While visiting the Minister of Industrial Production and his partner, the Minister of Metallurgy, we had occasion to visit the aviation site of the city of Torrance: Zamperini Field. This general aviation field, formerly known as Lomita Field, was dedicated to native son, Louis Zamperini, in 1946, after he returned from the Pacific and Japan, where he spent almost 2 years as a prisoner of war after being captured in the South Pacific in 1943.
Louis Zamperini will now occupy his own place in American history as the subject of one of the most read biographies of all time:"Unbroken", written by Laura Hillebrand. His story often reads like a novel; how could any human survive his ordeal(s)? Each episode of those several years of his youth reads like a long, harrowing nightmare. His near death experience(s) expose the random chances of surviving under extreme conditions again and again.
Also found at the airport is the Western Air Museum, a facility operated privately that reflects the local aviation industry that thrived in southern California before and after WWII and including today's Robinson Helicopter center located next to the museum.
Many examples of aviation artifacts are on site, including a F-5, single seat, twin engine jet fighter; a Stearman biplane once owned by Steve McQueen; and a T-6 prop plane used for years as a primary trainer. It is painted with Navy colors and is flyable.
The main terminal holds a number of historical photos and a large scale model of a twin fuselage P-38 fighter from WWII.
Well worth a stop when near LAX or Torrance, California. Incidentally, Universal Studios has produced the movie of Unbroken, with Angelina Jolie as director/producer. Release date unknown at this time.
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