. Very specifically, those that went and flew what’s called north into North Vietnam and to remember the P.O.W.s that were held and the mission missing in action and never came home,” Edward Pernotto, River Rats member and retired aviator said.